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Photo Gallery Dadaab, Kenya

The overcrowded three-camp complex in Dadaab is now home to more than 450,000 mainly Somali refugees, making it the largest refugee settlement in the world.

The camps were established in the early 1990s and were intended to shelter 90,000 people. Now, up to 1,400 people are arriving every day to escape continuing conflict in Somalia. Complicating the issue further is the fact that the region is experiencing the worst drought in 60 years. Serious food shortages mean that the Horn of Africa is teetering on the brink of famine - Children are arriving in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia with severe acute malnourishment requiring emergency medical treatment and therapeutic feeding.

To find out more about the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, click here!

A Somali refugee grips her food ration card. Sheltering four times the amount of people it was originally designed for, the resources in Dadaab are incredibly stretched and refugees are left with only a third of the food, water and shelter that is needed for basic survival.A young boy waits to be registered outside Dadaab camp. He travelled with his family for two days without food or water before arriving at the camp.A newly arrived Somali refugee awaits registration outside Dadaab. Many refugees survive on little or no water or food while they journey to Dadaab from neighbouring Somalia.A newly arrived Somali refugee awaits registration outside Dadaab. Many refugees survive on little or no water or food while they journey to Dadaab from neighbouring Somalia.A young refugee girl carries water back to her shelter at Ifo camp, Dadaab. Water is scarce, and clean jerry cans are essential to protect the refugees from water borne diseases such as cholera during the now rainy season. Many refugees are surviving on less than 8 litres of water per day, well below the UNHCR standard of 20 litres.A young mother rests after giving birth in the maternity ward at Hagadera camp, Dadaab.A young mother finds protection beneath a mosquito net after giving birth at Hagadera camp, Dadaab. Mosquito nets are vital to prevent the spread of malaria which is rife in the rainy season.The maternity ward at Hagadera camp, Dadaab. Each clinic in Dadaab provides medical assistance for 19,000 refugees.New arrivals wait to be registered at Dadaab. Up to 7000 people arrive each month. With resources already extremely stretched, UNHCR faces many challenges in meeting the basic health needs of the refugees.Newly arrived Somali refugees Ahmed, Hadiyo and their two children, Samiro and Amina. National Director Naomi Steer met this family waiting outside Dadaab camp to be registered as refugees. They had been travelling for 14 days, and hadn’t eaten for three.Many children in Dadaab are highly vulnerable to diseases such as cholera, malaria or measles. With 19,000 people being cared for in each clinic, UNHCR urgently needs funds for vaccinations and treatments.Many babies and children in Dadaab are highly vulnerable to diseases such as cholera, malaria or measles. With 19,000 people being cared for in each clinic, UNHCR urgently needs funds for vaccinations and treatments.Refugees gather around a water point waiting to collect their water rations. Infrastructure is over 15 years old, and water is scarce. Jerry cans and new water points are essential to protect refugees from water borne diseases such as cholera during the now rainy season. Many refugees are surviving on less than 8 litres of water per day, well below the UNHCR standard of 20 litres.A group of Somali refugees in Ifo camp, Dadaab.