Concern is to launch an appeal on behalf of hundreds of thousands of ordinary Kenyans caught up in post-electoral violence
since the hotly contested results were announced at the end of December. 250,000 people are displaced and over half a million are in need of urgent assistance. Concern is working with local Kenyan
organisations and missions to meet the growing needs of those displaced and slum populations. Slum communities continue to be affected by ongoing insecurity, upsurges in crime, high prices and poor
availability of essential commodities. Casual day labour and petty trade, the main economic lifeline for the vast majority of slum dwellers in the main urban centres, has been greatly reduced. Tensions remain high in many parts of Kenya and violence continues as the political crisis is still unsolved. Access to people in need of help is also an issue with main routes in the Rift
Valley subject to incidents of road blockages and looting of vehicles. There is also limited access to slum areas especially in Kisumu and Nairobi. All of these factors mean that people are facing
increasing difficulty in accessing food and that malnutrition levels are likely to increase. Disruption of agriculture in the Rift Valley and Western provinces, known as the breadbasket of Kenya could
seriously impact on food security later in the year. In addition, there are growing concerns due to drought in the North East of Kenya. Concern is seeking funding to respond to food needs in this
region.
Concern responds to Kenyan emergencies
Concern is now responding on three fronts in Kenya. It is focusing its efforts on working in safe areas of the Nairobi slums. Some of
the most vulnerable members of that community are women and children and those infected with HIV and AIDS. Staff have carried out assessments and are responding to the needs of both displaced people
and the settled population in Kitale and Kisumu. Both of these towns, north of Eldoret, have been devastated by violence and rioting. In addition, Concern is responding to the drought-related
emergency in the North East where people have only recovered from the 2006 drought. All of these areas require emergency and long-term help. Concern is also working with the Kenyan Ministry of Health
to fast track the use of Community Therapeutic Care (CTC), a revolutionary new approach to tackle malnutrition, by sending skilled staff to set up training programmes.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
Looters carry goods stolen from a shop during post-election violence in Naivasha January 29, 2008. Former U.N. chief Kofi Annan launched formal mediation efforts on Tuesday to end the post-election crisis ...
