The Republic of Korea has donated 23,268 metric tonnes of rice, valued at Sh2.34 billion ($18 million), to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to aid refugees in Kenya. The contribution, made through Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, comes at a critical time as WFP grapples with major funding shortfalls.
The rice will support 720,000 refugees in Dadaab, Kakuma, and Kalobeyei camps for the next six months. Most of these refugees are entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance, as they are unable to work or return to their countries due to ongoing conflict and instability.
“This generous rice contribution from the Republic of Korea is more vital than ever,” said Baimankay Sankoh, WFP’s Deputy Country Director in Kenya. “It will help WFP continue supporting the food needs of hundreds of thousands of refugees.”
In May, WFP warned that it had been forced to cut assistance to historically low levels. As of June, refugees began receiving just 28 per cent of the minimum daily recommended food intake, with all cash assistance suspended. The situation is dire, especially for vulnerable groups—Global Acute Malnutrition rates among refugee children and pregnant or breastfeeding women in Kenya are over 13 per cent, surpassing the emergency threshold of 10 per cent.
WFP’s nutrition programs were suspended in late 2024 due to funding gaps. While the agency continues to work with Kenya’s Department of Refugee Services and UNHCR to provide monthly aid, recent cuts in February reduced support to only 40 per cent of a full food basket.
The refugee population in Kenya has surged from 500,000 to 843,000 in the past five years, driven largely by crises in Somalia and South Sudan.
Korea has been a steadfast supporter of WFP’s operations, contributing rice worth $88 million between 2018 and 2025. Ambassador Kang Hyung-shik emphasized Korea’s commitment to global humanitarian efforts, saying, “We are proud to stand in solidarity with those in need and offer hope to families across eastern Africa.”
