Kakuma, Kenya 22 June 2016-- UN-Habitat is making good progress with the activities for “Supporting Planning for Integrated Refugee and Host Communities”.

Consequently, UN-Habitat has set-up a field project office in Kakuma, Turkana County. Part of the primary activities of the office is to coordinate field research on the human settlements context, looking not only at the refugee camp areas but as well at the development of Turkana towns and villages.

Funded by the Japanese Government, UN-Habitat committed to provide technical support for urban strategies and spatial planning for the Kalobeyei New Settlement, and support to the County Government through capacity building and technical advice on planning for sustainable urban development.

Part of the  UN-Habitat technical team recently visited the site for Kalobeyei New Settlement and Kakuma town and the Refugee Camp area, in a scoping mission meant to familiarize the team with the local context. UNHCR supported this mission, and a meeting with UNHCR’s Head of Sub Office, Ms. Honorine Sommet-Lange was held, where she reaffirmed collaboration with UN-Habitat towards the successful implementation of the Kalobeyei Project.

The UN-Habitat mission was joined by a delegation from the County Government of Turkana, led by planner Mark Ewesit Ewoi, the Chief Officer of Lands, Physical Planning, Housing and Urban Areas Management. Together, the County Government of Turkana, UNHCR and UN-Habitat the mission discussed the progress of the project and the pertinent issues arising. Emphasis was on remaining focused to delivering a sustainable human settlement development in Kalobeyei. While finalizing a formal agreement with UNHCR on the collaboration for KISEDP, UN-Habitat has initiated a primary research on livelihoods and human settlement patterns.