Former Israeli hostages Aviva and Keith Siegel traveled to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya last week with the Israeli humanitarian NGO IsraAID for a learning and promotional visit, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The trip, which took place from January 26-31, marked one of the first major field engagements for the Siegel couple since they announced plans to focus on international humanitarian work following their captivity by Hamas in Gaza.
The couple traveled to Kakuma Refugee Camp and the adjacent Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement in northeastern Kenya, according to a press release from IsraAID. As of May 2025, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) had registered approximately 303,247 people in the Kakuma area, including 222,078 in Kakuma Camp and 78,905 in Kalobeyei. The majority of refugees in the area had fled war and climate-related disasters across the region, primarily from Somalia, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
UNHCR figures also showed that 87% of all refugees and asylum seekers in Kenya were living in large, densely populated tent camps.
IsraAID
IsraAID, Israel’s leading NGO dedicated to international humanitarian aid, has operated in Kakuma since 2014, implementing programs in water, sanitation and hygiene, mental health, education, public health, and livelihoods training, among other sectors. As of February 2026, the organization was active in 12 countries worldwide, responding to both acute emergencies and protracted crises. During the visit, the Siegels toured community water points, schools, health and nutrition outreach sites, and safe spaces for at-risk children and teenagers.
Keith Siegel, who spent 484 days in Hamas captivity before his release in early 2025, said the trip underscored his commitment to raising awareness about humanitarian crises.
“During and after my captivity, I was astonished to see how many people advocated for my freedom and cared about my fate. That’s what has given me hope. Now, I want to use my voice and my platform to amplify the voices of people living through devastating humanitarian situations, like here in Kakuma, where hundreds of thousands survive on one meal a day, with limited access to safe water, and few options for a better life,” he said in an IsraAID statement.
Siegel highlighted IsraAID’s work in installing large-scale water systems, screening refugees for malnutrition, and providing young people with safe learning environments.
Humanitarian work
Earlier this year, the Siegel couple announced their decision to enter humanitarian work in partnership with IsraAID, citing their experience in captivity and the support they received from Israeli society as motivating factors.
IsraAID’s chief executive, Yotam Polizer, said the organization was honored to host the Siegels in Kakuma, Kenya, and welcomed their efforts to advocate for global humanitarian causes.
“At IsraAID, we are honored that Aviva and Keith Siegel have chosen to join our team,” Polizer said, praising the dedication the couple has made to use their platform to spread awareness of humanitarian crises.
IsraAID CEO, Polizer added, “We hope this visit is just the first step in a new global initiative to bring urgent relief and sustainable change to communities living through crisis and emergency, in Kakuma and around the world.”
