The number of refugees in the country is projected to increase from the current 571,000 by April this year.
The World Health Organisation in the just released Emergency Situational Updates warned that 121,300 new refugees are expected to arrive in the country by April.
This means more pressure on the already congested refugee camps that have seen outbreaks of diseases amid a shortage of healthcare services.
“Dadaab refugee camp is facing an increase in the number of disease outbreaks that need urgent attention,” the WHO has warned.
WHO said an outbreak of measles has been reported in the Kakuma refugee camp where an additional 20,000 refugees arrived recently.
“Refugees in Kenya are reported to experience challenges in accessing healthcare, and there was no major difference in access between those in rural camp complexes like Kakuma/Kalobeyei and Dadaab or in urban areas,” the global health agency said.
WHO estimates that the Great Horn of Africa region is currently hosting approximately 4.4 million refugees and asylum-seekers; the majority are from South Sudan.
It also approximates that 13.5 million people are internally displaced as a result of conflict and drought, among other factors.
According to the data by WHO, three million IDPs/refugees/returnees were registered in Somalia, as of December 2022; 2.97 million IDPs, 34,000 refugees and 3,000 returnees.
In South Sudan, an estimated 2.67 million IDPs/refugees/returnees had been registered as of 30 November 2022.
Among these, 2.2 million are IDPs, 321,000 are refugees and 120,000 are returnees.
The data shows that Uganda was hosting 1,447,463 refugees and 33,304 asylum-seekers as of November 2022.
According to WHO, at least 55 measles cases have been recorded in the Dadaab refugee camp as of 22 December 2022.
The camp has also recorded an increase in cholera with a total of 504 cases reported.
