10/06/2003

Firewood shortages in Kakuma continue to undermine the security of refugee women who depend on firewood to cook.  As they gather firewood, often far from the refugee camp, refugee women are harassed or raped.  In addition, women are forced to barter their food rations for firewood.  Several years ago, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) began providing firewood to refugees so that they would not have to travel far distances and risk violence.  UNHCR meets roughly 25-40 percent of firewood needs; but women who cannot afford to buy firewood from the local population must still walk long distances to gather it.  In response to firewood shortages and resulting threats to refugee women’s security, solar cookers have been introduced into the camp.  It is still unclear whether refugees will use solar cookers, but NGOs believe that if given training, refugees will begin to accept them.  Solar cookers are not a substitute for firewood, but they could serve to reduce dependence on firewood.  A woman who had received a solar cooker explained that she had reduced her firewood consumption by half.