Can one of Africa's largest refugee camps evolve into a city?

Can huge Africa refugee camp evolve into a city?

KAKUMA, Kenya — Windswept and remote, set in the cattle-rustling lands of Kenya's northwest, Kakuma was never meant to be permanently settled.

Africa’s refugee camps are plagued by flooding: we looked into drainage systems that can withstand local conditions

Almost one million people live in 24 camps for refugees and internally displaced people in Ethiopia. They have fled wars and massacres in South Sudan and Somalia, and forced conscription and government oppression in Eritrea. Life in these camps is difficult. One of the challenges is drainage. The region experiences very intense, short storms. The camps don’t have proper water drainage systems, which means the stormwater causes flash flooding and…

Kenya's ambitious plan to turn Kakuma refugee camp into a city

Now, the Kenyan government and humanitarian agencies have come up with an ambitious plan for Kakuma to evolve into a city.

Can one of Africa's largest refugee camps evolve into a city?

One of Africa’s most famous refugee camps could transform into a city. The Kakuma camp in a remote part of Kenya houses 300,000 refugees.

One of Africa’s largest refugee camps redesignated as a city by Kenyan government

Kenya's government has redesignated Kakuma as a municipality. It's part of broader goal of incorporating refugees more closely into local populations.