Christians persevere to bring aid to Kenyan refugees

|PIC1|Churches and aid agencies are struggling in the midst of Kenya's post-election turmoil to bring aid to tens of thousands of refugees.

Around 250,000 people have fled their homes for fear of attack from mobs still furious at the outcome of last Sunday's re-election of incumbent President Mwai Kibaki.

The Salvation Army's Chief Secretary, Lieut-Colonel Kenneth Hodder, in Kenya said that it had not been possible to reach hundreds of refugees being sheltered in the Eldoret, Kisumu and Kakamega areas of the country, where the violence has been particularly concentrated.

"Salvation Army officers living in the slum areas of Nairobi are being housed at a safe Salvation Army compound in the city and security at all Army facilities has been increased," he said.

"We are in close contact with our divisional offices in Eldoret, Kisumu, and Kakamega, where hundreds of refugees are being sheltered and fed. Unfortunately, it is not physically possible at this point to reach those locations."

Thousands of refugees are sheltering in Eldoret's Catholic Sacred Heart Cathedral, despite the fatal attack on a church last week in which 30 people were locked in and burned alive by a crowd of angry youths.

|PIC3|Fear of attack has triggered an exodus into neighbouring Uganda, putting a strain on food and fuel supplies there.

Officials in the border town of Malaba estimate that 2,000 Kenyans have arrived in the last week to find safety in the town.

The Salvation Army quoted one person as saying, "We have registered 778 people but about 1,000 more are staying with relatives or in hotels around this area."

Major Eluid Nabiswa is the head of The Salvation Army's Eastern Division in Uganda, which includes the Kenyan border.

He reported large numbers of refugees in Malaba, Bumbo and other border towns.

"At the moment the shops still have goods for purchase but the prices are already going up," he said. "There is little petrol, which will soon have an impact on deliveries. The main needs are food, shelter and soap. Medication and clothing are also needed for some people."

Major Mike Caffull, International Emergency Services Field Operations Officer, meanwhile, reported: "The Salvation Army already has strong presence on the ground and extensive operations in the areas impacted by the unrest. We will do all we can to support our colleagues as they bring assistance to those in need."

Christian aid agency World Vision also reported difficulties in bringing relief to much of the country.

It said that the volatile security situation had "repeatedly hampered" its efforts to bring vital supplies of food, water, medical supplies and blankets to those in need.

"We are planning to get food, water, mosquito nets, blankets and shelter materials to more than 18,500 people living in police stations, schools and churches and others marooned in houses," said World Vision's Nick Wasunna.

"But logistically we are finding it difficult to move any aid to people in need."

|PIC2|World Vision was due to deliver aid to Kibera slum in Nairobi on Saturday and Kisumu on Monday. The agency plans to deliver aid in Eldoret in partnership with the Red Cross.

"We are doing our utmost to reach people but the safety of communities and our staff on the ground is paramount," said Nick Wasunna.

Until the outbreak of violence and killing over the disputed December 27 election, Kenya was regarded as a bastion of democracy and financial stability on the volatile African continent.

The experience is not an easy one for the country's people, who had come to feel pride in their country's success.

Paul Kariuki, a Kenyan small trader, had only seen refugees of African conflicts on television. It was inconceivable to him that he might also one day be a refugee.

"It's my first time to be a refugee. I can't quite believe it," he told Reuters news agency, after picking up his maize handouts.

"I feel humiliated," he added, as he adjusted the collar on his smart, blue fleece jacket. "I had money, I had children in secondary school, I was selling milk and wheat to the market. Now I've got nothing because they burned it all."