Poor clildren from the slums and villages killed in Kenya election violence
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Nairobi, Kenya
7th January 2008
Urgent help is needed to assist displaced people from the slums who are in need of emergency health services after ongoing violence in the wake of contested elections. “Women and children in particular need medical care,” said HELP A POOR CHILD’s Kenya representative, Isaac Njuguna.
A family man, desperately feeling the violence and looking for safety.
Some Emergency Response Teams are on the ground, conducting rapid health assessments to determine how best to respond to the needs of people both in the Kibera slums and in the Rift Valley, who have had to flee their homes and have been left without income and food.
Displaced people taking shelter with their prized belongings in and around local offices.
According to various reports, across the country at least 255,000 people have been displaced, 60,000 in Nairobi alone. Nearly 500 have been killed, and Uganda border officials report at least 100 Kenyans per day are crossing the border, creating an urgent humanitarian crisis
Hundreds of residents crammed into local offices and their compound for safety.
Lawlessness and the lack of food are now the most urgent problems for people in Kibera. Those who have money and can buy something to eat outside the slum are often robbed immediately upon return. Marauding gangs take shopping bags from people as food has become scarce and extremely valuable. The response to the humanitarian situation in Kibera itself remains poorly coordinated.
A family man helped by bystanders after being caught up in the violence.
Some food distribution has been conducted in Kibera, though in an apparent haphazard and poorly targeted way. HAPC representatives witnessed several trucks entering the slum together with armed escorts on Wednesday. Some residents said they were frustrated that the distribution came unannounced and would not benefit the poorest and weakest.
Kenyans, living in the slums, try to put out fires, destroying their tiny homes and businesses during another day of intense violence.
The situation will not improve by itself. Most people living in Kibera are now left without any income and food with the vast majority being casual and day labourers who have not been able to work since the elections. They have no resources left whatsoever. The insecurity makes it very difficult for relief workers to go deep into Kibera where the most vulnerable people are now left to themselves and survive the mercy of violent gangs.
Mother and her daughter wait in hope for the return of her husband, taken away during the violence.
The desperate situation also has serious long term health effects. You can help our Kenyan team to do whatever is humanly possible to care for some of the many suffering families in the slums, with food, medical and general aid programmes. Your donations will be very much appreciated at this difficult time for the poorest Kenyans.