National Mirror
Called to Witness
| Issue No:
Date: Wed, Apr 07, 2010
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Caritas Kenya-POST ELECTORAL VIOLENCE IN KENYA: UPDATE
| | THE SITUATION Following the 2007 General Elections in Kenya held on Thursday 27th December 2007, intense violence has been observed in various parts of the country: civilians have been beaten, homes burnt down and men, women and children killed. The violence encompasses criminal and ethnically motivated acts spread across the country. As tension remains high, there is increased displacement of people into police stations, churches, schools and market centers. There are thousands of people affected in 19 areas including: • Nairobi Province - Kibera, Kawangware, Dandora, Mathare, Korogocho, Dagoretti; • Nyanza Province - Kisumu and its environs, Migori , Kisii and Nyando; • Western Province - Busia, Butere-Mumias, Bungoma and Webuye; • Rift Valley Province - Nakuru, Eldoret town, Narok, Kericho, Sotik, Kuresoi, Burnt Forest, Trans Nzoia and West Pokot; • Coast Province - Mombasa in particular Likoni and Kisauni, Mtongwe, Changamwe; • Eastern Province - Meru town and Nkubu; • North Eastern Province - Mandera Rhamu. A number of towns have been totally cut off, as many major roads were barricaded by various communities and denying access to road users. These led to huge traffic snarl up from Nakuru town to Nyanza and to Rift Valley and other key towns, which made it impossible for relief assistance to access the affected communities. Essential supplies and key markets were also been affected. However the access situation is slowly improving with calm settling in various parts and deployment of security escorts to the major roads. So far over 486 People have been reported killed, thousands more injured, and property worth millions destroyed. According to the media and the Kenya Red Cross Society reports, about 500,000 people are displaced across the country. Most of the displaced are stationed in churches, police stations and other public compounds. Many others are locked up in their homes with dwindling supplies of food and water. The affected people needed urgent humanitarian assistance in form of food and non-food items, medical and counseling. About 1300 people have fled to Uganda (OCHA Uganda Reports) Evacuation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Eldoret and other towns is on going through security trucks Humanitarian response missions to Somalia and Sudan has been quite affected and generally there have been impacts felt in the East and horn of Africa Region CHURCH/ CARITAS RESPONSE • The Kenya Episcopal Conference has released a strong press statement calling for peace and dialogue among the communities and leaders. • Caritas Kenya has issued an alert through Caritas Internationals to the wider community • Caritas Kenya is the lead coordinating agency for the Church response and is leading in the Development of a joint appeal to Caritas Internationals. • Caritas Kenya has established a communication centre with staff seconded by other Caritas’s to strengthen Coordination of activities • Caritas Kenya is coordinating responses to Various Dioceses for immediate needs: Preliminary support has been sent to Nairobi’s Kariobangi Parish,-CAFOD, to Eldoret and Bungoma - CRS & CAFOD, to Archdiocese of Mombasa-CAFOD , St Patrick’s Missionary, Kericho Dioceses by CAFOD • Caritas MOs present in Nairobi, particularly Caritas Kenya, CRS and CAFOD, are gathering information and data from the affected Dioceses and will be putting up an appeal as soon as possible. We are currently in contact with other Caritas agencies present in Kenya to ensure we are able to respond in a coordinated manner. Assessment missions are being organized jointly • Caritas Kenya will continue representing the Church in the various ongoing Forums and relaying back information • Under the Inter-religious Leaders’ Initiative comprising of the Catholic, NCCK, Hindu Council and Muslim Community we have the Humanitarian sub- group comprising of Faith Based Humanitarian agencies including Caritas Member Organizations in Nairobi ( Caritas Kenya, CRS, and CAFOD), World Vision, Oxfam, Action Aid , Food For the Hungry, AIC Diguna, ADRA and NCCK, . This sub group is meeting daily to coordinate responses to the affected Communities. • Caritas Kenya, CRS, and CAFOD held a meeting on 2nd January 2008, and agreed on logistics of responding to the immediate needs on the ground based on information collected from the Dioceses. For an immediate response to the highly affected areas (Eldoret and Bungoma), CAFOD and CRS have both pledged USD10, 000 each (USD 20,000 in total) to Eldoret. They have further pledged to contribute USD 10,000 in total to Bungoma immediately. The funds would be transferred immediately in line with advice from the Dioceses. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Information is very important and we urge all of to relay important information on the situation to the national office as soon as possible. Information on the affected especially the internally displaced peoples (numbers, locations and needs) and emerging trends is very crucial in organizing support. It is also essential to let caritas know who is on the ground to avoid duplication in response. For all requests submitted to Caritas Partners Bilaterally, please make sure Caritas Kenya has a copy for coordination purposes For all communications and inquiries on use the following e-mail addresses should be used: caritaskenya@catholichurch.or.ke , emergency@catholicchurch.or.ke, elecviol07@catholicchurchrch.or.ke Mobile Phone No: +254-727 802 810 Fax: 254-20 4442 910 • For pledges and contributions kindly use the following account A/C. Name: KEC-Relief Account No: 1356866 Barclays Bank of Kenya Westlands Branch • In-kind contributions can be delivered to: Radio Waumini Offices Off Thika Road, Opposite Safari Park Hotel-Nairobi |
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