Located in north-eastern Kenya, in Garissa County, the Dadaab refugee complex is one of the largest refugee camps in the world and was originally established in 1991 to receive refugees fleeing the civil war in neighbouring Somalia.
It consists of several camps, most notably Hagadera Camp, Dagahaley Camp and Ifo Camp, which together host hundreds of thousands of people.
According to recent figures reported by UNHCR, Dadaab is home to over 432,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.
Many have lived in the camp for decades, some even born and raised within its confines, having never known anything different than the struggles of the camp.
The humanitarian challenges
The sheer scale of Dadaab places enormous pressure on infrastructure, services and resources, furthermore the landscape, lack of access to food and water naturally adds to this pressure.
- Water supply and sanitation remain major issues. Overcrowding and resource constraints have forced many families to face daily uncertainty over clean water access.
- Food insecurity is acute. Many refugees arrive exhausted, having fled drought, conflict or famine in Somalia.
- Protracted displacement means that for many refugees, life in Dadaab is not a temporary phase but a long-term scenario. This affects children growing up without the security of a stable home, and greatly reduces opportunities for self-reliance and dignity.
- The camp environment also presents risks in terms of health, mental wellbeing and education. Overcrowded shelters, limited employment opportunities and dependence on external aid all combine to maintain a severe level of vulnerability.
How Mission Relief Is Responding
Recently, our founder Hamza was honoured to speak at the UNHCR compound in Dadaab, underscoring the importance of strong systems and processes in humanitarian operations. With Mission Relief representing both UK and Africa branches, we are stepping up to support the Dadaab community with a base in the camp, opened in partnership with UNHCR.
Our focus at Mission Relief includes:
- Establishing an authorised operational base in Dadaab to better coordinate assistance and ensure that aid reaches the right people, at the right time and in the right way.
- Building transparent, scalable systems across multiple countries and projects, so our work in Dadaab is grounded in accountability and effectiveness.
- Delivering core humanitarian aid – including clean water, food parcels, hygiene kits and educational support – while linking these with longer-term solutions that give refugees more than immediate relief.
- Enhancing community trust and agility: by embedding strong frameworks, we aim to reduce wastage, duplication and exclusion, making humanitarian assistance more meaningful than mere hand-outs.
As Hamza said: “Resilience is everywhere, but when paired with structure, it becomes a machine that empowers.” This reflects our belief that dignity and empowerment must go hand in hand with relief.
Why This Matters
Dadaab is not only one of the largest refugee camps in the world but also one of the most complex humanitarian environments. When systems falter, people suffer. With shrinking global aid budgets and growing needs, particularly driven by climate shocks and conflict in the Horn of Africa, the risk is that communities like those in Dadaab will slip further into dependency and despair.
By taking a dual approach, urgent aid plus systems strengthening, Mission Relief aims to help shift the camp’s trajectory from just survival towards stability and dignity.
Looking ahead
Our plan now is to deepen our engagement in Dadaab over the coming months and years. With the support of donors, field staff, business partners and volunteers, we will:
- Expand our operational footprint in the camp and its environs.
- Scale up interventions in water, sanitation, education and protection.
- Develop livelihood opportunities where possible so that refugees have more control over their futures.
- Maintain clear reporting, transparency and community involvement in every step of our work.
In a setting as large and enduring as Dadaab, short-term fixes will not suffice. Mission Relief is committed to being part of a durable solution, helping ensure that the people of Dadaab are not forgotten and that their resilience is matched by meaningful opportunity and support.
Support Our Mission
We cannot do this without you, Mission Relief relies on your donations to help support those most in need in the Dadaab Camp and beyond. Whether it’s providing clean safe drinking water, food packs, access to hygiene kits, medical aid or more, your donations can make the difference. Mission Relief works on providing sustainable development as well as immediate aid, ensuring that those in need aren’t reliant on aid forever.
