International Medical Corps to Assist Displaced and Injured Kenyans

People take shelter in a police station after ethnic violence in Eldoret

Photo: REUTERS/Tim Cocks

Nairobi, Kenya/Los Angeles, CA –International Medical Corps’ Kenya team has identified tens of thousands of displaced Kenyans in urgent need of emergency health services after ongoing violence in the wake of contested elections. “We have determined that women and children in particular need basic medical care,” says Peter McOdida, IMC country director in Kenya. “We are currently discussing with our partners from the Kenyan Red Cross how best to respond to the needs of these people, who have had to flee their homes and need our help.” IMC staff reports that up to 5,000 families are now settling in and around Jamhuri Park in Nairobi, and IMC is preparing to provide immediate services to them.

After a week of widespread violence following disputed general elections held December 27th, at least 300 people are reported dead, including many children, and approximately 100,000 are displaced throughout Kenya. Many homes have been destroyed and businesses looted in brutal clashes between political opponents and marauding gangs. Several thousand Kenyans have escaped the violence and crossed the western border into Uganda. There are also reports of people fleeing to Tanzania in the south.
According to media reports there is a sharp increase in rape cases as a result of indiscriminate violence and lawlessness in some parts of the country. Further reports indicate men and boys also have been sexually assaulted and mutilated. IMC is now assessing the possibility of providing mental health services to the survivors. IMC has successfully run similar programs in several countries where people have experienced large-scale violence and loss.

One of the hardest hit areas is Kibera, a vast slum in Nairobi. IMC provides treatment for tuberculosis patients and supports HIV-infected mothers with food and income-generating programs. Services were supposed to resume after the holidays but have been suspended due to the security situation. “People are not able to come to the IMC clinic to get their TB medication and our staff cannot get to our patients out of fear,” says Peter McOdida. “If TB patients default on their treatment, they will have to restart the course and could eventually develop drug resistance.”
IMC staff also warns that most people living in Kibera are left without any income with the vast majority being casual and day laborers whose income fluctuates from day to day, and who have now lost everything.

Currently, all IMC activities are suspended, including large HIV/AIDS programs in Suba District in western Kenya, and water and sanitation programs in Samburu District in the northwest, because staff cannot reach the program sites safely.

International election observers have raised concerns about the elections process and implied serious irregularities. In a preliminary report the EU Observation Mission says the elections have fallen short of key international and regional standards. With violence continuing, several international diplomatic initiatives are trying to break the political deadlock.