Aid in Action

Appeal Raises Donations Worth KSH 500,000 for Kenya Crisis Victims

Contribution donated to displaced families through Kenya Red Cross Society

Nairobi, Kenya  | Monday, January 28, 2008

In response to Kenya‘s post-election crisis, the Foreign Service National (FSN) Committee of the U.S. Mission to Kenya has spearheaded an appeal to the US Mission for donations of cash, food and household items to help those affected by the violence. On January 22, FSN Committee representatives presented the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), the lead agency for camp management, with a contribution valued at almost KSH 500,000. Through the appeal, the FSN Committee was able to donate 30 mattresses, 60 jerry cans, 10 bails of Unga flour, sugar, rice, long-life milk and infant porridge flour, along with numerous household items and 68 bags of shoes and clothing.

Funds collected were also used to help FSN staff who have been touched personally. Some tell harrowing stories of family members escaping as their homes were torched, and hiding in the woods for days until it was safe to travel. Many lost their homes, vehicles, furniture, clothing and all of the season’s harvest. The parents of one staff member are currently hosting 20 displaced men, women and children.  Relatives of others are camping out at shopping centers. The FSN Appeal has been able to contribute cash and food to many of these colleagues. In travels through the affected areas, the USG Assessment Team met with a pastor who requested money for coffins. He was given KSH 10,000.

As the appeal continues, staff are requested to give generously, especially non-clothing items such as pots and pans, blankets and non-perishable food. As Susan Nzii, Treasurer of the FSN Executive Committee put it, “The response has been good but could be even better.” Any cash collected will be used to purchase urgently needed items that are in short supply.

To date the USG, through USAID/OFDA, has provided an immediate $200,000 to KRCS for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including blankets and shelter material, 350 rolls of plastic sheeting for more than 2,800 families, valued at more than $173,000 including transport, to Eldoret to supplement existing shelter resources, and through the UN World Food Program (WFP) has distributed a total of 1,226 metric tons of food valued at approximately $1.3 million to IDPs in affected areas. USAID/OFDA has committed $2.8 million for a cooperative agreement with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) who will implement a rapid response program to directly implement and provide sub-grants in water and sanitation, coordination, protection and non-food items.