Why millions of refugees live in the dark despite living under the power grid
In short: Most of the world’s 102 million forcibly displaced people lack reliable, sustainable energy. While humanitarian workers enjoy constant electricity for offices and air conditioning, refugees often rely on basic fuels like firewood. Dr. Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen explores why modern power remains elusive for those living in the world's most vulnerable settings.
For the 102 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, the reality of energy access is stark. Research indicates that 94 percent of those living in camps lack meaningful power, while 81 percent rely on rudimentary fuels for cooking. This often manifests as fuel stacking, where households use multiple small stoves and burning sticks to boil water or prepare food. Even in locations like Kakuma in Kenya or Nyabiheke in Rwanda, where national grid infrastructure may physically pass over a camp, refugee households remain largely disconnected from modern electricity.
The energy divide is deeply political. Humanitarian organizations often maintain their own power sources for computers, water coolers, and air conditioning, yet these systems frequently rely on unsustainable fossil fuels. Meanwhile, refugees who need to charge mobile phones or access refrigeration must often pay for services at informal local businesses, such as milk bars or charging kiosks. This creates a fragmented landscape where energy is treated as a luxury service rather than a fundamental necessity for daily life.
Dr. Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen, a researcher at the University of Oxford, highlights that these failures stem from governance challenges and a lack of technical expertise within the humanitarian sector. For over a decade, the focus has shifted from a total lack of data to identifying inclusive, refugee-led solutions. Addressing this requires moving beyond the current reliance on basic lighting tools like torches or small solar panels, which offer only minimal services, toward sustainable, affordable, and reliable infrastructure that empowers displaced communities rather than leaving them in the shadows of the aid system.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Sustainable Energy in Refugee Camps - Dr Sarah Rosenberg-Jansen
- Also: Sustainable Energy in Refugee Camps
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