Even before voting started in Kenya’s general elections, volunteers of the Kenya Red Cross were on a 24-hour standby for any eventuality at Headquarters and branches across the country. “We hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” is a common phrase in disaster preparedness, hence the election violence was anticipated. As a neutral body, the main purpose of Kenya Red Cross volunteers was to offer humanitarian aid and first aid services in cases of violence incidences. From the evening of 27 December 2007, Kenya experienced a spate of violent scenes in various areas following the delay in the declaration of the presidential results and the subsequent declaration.
During two weeks of widespread violence, hundreds of people lost their lives and over 200,000 people displaced throughout Kenya. Half a million people are in need of major humanitarian assistance. Many homes have been destroyed and businesses looted in clashes between political opponents and gangs. Help, help! “Saidia, saidia!” were the calls of many who found themselves cornered, attacked, injured and left to die, but just in time for the Red Cross team to rescue them. This team of angels in the name of Kenya Red Cross volunteers was a sign of hope to many and the volunteers have been outstanding in making our Movement one of the most effective humanitarian organisations in Kenya today.
In the evening of 29 December, chaos erupted in many parts of Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Coast and Nairobi provinces. Kenya Red Cross volunteers got down work immediately, assisting the injured as well as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Many of the IDPs were without basic human needs such as food, water, sanitation, clothing and shelter. There were reports of outbreaks of waterborne and respiratory tract diseases brought about by overcrowding, overstretched water and sanitation resources.
Kenya Red Cross offered first aid, distribution of food and non-food items, tracing and re-uniting families, dissemination of the Red Cross values and principles, trauma counselling and public health interventions. Throughout the past two weeks, Kenya Red Cross volunteers continued to show passion for humanity, despite the challenges and risk to their personal safety. On 29 December 2007, five volunteers were deployed to Dagoretti area of Nairobi to offer services and assess the situation following violence. On arrival, a large and rowdy group approached the Red Cross vehicle and insisted that the volunteers come to assist some casualties. Once the personnel were in the middle of the crowd some of the group started enquiring about the ethnicity of the personnel on board. This was demeaning for the Red Cross, which has worked with impartiality and neutrality at all times. This is just one incident among others that volunteers have had to go through in the line of duty. Though challenging, tiring, stressful and traumatizing, with the support of among others, Mr. Abbas Gullet, the Secretary General of Kenya Red Cross, the spirit among volunteers has been to come together for humanity.
These volunteers, most of whom are youth, have shown great support and dedication during the operation. They have made themselves available and have worked for long hours without complaint. It is now plain to see that these young volunteers are at the heart of much of the success of the Kenya Red Cross. Their desire to improve the situation of their fellow Kenyans affected by the unusual post-election violence cannot go unnoticed.
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The Kenya Red Cross is providing food and non-food aid to those worst affected by the violence (Mathare, Kenya) / Kenya Red Cross Society
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Kenya Red Cross volunteers offloading a truck to distribution relief food at an IDP site in Nairobi / Kenya Red Cross Society
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Kenya Red Cross volunteers providing first aid to the injured / Kenya Red Cross Society
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Youth of the Kenya Red Cross are working hard to help those affected / Kenya Red Cross Society
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Volunteers must manage large crowds of people at aid distribution sites / Kenya Red Cross Society
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