10 January 2008 - Action Against Hunger launches intervention to help thousands of displaced Kenyans*

Nakuru, Kenya—In the aftermath of the disputed presidential election, as many as 30,000 Kenyans have streamed into the provincial capital Nakuru located just 2 hours (150 km) north of Nairobi. Action Against Hunger completed an emergency assessment of the situation and has begun to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the growing population of internally displaced people.

For the moment, relief efforts are focusing on the provision of clean water, sanitation, and the distribution of essential non-food items such as blankets, soap, and clothing. Youcef Hammache, Desk Officer for Kenya, reports that “with the political situation still uncertain and an estimated 2,500 people arriving each day, we are carefully monitoring the nutritional situation to watch for signs of malnutrition in children under five.”

In addition to the relief efforts in Nakuru, Action Against Hunger has begun to conduct similar operations out of its Nairobi offices. The organisation is also monitoring the situation in western Kenya from across the border in Uganda, where it also has active programmes. So far, our teams in Uganda have observed relatively limited cross-border movements of people, mostly restricted to those with resources or family residing in Uganda.

Since 2002, Action Against Hunger has been operating programmes in Kenya. In Mandera and Garissa Districts, Action Against Hunger runs comprehensive emergency nutrition programmes. The work in this region, located in North Eastern Province near the Somalia border, continues unimpeded by the turmoil in the capital.

*Picture copyright: REUTERS/Georgina Cranson

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