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Dadaab in Kenya is the world's biggest refugee camp. Learn more about the situation on the ground.



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Stories From The Field

Geoff Wordley, UNHCR, Somalia/Kenya

Geoff Wordley, UNHCR, Somalia/Kenya

What are you doing with the Emergency Response Team in eastern Kenya?

I am working at a reception centre in a little town called Liboi about 17 km from the Somali border. UNHCR is wholly responsible for running this reception centre. There are other organisations operating in the Dadaab camps but UNHCR does everything here at the border - food, water, vaccinations, registration and organising transport to the camps.

How far have these refugees come?

Some might have walked for 40 days. A lot are arriving on foot but there are also some, the more urban refugees often, who have bought tickets on trucks. We certainly know that some have come from Mogadishu and that people are arriving very tired - exhausted.

What is their physical condition?

Of the 1300 or so people here now, most are in reasonable condition - there's no dramatic signs of malnutrition. But of course we are very keen to move them out to the camps as quickly as possible so that they can get the food and medical assistance they need.

Are they bringing anything with them?

It's hot and they all carry jerry cans and buckets. Some might have a sheet or those with transport might bring a mattress. Looking around now I can see some small stools, that kind of thing, but very little. Most have almost nothing.

Do they have shoes?

Not that many of them and, if they do, they are just plastic flip-flops - plastic sandals. Most of the children don't have shoes.
The children must be particularly vulnerable.

Yes, certainly, they are our real concern here at the moment. The children are very vulnerable to malnutrition and lack of water and also disease. One of the first things we are doing here, with the enyan Ministry for Health, is to make sure that the children are all vaccinated against polio and measles. Measles is a major killer of children in these camps and there is some child malnutrition as well - quite bad in some cases.