Refugee Families Achieve Greater Self-Reliance Outside Traditional Camps
Kakuma, 16 January 2026
Groundbreaking research across 16 countries reveals refugee families are significantly more likely to secure employment, build savings, and achieve independence when supported in community settings rather than camps. The study of nearly 8,000 households found those in cities and towns showed marked progress in work opportunities and debt reduction, whilst camp residents remained aid-dependent. With over 117 million displaced people globally and humanitarian funding declining, these findings challenge traditional approaches to refugee assistance and suggest community integration policies could transform outcomes for millions seeking safety and stability.
Study Methodology Reveals Clear Economic Patterns
The comprehensive analysis, published in BMJ Global Health, examined data from the self-reliance index across 16 countries, assessing 12 distinct areas of household life among refugees, internally displaced people, and host community members [1]. The research encompassed nearly 8,000 households and revealed consistently low self-reliance levels, with most families demonstrating heavy dependence on humanitarian aid regardless of their location [1]. However, the study uncovered a striking pattern: refugees residing in cities, towns, and villages demonstrated measurable progress in employment acquisition, savings accumulation, debt reduction, and reported significantly safer living conditions compared to their counterparts in traditional camp settings [1].
Camp Restrictions Create Economic Dependency Cycle
Traditional refugee camps, whilst providing essential food, shelter, and basic services, often impose significant restrictions on movement and employment opportunities, effectively trapping displaced populations in long-term dependency cycles [1]. These limitations prevent refugees from accessing local labour markets and establishing the economic foundations necessary for self-sufficiency [1]. The research findings indicate that households residing in camps showed minimal improvement across all measured indicators, contrasting sharply with those in community settings who demonstrated clear progress towards independence [1]. However, non-camp refugees face their own distinct challenges, including difficulties accessing essential services and experiencing discrimination from host communities [1].
Real-World Crisis at Tanzania’s Nyarugusu Camp
The theoretical implications of camp-based dependency become starkly apparent in current events at Tanzania’s Nyarugusu camp, where 132,404 refugees face deteriorating conditions following a 50% reduction in social services [2]. Samuel Kuyi, Acting Head of the camp, reported to ministers from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania on 14 January 2026 that funding challenges have severely impacted operations [2]. Food rations have decreased from 75% to 65% of needs, with each refugee now receiving only 9.5 kilograms of food monthly [2]. Healthcare services have been reduced to a single functional unit, referrals to regional hospitals have been discontinued, and the camp hosts refugees from multiple nations including 86,918 from DRC and 45,346 from Burundi [2].
Voluntary Repatriation Emerges as Refugee Response
The deteriorating conditions at Nyarugusu have prompted significant numbers of DRC refugees to express readiness for voluntary repatriation, with some viewing return to their homeland as preferable to continued camp dependency [2]. Apolina Msumbuko, a DRC refugee, articulated this sentiment clearly: “Due to the current situation in the camp lacking essential social services, we are ready to return to our country voluntarily. We lack freedom even to do business to be able to get even a little money for our needs, so the solution is to return home and go to be self-reliant” [2]. The DRC government has begun formal repatriation processes for over 80,000 refugees who fled the country since 1996, with Minister of Social Development Ève Bazaiba emphasising that the return process will be safe, dignified, and voluntary [4]. Tanzania’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs James Ole Millya has assured that no DRC refugee will be forced to return home, with safety and dignity remaining paramount considerations [2].