The World Food Programme (WFP) says it has been forced to cut food rations issued to refugees in Kenya in half due to insufficient funding.

The United Nations food agency says the drastic measures, which begin on Saturday, come as it struggles to raise $38 million (Ksh3.4 billion) needed to keep its food programme running for the next six months.

About half a million refugees, mainly from Somalia and South Sudan, are accommodated in the Kakuma and Dadaab camps in northern Kenya, most of them dependent on food aid.

“WFP has done everything it can to avoid reducing rations, using all means at our disposal to cover critical funding gaps,” said WFP Deputy Country Director for Kenya, Paul Turnbull. He added that rationing was the only move left, even as his organization tried hard to raise the required funds.

The $38 million includes $15.5 million (Ksh1.4 billion) required to feed the refugees until the end of January.

WFP’s current food stocks will only last ten weeks under the rationing, which will see reduction in daily calorie consumption per refugee from 2,100 kilocalories per person per day to 1,050.

WFP food distribution included cereals, pulses, vegetable oil, a nutrient-rich maize-soya blend and salt. Kakuma and Daadab consume 9,700 metric tons worth $10 million each month.

“WFP depends entirely on voluntary contributions from donors who generously support food assistance for refugees,” said Valerie Guarnieri, WFP's Regional Director for East and Central Africa. She adds that competing interests have led to the strain in giving, but they are committed to raise the funds.