Water and sanitation services in Kenya's refugee camps became a critical challenge given that populations of hundreds of thousands were concentrated in arid and semi-arid regions historically incapable of supporting such density. CARE International emerged as the primary implementing partner for WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) programming in Dadaab and other camps, coordinating borehole drilling, water distribution system installation, latrine construction, and hygiene promotion campaigns. The fundamental problem was chronic water scarcity in regions where precipitation averages barely 200-300 millimeters annually. Refugee populations created demand far exceeding available groundwater; without sustained investment in extraction infrastructure and distribution systems, humanitarian crisis would rapidly transform into public health catastrophe.
Water scarcity drove multiple humanitarian consequences beyond basic thirst. In Dadaab and Kakuma, refugee women and girls traveled increasingly distant routes searching for firewood and water as local resources became depleted. These journeys exposed them to severe security threats; documented cases of sexual assault, robbery, and violence against water collectors became systemic problems. UNHCR and CARE identified this vulnerability and prioritized water point construction and distribution expansion as protection measures. Simultaneously, water scarcity created environmental degradation; overexploitation of groundwater reduced water table levels, requiring ever-deeper boreholes and increasing extraction costs. Deforestation accelerated as refugees collected firewood, further straining the environment and contributing to long-term ecological damage to fragile pastoral ecosystems.
The technological response centered on renewable energy and efficiency. By 2015, Dadaab had installed Africa's largest solar-powered borehole system, equipped with 278 solar panels and serving approximately 16,000 residents daily, delivering roughly 280,000 liters of water. This represented a substantial achievement in humanitarian infrastructure; solar power eliminated dependence on fuel delivery and generator maintenance. However, 280,000 liters daily served a population of 300,000-plus, meaning per-capita allocation remained tightly constrained. Water quality monitoring required continuous testing to prevent contamination from failing sewage systems or groundwater pollution. Sanitation infrastructure development included latrine construction, bathing facilities, and waste management systems, yet capacity consistently struggled to meet demand. Communicable diseases including cholera, diarrheal illnesses, and hepatitis E periodically emerged from inadequate sanitation and contaminated water, killing vulnerable populations particularly among children under five.
Water and sanitation partnerships illustrated the complexity of refugee service delivery. Coordination between UNHCR, CARE, the Kenyan government's water agency, and local community organizations required sustained negotiation. Water distribution created social tensions; allocation disputes, theft, and market activities around water access generated community conflicts. Gender dynamics emerged as women bore primary responsibility for water collection, creating protection concerns and limiting time available for education or economic activity. Hygiene promotion campaigns attempted to introduce behavioral change regarding handwashing, water handling, and latrine use, though success depended on intensive community engagement. Despite technical and financial investments, sanitation and water security remained persistent vulnerabilities in Kenya's refugee camps, reflecting the structural challenge of concentrating extreme population densities in inherently water-scarce environments.
See Also
Refugee Camp Infrastructure Dadaab Refugee Camp Kakuma Refugee Camp Environmental Impact Refugees CARE International Disease Outbreak Prevention
Sources
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"Dadaab." Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dadaab_refugee_camp
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"More water from solar power in Dadaab, Kenya." European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), November 16, 2015. http://ec.europa.eu/echo/blog/more-water-solar-power-dadaab-kenya_en
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"Refugees and the Environment: An Analysis and Evaluation of UNHCR's Policies in 1992-2002." Migration Institute Finland. https://www.migrationinstitute.fi/pdf/webreports49.pdf