World Vision Kenya Urges Stronger Refugee Support on World Refugee Day 2025

By Melisa Mong'ina - As the world marked World Refugee Day 2025, World Vision Kenya joined the call for stronger support to refugees and displaced families in the country, spotlighting the growing humanitarian needs in Kenya’s refugee settlements.

According to WVK, by early 2025, more than 120 million people had been forcibly displaced globally, including over 36 million who had crossed international borders.

Humanitarian agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), are facing major funding gaps, resulting in food aid cuts that have left many refugees vulnerable.

“As of early 2025, the world hosts over 120 million forcibly displaced people, with more than 36 million refugees crossing international borders. Humanitarian funding gaps persist, with agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP) reporting drastic cuts in food aid, leaving millions of refugees vulnerable,” reads part of WVK's statement.

Kenya remains one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in Africa, sheltering approximately 843,165 refugees and asylum seekers as of March 2025, according to UNHCR.

In Turkana County, the Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlements host over 300,000 refugees, mainly from South Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Food rations have been reduced to just 40% of the minimum daily requirement, putting families at risk of hunger and malnutrition.

To date, more than 44,000 refugees have benefited from livelihood support, cash transfers, and psychosocial services. Through the Kakuma Integrated Resilience Project, 11,305 individuals have been reached with peacebuilding and sustainable livelihood initiatives.

Additionally, under UNICEF’s PROSPECT 2.0 Project, 1,500 households in Turkana and Garissa counties have received clean water and improved sanitation.

WVK is also working with partners like the World Food Programme and UNICEF to provide essential services such as food, clean water, and sanitation to vulnerable communities.

In partnership with the World Food Programme, WVK has supported 160,000 people in Kakuma and Kalobeyei through General Food Distribution ensuring acceptable food consumption for approximately 74,000 people in Kakuma Camp 3 and 90,000 in Kalobeyei Settlement.

The organisation is now urging the national and county governments, development partners, and the international community to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions. These include scaling up food and cash assistance, prioritising peacebuilding, and implementing climate adaptation strategies to address resource-based conflicts and reduce tensions.

“We want them to increase investment in sustainable solutions for refugees, strengthen food and cash assistance programs, prioritise peacebuilding and climate adaptation strategies to reduce tensions and resource-based conflicts,” WVK said.

Gilbert Kamanga, National Director of World Vision Kenya, emphasized that this year’s World Refugee Day must move beyond symbolic gestures.

“As the world marks World Refugee Day 2025, we are reminded that solidarity must be demonstrated through action with policies that protect, investments that empower, and communities that welcome,” said Kamanga.