RAVES PROJECT - KENYA LAUNCH: Official launch of the Refugee Agricultural Value chains for Economic Self-reliance (RAVES) Programme. FAO with funding from the IKEA Foundation and in collaboration with the Turkana County Government, UNHCR, WFP, IFC, INSTA Products, Egerton University and other stakeholders has initiated a project aimed at enabling farmers from Loima and Turkana West Sub-Counties of Turkana County as well as refugees in Kalobeyei settlement to produce groundnut for INSTA Products in a Public Private Partnership. The four-year project is targeting 1,500 farmers, of which 30 percent are refugees, farming on approximately 750 acres and ultimately delivering 1,200 tons of Groundnuts per year. The project is expected to bring in KES 96 million annually to Turkana County and spur the development of a groundnut industry in the County.

On 13 June, UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi with a delegation from Geneva and the Kenya Rep. Raouf Mazou, visited Kakuma on a familiarization mission.

UNHCR continues to receive refugees from South Sudan through the Kenya – South Sudan border at Nadapal Transit centre

In January 2017, a total of 1,116 new arrival from South Sudan were received at Nadapal before being transferred to Kakuma reception centre.

Assistant Sec Gen. and UN-Habitat Deputy Executive Director Dr. Aisa Kacyira visited Kalobeyei to witness the integration projects by refugees and hosts

As of 15th Feb. 49,376 Somali refugees from Kenya returned home since 8th December 2014 ( when Vol-rep started) out of which 10,062 were supported in 2017 alone

In total, as of 28th Feb. 52,591 Somali refugees returned home since 8th December 2014, when UNHCR started supporting voluntary return of Somali refugees.

Swiss Agency for Dev. & Coop.(SDC) Director General, Manuel Sager, visited Kakuma and Kalobeyei settlement to familiarize with UNHCR Operation in the area.

The construction of a 14km pipeline from Tarach seasonal river to Kalobeyei settlement was completed thus allowing water to be pumped from boreholes near Tarach Seasonal River in Kakuma to Kalobeyei. Currently, piping within cluster one of Kalobeyei settlement is ongoing.

A total of 5,020 (58 % from Eastern Equatoria) SSD new arrivals have been registered since 1st January 2017 while a total of 1,418 individuals were registered in March 2017.