Dadaab, Kenya: Somalis fighting for survival

Kenya, Somalia / 27.07.11

A Médecins Sans Frontières tanker truck delivers water to refugees in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

A Médecins Sans Frontières clinical officer giving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to a malnourished child in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Men digging the grave of Raba Hassan a 35 year old refugee from Somalia. Hassan arrived 2 months ago at Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya after a 290 km journey from Sakow, Somalia. She is survived by her five children.

Abubakar Mohamed, Deputy Field Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières in Dadaab refugee camp speaking to recently arrived refugees at a reception center in Dadaab.

Médecins Sans Frontières ambulance arriving to pick up patients identified by community health surveillance teams at the reception center. Médecins Sans Frontières screens and immunises childen and families at the first point of interaction for recently arrived refugees from Somalia.

Fierce winds create dust storms in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. The last rains were 13 months ago in June 2010.

Médecins Sans Frontières doctor Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in Northern kenya. July 22 2011.

A malnourished child and recently arrived refugee from Somalia drinking in the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya.

This child's arm was broken in crossfire when he was hit by a bullet. He was treated in Somalia by Médecins Sans Frontières doctors in Merare before his family fled for Dadaab refugee camp.

A severely malnourished child being examined by a Médecins Sans Frontières medical officer in Dagahaley, one of three settlements in Kenya's sprawling Dadaab refugee camp. Hundreds of Somali refugees are arriving each day after fleeing drought and civil war in Somalia.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr. Mauro D'ascanio examining the mother of a malnourished child in the therapeutic feeding center at Dadaab refugee camp. The woman was diagnosed with measles. Many of the adult Somali refugees were nomadic and may not have been immunised during childhood.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr. Mauro D'ascanio examining the mother of a malnourished child in the therapeutic feeding center at Dadaab refugee camp. The woman was diagnosed with measles.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Somali refugees get vaccinated by Médecins Sans Frontières health workers in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

Somali refugees continue to arrive at the overcrowded camp complex in Dadaab, northeastern Kenya, every day.

They are fleeing the violent conflict in Somalia and the devastating effects of ongoing drought and lack of food. The third week of July alone brought 5,117 new refugees, pushing the total number of people in and around the Dadaab camp to 387,893. The three camp sites—Ifo, Hagadera and Dagahaley—were originally built to hold a combined 90,000 people.

Most of the new arrivals must remain on the outskirts of the overcrowded camp, where they are not receiving adequate assistance and must contend with delays in registration and access to food, water, and shelter. Médecins Sans Frontières is responding to medical needs, including treatment of around 10,000 malnourished people in and around the Dadaab camp.

All photos by Brendan Bannon.

<< Back

Location Map - Kenya - Somalia -

Photo Gallery

Where we are working

More from Kenya

Dadaab: the reduction of activities may have dramatic consequences on refugees

Médecins Sans Frontières seeks swift release of two abducted staff without use of force and continues medical activities to assist Somali population

More on Malnutrition

Médecins Sans Frontières expands operations in response to malnutrition in west and central Africa's Sahel Region, scales up aid to Malian refugees

Sahel – Médecins Sans Frontières’ dual response to an expected nutritional crisis

Dadaab, Kenya: Somalis fighting for survival

A Médecins Sans Frontières tanker truck delivers water to refugees in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

A Médecins Sans Frontières clinical officer giving Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to a malnourished child in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Men digging the grave of Raba Hassan a 35 year old refugee from Somalia. Hassan arrived 2 months ago at Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya after a 290 km journey from Sakow, Somalia. She is survived by her five children.

Abubakar Mohamed, Deputy Field Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières in Dadaab refugee camp speaking to recently arrived refugees at a reception center in Dadaab.

Médecins Sans Frontières ambulance arriving to pick up patients identified by community health surveillance teams at the reception center. Médecins Sans Frontières screens and immunises childen and families at the first point of interaction for recently arrived refugees from Somalia.

Fierce winds create dust storms in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. The last rains were 13 months ago in June 2010.

Médecins Sans Frontières doctor Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in Northern kenya. July 22 2011.

A malnourished child and recently arrived refugee from Somalia drinking in the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in Northern Kenya.

This child's arm was broken in crossfire when he was hit by a bullet. He was treated in Somalia by Médecins Sans Frontières doctors in Merare before his family fled for Dadaab refugee camp.

A severely malnourished child being examined by a Médecins Sans Frontières medical officer in Dagahaley, one of three settlements in Kenya's sprawling Dadaab refugee camp. Hundreds of Somali refugees are arriving each day after fleeing drought and civil war in Somalia.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr. Mauro D'ascanio examining the mother of a malnourished child in the therapeutic feeding center at Dadaab refugee camp. The woman was diagnosed with measles. Many of the adult Somali refugees were nomadic and may not have been immunised during childhood.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr. Mauro D'ascanio examining the mother of a malnourished child in the therapeutic feeding center at Dadaab refugee camp. The woman was diagnosed with measles.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Médecins Sans Frontières Dr Luana Lima seeing patients at the Médecins Sans Frontières hospital in Dadaab refugee camp in northern Kenya.

Somali refugees get vaccinated by Médecins Sans Frontières health workers in Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

Location Map - Kenya - Somalia -