On August 8, 2024, Uzra Zeya, the Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, unveiled a substantial humanitarian assistance package from the United States, totalling nearly $536 million (Sh69.4 Billion).
This funding is part of a broader effort to address pressing humanitarian needs in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a significant focus on Kenya and its neighbouring regions.
The newly announced aid package includes about $516 million from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, alongside nearly $20 million from the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.
With this funding, total U.S. humanitarian support in Sub-Saharan Africa for Fiscal Year 2024 has now reached approximately $3.7 billion.
This assistance is critical for Kenya, where the impact of escalating conflicts, climate change, and food insecurity has created urgent challenges for vulnerable populations.
According to Zeya, the aid will help humanitarian partners respond to the essential needs of over eight million refugees and asylum seekers, along with more than 30 million internally displaced persons and conflict-affected individuals across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Specifically, Kenya faces significant pressures as it hosts numerous refugees from the Horn of Africa and the ongoing humanitarian crises that have emerged in the region.
For many communities in Kenya, food scarcity and water shortages are compounded by the adverse effects of climate change, leading to increased hardship for displaced persons and local populations alike.
In her announcement, Zeya emphasized the importance of creating durable solutions for displaced communities, which includes supporting voluntary returns and encouraging refugee integration, particularly in areas hosting large numbers of refugees, such as Dadaab and Kakuma camps.
