MOMBASA, Kenya – The World Food Programme (WFP) has received a major boost in its efforts to feed refugees in Kenya after the Republic of Korea donated over 23,000 metric tonnes of rice—the largest single contribution by Seoul since it began supporting Kenya’s refugee operations in 2018.
The consignment arrived at the Port of Mombasa on Friday and is expected to sustain 720,000 refugees in Dadaab, Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlement for six months, WFP announced via social media.
“This generous contribution will help alleviate a critical humanitarian situation,” the agency said.
Kenya hosts over 840,000 refugees, many of whom are facing severe food insecurity following global aid cuts.
In recent months, WFP has struggled to maintain basic food supplies, resorting to reduced rations and relying on dwindling stockpiles at its Mombasa warehouse to make timely distributions.
A Timely Lifeline Amid Rising Desperation
Commissioner for Refugee Affairs John Burugu welcomed the donation, saying it would significantly improve conditions in the camps, where food shortages have triggered tension and unrest.
“This timely donation will help ease the humanitarian pressure caused by recent ration cuts,” said Burugu. “We continue to urge other international partners to step forward and share responsibility.”
WFP officials on the ground have painted a grim picture of daily life in the camps. With many families surviving on just one meal a day, hunger has been rising along with frustration.
“When food rations are cut, tempers rise—but I know they’re not angry at me. They’re hungry,” a WFP distribution site worker in Kakuma recently told reporters.
Impact of Aid Cuts Still Being Felt
The food crisis in Kenya’s refugee camps has been worsened by international funding reductions, particularly following the U.S. government’s move to slash foreign aid under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy.
Until early 2025, the U.S. had been the largest donor to WFP in Kenya, providing approximately 70% of the funding.
The cuts led to the suspension of the Cash Transfer Programme, which had been issuing $4 million monthly in direct support to refugee families for purchasing essentials.
The situation has since deteriorated further, with the UN warning last month that growing hunger, malnutrition, and desperation could trigger a deeper humanitarian crisis.
Shared Responsibility Needed
Friday’s rice donation signals growing international concern and offers hope of renewed collaboration.
Officials say sustained, predictable funding remains essential to protect the dignity and survival of hundreds of thousands displaced by regional conflicts.
