Written by Lisa Murimi
Several people were critically injured on Monday, March 3, as protests at the Kakuma Refugee Camp turned violent.
The demonstrations, which had been ongoing for over a week, escalated when police attempted to disperse refugees marching toward the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices.
Protesters were demanding the reinstatement of essential supplies that had been cut due to funding shortages.
Images and videos from the scene showed chaotic moments, with some refugees lying injured on the ground while others accused police of using excessive force.
Security officers fired tear gas to break up the crowd, leading to running battles throughout the morning.
Living conditions at the Kakuma Refugee Camp, which houses over 148,000 South Sudanese refugees, have deteriorated significantly due to aid reductions.
The UNHCR and World Food Programme (WFP) had earlier warned that financial constraints—largely due to funding cuts from key donors like the United States—could impact humanitarian operations.
The scarcity of food and basic supplies has led to widespread hunger and growing insecurity within the camp.
Many refugees, primarily from war-torn South Sudan, remain in desperate need as tensions continue to mount over the worsening humanitarian crisis.
