UN Situation Report No. 24
The overall security situation in Kenya as of 30 January, 2008 is described as tense and volatile but calm, including in the flashpoint towns of Nairobi, Kisumu, Kericho, Eldoret, Naivasha, Nakuru and Molo. The negotiation teams from the Government and the Opposition had no meetings scheduled today but were preparing to meet Thursday and Friday within the framework of the national dialogue process mediated by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. The security situation is increasingly affecting the humanitarian operation on-going in Kenya. In the face of escalating inter-ethnic clashes and violent protests in western Kenya and Rift Valley, the NGO Trócaire reports that a number of its partners have been forced to temporarily suspend their regular activities and evacuate staff. The NGO, however, continues to support the affected population with food, blankets, clothing, trauma counseling, transport to safer areas and other services.
The violence that erupted in Nakuru and Naivasha over the weekend has also impeded World Vision’s (WV) humanitarian aid to about 15,000 people in the area. The situation does not allow a continuation of direct support to the IDPs without endangering the lives of humanitarian workers, WV said in a statement. Due to security concerns, WV has been forced to halt some of its operations in the affected area. The NGO was planning to distribute food to over 7,000 people in Rongai near Nakuru but this distribution is on hold as the situation is highly volatile. In Narok district where WV operates a development program, 28 schools have been closed and children told to go home. With all roads to Nakuru and Naivasha blocked, aid agencies have no access to displaced families and WV staff has been forced to stop work in the face of renewed violence.
Humanitarian response
Food & Logistics
On 29 January, 2.7 metric tons of WFP food were delivered to 205 people at three IDP camps in Kisumu and 7,531 IDPs received 15 metric tons of food in Nakuru North and Naivasha districts.
10 trucks carrying 286 metric tons of food were dispatched from Mombasa to different places in Kenya yesterday. Three of the trucks carrying 68 metric tons food were dispatched to Nairobi for vulnerable people. Meanwhile, there are 20 trucks in Nairobi awaiting an escort to proceed to Eldoret, Kakuma and neighbouring countries.
Three WFP trucks for Kipkelion were attacked by youths throwing stones, and had to return to Eldoret on 28 January. Yesterday, the trucks were again sent off to Kipkelion with security escort, and successfully reached the destination.
The railway line from Mombasa has been damaged in at least three locations and is currently not passable. Sections of the track through the Kibera slum in Nairobi, near Kisumu and entering Eldoret have all been damaged. Rift Valley Railways expect to complete repairs by 31 January however the repair teams are under constant threat and this target may not be achievable.
The situation at the port of Mombasa continues to improve. There are currently 13,000 containers at the port and in addition 494 at anchorage. The average waiting time at the port has been further reduced to two days.
ReliefWeb
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