STORY: Refugees in Kenya transform arid lands into agricultural oasis to boost food security
SHOOTING TIME: June 19, 2024
DATELINE: June 20, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:14
LOCATION: KAKUMA, Kenya
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Kakuma Refugee Camp
2. various of farmers working in Kakuma Refugee Camp
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Swahili): ABDULAZIZ LUGAZO, Refugee from Somalia
4. various of the farm in Kakuma Refugee Camp
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NANDURI SATEESH, Head of the UNHCR-Kenya sub-office in Kakuma
6. various of the farm in Kakuma Refugee Camp

STORYLINE:

Deep in the heart of Kenya's arid northwest region, a transformation is taking place in Kakuma Refugee Camp. What was once a barren, inhospitable landscape is now a thriving agricultural oasis, thanks to the resilience and determination of refugees.

Abdulaziz Lugazo, a 42-year-old Somali refugee and father of three, is weeding his vegetable crops, anticipating a bumper harvest in Kakuma.

Kakuma Refugee Camp is the country's second largest camp hosting about 288,000 refugees from different countries including South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

For years, these refugees have faced the challenge of cultivating food in the camp's harsh environment.

Through sheer determination and innovative thinking, Abdulaziz and his fellow refugees transformed the once-barren land into a thriving agricultural oasis by tapping into underground water sources just 15 feet below the surface.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Swahili): ABDULAZIZ LUGAZO, Refugee from Somalia
"We started off with 3 acres of land, we got more 2 and 4 acres, with a total of 9 acres, we used to use a shallow borehole. We acquired more land, till now we have 22 acres as a community."

During harvest, Abdulaziz's farm bustles as buyers from urban areas flock to purchase the refugees' crops, which are in high demand both in the camp and nearby towns.

Nanduri Sateesh, head of the UNHCR sub-office in Kakuma, Kenya, said refugees are encouraged to engage in agriculture to boost incomes and food security.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NANDURI SATEESH, Head of the UNHCR-Kenya sub-office in Kakuma
"We support the refugees to acquire the training and skills, and also provide them with the tools so that they can actually productively utilize what the land was giving to them."   

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kakuma, Kenya.
(XHTV)