Reuters AlertNet Full site
Homepage | Newsdesk | NGO Latest | Crisis briefings | Country profiles | MediaWatch | Jobs | Alerting | Login

FROM THE FIELD

Catholic Relief Services Helps Kenyans Affected by Post-Election Violence
03 Jan 2008 17:46:00 GMT
 Source: Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - USA
Website: Website: http://www.crs.org

217466 logo
Two women displaced by the post-election violence in Eldoret prepare maize on cathedral grounds.
Previous | Next
Two women displaced by the post-election violence in Eldoret prepare maize on cathedral grounds.
Jeannine Cisco/CRS

Background

•  Kenya violence

MORE >>
January 3, 2008, Baltimore, Md. - As violence erupts across Kenya following the Dec. 27 general elections, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is responding with assistance to a growing number of people displaced by armed mobs, looters and other violent groups. The agency immediately committed $50,000 for the emergency response, money that will provide food and supplies to displaced families and support the peace and conciliation efforts of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference.

At least 300 people have been killed, and the Kenyan Red Cross estimates the unrest displaced at least 70,000 people in the Rift Valley alone. Many Kenyans are seeking refuge from the violence in churches, police stations and other public compounds. Other families are holed up in their homes, and will face dwindling supplies of food and water. Stores have been looted, homes burned down, and hospitals report an overwhelming influx of patients seeking care. Some communities have barricaded roads, completely cutting off access to some towns and villages.

The violence exploded after Kenya's electoral commission declared President Mwai Kibaki the winner of a closely contested race with challenger Raila Odinga. Independent observers have raised questions about possible irregularities in the vote tallies.

"This has become a humanitarian crisis," said Ken MacLean, CRS' country representative in Kenya, describing how one staff member's house was burned and others have had to flee their homes. "The attacking and burning of homes continues. The number of Kenyans affected by this violence will only escalate unless security is restored."

The Kenyan Episcopal Conference called for all Kenyans to refrain from violence, encouraged an investigation into claims of electoral irregularities and appealed to political leaders - including incumbent Kibaki and Odinga - to engage in dialogue.

"Kenya has always been an island of peace and we pray and urge all Kenyans to take upon themselves to come out clearly now to promote peace and safeguard our beloved Nation," the conference said in a statement released on Jan. 2.

CRS will use $15,000 of its commitment to provide food to affected families in the dioceses of Bungoma and Eldorat, where 50 people - including women and children - were burned to death while seeking shelter in a Protestant church. Sister Caritas agencies, such as CAFOD and Trocaire, are also assisting these regions with food and other supplies. CRS will also coordinate with partner agencies, to continue to assess needs as the humanitarian crisis unfolds.

CRS has been working in Kenya for close to 40 years, working with local partners to serve some of the country's poorest communities through programs focused on food, health care, HIV, orphans and other vulnerable children, agriculture, clean water, sanitation, and natural resource management. ### Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 100 countries and territories based on need, regardless of race, nationality or creed.


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Email this article       Send comments

Topics

•  Media & Humanitarianism

•  Security

MORE >>

Emergencies

•  Kenya violence

MORE >>

Members

•  Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - USA

MORE >>

NGO latest

•  CRS Gears Up for Long-Term Assistance to Kenyans Affected by Election Violence
CRS - USA

•  Concern warns that breakdown in talks could deepen humanitarian crisis in Kenya
Concern Worldwide - Ireland

•  Kenyan Catholic Bishop calls for Kenyans to refrain from violence
CAFOD - UK

•  Young & Rubicam Creates Chilling Radio Advert to Support Landmine Victims
Clear Path International - USA

•  IMC Provides Basic Health Services to Desperate Kibera Population
IMC - USA

MORE >>

Latest news

•  Kenyan cabinet minister rejects Annan mediation

•  Kenya braces for tough week, deaths rise to 612

•  Post-election conflict causes extreme food insecurity in rural areas, urban centers

•  KENYA: Political unrest sparks food insecurity, livelihood losses

•  VIDEO: Kenya crisis

MORE >>

[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Related articles

Breaking stories
Kenyan cabinet minister rejects Annan mediation (1 minute ago)

Kenya braces for tough week, deaths rise to 612 (1 minute ago)

AlertNet insight
Kenya crisis jeopardises Africa's emergence from poverty (1 minute ago)

Aid agency news feed
CRS Gears Up for Long-Term Assistance to Kenyans Affected by Election Violence (1 minute ago)

Blogs
A trek looms for Kenya's refugees (1 minute ago)

Maps
MAP: Uganda population movements (1 minute ago)


Country information

Briefings
Kenya violence - [Who works where]

Topics
Feature Media & Humanitarianism Security
Facts & figures
Kenya

Del.icio.us Del.icio.us  |   Digg Digg  |   NewsVine NewsVine  |   Reddit Reddit   
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-01-14T105039Z_01_AFR02_RTRIDSP_2_KENYA-CRISIS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/AFR02.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-01-14T104910Z_01_AFR04_RTRIDSP_2_KENYA-CRISIS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/AFR04.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-01-14T104736Z_01_AFR03_RTRIDSP_2_KENYA-CRISIS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/AFR03.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-01-14T104156Z_01_AFR01_RTRIDSP_2_KENYA-CRISIS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/AFR01.htm
Thumb for /thefacts/imagerepository/RTRPICT/2008-01-13T123359Z_01_AFR12_RTRIDSP_2_KENYA-CRISIS_mainimage.jpg|/thenews/pictures/AFR12.htm

A mother helps her child prepare for school in Nairobi's Mathare slum January 14, 2008. Schools in the capital re-opened on Monday, after post-election violence delayed the start of the new ...


More pictures | Galleries
Disclaimers |  Copyright |  Privacy |  Contact Us |  Feedback |  About Us |  RSS XML

Last updated:Mon Jan 14 17:20:36 2008