Deputy Director for Africa Bureau, Ms Angele Dikongue-Atangana visits Kakuma

Deputy Director at the Kalobeyei settlement where she interacted with some traders at the WFP Integrated Market. UNHCR/S.Otieno

28 June 2017 – UNHCR Kakuma Sub-Office hosted a one-day familiarisation visit by the Deputy Director for Africa Bureau, Ms Angele Dikongue-Atangana.

Ms Angele, who was accompanied by the Deputy Country Representative Mr Wella Kouyou, had a brief meeting with the Camp Manager. Ms Angele delivered a message from the Director of Africa Bureaus expressing appreciation and exaltation to Kenya for continued generosity in hosting refugees over a long period and for being committed to helping find a lasting solution to Somalia and South Sudan crisis.

Thereafter, the Deputy Director visited Kalobeyei settlement where she interacted with some traders at the WFP Integrated Market.
The mission also visited the Kakuma reception centre where Ms Angele met with refugee leaders from Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei settlement. The leaders shared with her a document containing the challenges faced by their respective communities. While speaking to the leaders, Ms Angele promised to look into the challenges presented as well as challenged them to dream big: “You may only be what you are determined to be in life so do not be afraid to dream big. Do not think that you are any less a human being, you are like everyone else so you have to dream big… refugees are great people.”

During a meeting with UNHCR and partners, Ms Angeles highlighted the importance of maintaining the vision for Kalobeyei integrated settlement as a tool for a durable solution. The 15Km2 of land was handed over to UNHCR by the Turkana County Government in 2015 after Kakuma refugee camp surpassed its capacity by over 60,000 individuals. Currently, over 37,000 individuals are hosted in the settlement and development is ongoing.

As of 26 June 2017, the overall population stood at 179,362 individuals of which 100,291 are from South Sudan. A majority of the population are women and children.