Kakuma : faced with the predicted severe weather, refugees denounce their vulnerability

SOS Médias Burundi

Kakuma, October 7, 2026 — Concern is rising in the Kakuma refugee camp in northwestern Kenya as severe weather approaches in the coming days. Heavy rains accompanied by hail, strong winds, and thunderstorms are forecast, raising fears of flooding and highlighting, according to refugees, the vulnerability of homes and some of the camp’s infrastructure.

In response to the weather forecast, the Kakuma administration has begun raising awareness among refugees about the risks associated with the severe weather. Alert messages are being broadcast over loudspeakers in various areas and villages of the camp, in the languages ​​spoken by the refugee communities.

Residents are being urged to take precautions and prepare for possible heavy rains and flooding. But these messages are also causing concern among families, who believe that some infrastructure is not adequately equipped to handle severe weather.

Children’s safety is a particular worry for parents. Many families are especially concerned about their children’s journeys to school, as some routes pass through valleys, low-lying areas, or large drainage ditches.

In the event of heavy rainfall, these routes could quickly become difficult, even dangerous, according to residents. Some parents are already considering keeping their children home on days with the worst weather conditions.

“We are afraid for our children. If they have to cross valleys and ditches during heavy rain, we don’t know what might happen to them,” says a refugee parent.

Housing at the heart of concerns

Housing is another source of worry. Several refugees say their homes are fragile and might not withstand heavy rain accompanied by strong winds.

In this arid region of northwestern Kenya, where rainfall is generally limited, residents fear the consequences of an exceptionally intense weather event. They are particularly concerned about flooding, damage to or collapse of homes, and difficulties accessing essential services.

Refugees are calling on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Kenyan authorities to rapidly strengthen prevention and protection measures.

They specifically request that Kakuma and its extension, Kalobeyei, receive special attention, given the risks associated with heavy rainfall. They are also requesting that key routes used daily by children and other residents be secured, especially around valleys and large drainage ditches.

A particularly vulnerable population

Kakuma is located in a region characterized by an arid climate. According to refugees interviewed, some areas have not experienced significant rainfall for about a year.

If the weather forecast is accurate, the arrival of heavy rains could cause a sudden change in conditions and severely strain infrastructure located in a predominantly dry environment.

The Kakuma camp and its extension, Kalobeyei, host a large refugee population. According to estimates from residents, this population exceeds 200,000 people, including approximately 9,000 Burundians.

As the predicted severe weather approaches, refugees are calling for strengthened preventative measures before the first heavy rains arrive. For them, the priority is to prevent vulnerable infrastructure and risky routes from becoming traps for a population already particularly exposed.