Displaced and stateless people are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. In Kenya, UNHCR is working with a range of partners to protect them and strengthen their resilience to its impacts, while also reducing our own environmental footprint and degradation to the environment.
The majority of the refugees in Kenya are hosted in arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) regions including the Dadaab Municipality in Garissa County and the Kakuma Municipality in Turkana County, which are greatly impacted by climate change. UNHCR works with a range of partners, the Government and refugees and host communities to address environmental degradation.
UNHCR is committed to reducing environmental degradation
Several initiatives have been put in place in the Kakuma and Dadaab Municipalities to address environmental concerns. These include:
- Tree propagation and planting programs: Planting indigenous trees in institutions such as schools, hospitals, and refugee homesteads, as well as around the camps, such as green belts and orchards, to restore forest cover.
- Energy-efficient stoves: Refugees have been provided alternative cooking solutions, which use less firewood and reduces heavy dependence on firewood.
- Waste management: Sustainable waste management practices are being implemented to minimize pollution.
- Water conservation: Steps are being taken to manage water resources more efficiently, such as through rainwater harvesting by constructing dykes and water pans.
- Green belts management: Several hectares of green belts managed through natural regeneration to restore land cover.
Addressing deforestation
UNHCR has an Operational Strategy for Environmental Sustainability (2022-2025) which aims to address the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation on refugees and their hosts in Kenya.
Activities include afforestation initiatives focused on planting resilient tree species, nursery production and the distribution of tree seedlings. In Dadaab, over 1.5 million tree seedlings have been raised and distributed from tree nurseries since 2013.
A 110-hectare green belt of local and exotic trees has also been established around the Dadaab refugee camps, contributing to environmental rehabilitation.
In Kakuma, 1.25 million seedlings have been locally produced and distributed since 2019, whist there are also two operational tree nurseries and 33 green belts (covering an area of 293 hectares).
Providing alternative fuel to prevent deforestation
Relying only on firewood for cooking causes deforestation and environmental degradation and providing alternative fuel and energy-saving stoves are important activities.
In Kakuma and Dadaab, energy-saving stoves are being distributed to families which is reducing the reliance on firewood. Through partnerships and collaborations, briquette production is also being used as an alternative fuel for cooking. Solar mini-grids are being expanded which will increase the uptake of electric cooking by households and institutions in the camps.