Africa/Japan: Japanese actress highlights refugee plight at Kenya camp

Top Japanese actress Rei Kikukawa has appealed for more assistance to the children and refugees of Kenya's Dadaab camp during a recent visit to raise awareness of their plight among the Japanese public. Kikukawa, 26, visited Dadaab refugee camp in north-eastern Kenya for four days last week with a team from Nippon Television Network Corporation, one of the leading Japanese TV stations. "The timing of this visit is quite important," said Toshiro Odashima, who heads UNHCR's office in Dadaab. "It comes at a time when world attention has shifted to Asia after the recent tsunami disaster. I hope Rei's presence here will remind the Japanese and the world of continued needs in places like Dadaab."