Follow up on Kenya

Humanitarian concerns continue in the wake of post-election violence in Kenya. Africa News (1/14/08) and BBC Monitoring - Africa (1/15/08) report estimates that 300,000 people (75% of them destitue) have been displaced, many of them from Kenya's food producing areas of the Rift Valley. Because supply chains of maize and dairy products are disrupted, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network predicts severe food insecurity for both rural and urban areas.

Even an immediate poltical resolution might not avert malnutrition and disease. Those who have been displaced have lost farming tools and homes; their growing season may be a total loss. In addition, it is reasonable to expect that tourism will suffer huge losses.

According to reports that appear on Reuters Altertnet humanitarian assistance is being pledged to blunt the crisis. For example, the Catholic hamanitarian agency Caritas Aoteoroa New Zealand has pledged $10,000. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has provided $250,000 worth of emergency supplies. On January 9, the U.S. Department of State announced a $200,000 donation to the Kenya Red Cross Society. UNHCR and its partner World Concern began a second round of distribution of basic supplies. to benefit approximately 300 people.

For those who would like to make a donation, Anthony Mwangi of the Kenya Red Cross society writes,

"Donate Online Through Partnership With Google

You can donate to the Kenya Red Cross Society through an ONLINE DONATION service that Kenya Red Cross has set up in partnership with Google. Please click the “DONATE” button on the Kenya Red Cross website (http://www.kenyaredcross.org/) homepage then donate your preferred amount. The Google Online Account is active. You can also click the following link to donate online: http://www.kenyaredcross.org/donate.php?subcat=91. We shall ensure that the funds are utilized to assist those affected and displaced in Kenya. Please visit our website from time to time as we shall be uploading the statistics of your donations.

You can also donate through our Bank Account with information available on: http://www.kenyaredcross.org/newsdetail.php?newsid=71&subcat=77"

Remember that there are several agencies working in Kenya that may be contacted to make a connection if you want to donate time or money. A list of them may be found at AlertNet.