UNHCR, NCCK To Upscale Refugee Partnership

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Kenya will continue to partner with the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK)  aimed at alleviating human suffering among refugees living in the Country. Speaking during a courtesy call by NCCK General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja, UNHCR Country Representative Raouf Mazou underscored the Council’s interventions in Kakuma and Daadab refugee camps over the years. “We are extremely pleased with this partnership. NCCK’s work at Kakuma camp in drainage was excellent, there are no floods during this rainy season”, he said.

 On his part Canon Karanja assured that the Council remained committed to contribute to the well being of the refugees. He said that the interventions were in line with NCCK’s core calling. “NCCK understands the dynamics of refugee work in the Country. This is a duty that we remain committed to and we would like to upscale the work that we implement”, said Canon Karanja.

Present during the meeting were UNHCR Assistant Representative for programmes Sam Chakwera, his counterpart John Burton, NCCK’s Senior Programmes officer in charge of  Capacity Building for Membership  Grace Muthungu and Urban Refugee Assistance Programme (URAP) Coordinator Dr. Emmanuel Ojwang. Others were Alice Wanjiru (NCCK Senior Accountant) and Felix Waga ( NCCK accountant).

Since 1980’s, the two institutions have  partnered in various core implementation areas including refugees’ Shelters and construction of permanent infrastructural facilities (Kakuma camp), reproductive Advocacy, HIV&AIDS awareness and mitigation initiatives(Kakuma and Dadaab), Interventions targeting the Most at Risk Populations (MARPs) (Kakuma and Dadaab) and Peace Education (Dadaab). Others are Sanitation and hygiene promotion (Dadaab & Kakuma) and Livelihoods initiatives with vulnerable refugee communities (Kakuma & Dadaab).