The Danish Refugee Council has been working in Kenya since 2005.
DRC first started working in Dadaab in partnership with CARE to help prepare refugees for eventual return and ensure peaceful coexistence with the host communities through the provision of support to livelihood activities, vocational training, water, sanitation and education. As of April 2009, some 271,000 refugees, mostly Somalis, have been registered in Dadaab.
In addition, the organization has been collaborating with the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK), Government of Kenya and other agencies to advocate for the protection of IDPs and refugee rights in the country. More recently, DRC started to support Kenyans affected by the post election violence in Molo, notably through the provision of shelters, non-food items and livelihood support in partnership with UNHCR. Some 44,400 people benefited from DRC’s livelihood project, while more than 17,000 others were assisted through the water and sanitation activities.
Kenya is a politically stable country compared to many of its its neighbors and remains an active peace maker in the region. It served as an important mediator in brokering Somali peace deal in October 2004 and the Sudan's north-south peace pact in February 2005. Kenya also is a major host country providing protection to almost a quarter of a million refugees, including Somalis, South Sudanese and Ugandans.
The violence that followed the disputed December 2007 elections forced half a million people to flee from their homes. This gave rise to a large scale humanitarian emergency. A year and a half later, thousands of people are still displaced and remain reluctant to return home, mainly in the Rift Valley province. Above all, the disruption of livelihood and essential services affected many people throughout the country. The poor rains significantly affecting the harvest have reduced cereal production creating food insecurity among vulnerable population.
Donors : Danida, DRC ; UNHCR
Partners: CARE Kenya, Refugee Consortium of Kenya
