Cologne/Nairobi. Within just a few days, around 50,000 people have fled the conflict in Moyale, Ethiopia, to neighboring Kenya. Families are fleeing the fighting, which is linked to a dispute over control of the area between the Ethiopian regions of Oromia and Somali.
Through local partners, Malteser International is providing medical care and distributing water and hygiene kits. This assistance will reach several thousand people.
“Many people have found shelter with host families, while others are living in makeshift shelters or sleeping on the streets in the rain. Many families had to leave all their belongings behind and could usually only bring what they could carry. Medical care, clean water and sanitation facilities are particularly lacking. Our staff on the ground report increasing numbers of people with diarrhea illnesses and some suspected cases of measles. Help is therefore urgently needed,” reports Manuel Lackmaier, Head of Office of Malteser International in Kenya. At the same time, some health facilities are only partially operational. Children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers are particularly in need of support.
Through local partners, Malteser International is providing mobile medical care and medicines. Medical consultations and nutrition screenings are planned to identify patients who are malnourished especially children under 5yrs and pregnanct/breastfeeding women. They will then receive targeted nutritional support or be referred directly to health facilities for further treatment.
In addition, Malteser International is providing water containers and hygiene items for around 3,000 people through local partners. Temporary toilets and handwashing facilities are currently being installed or repaired.
The planned assistance will support both refugees and particularly vulnerable households in host communities.
Malteser International has been implementing health programming in Kenya since 2001.
Note to editors:
Photos can be downloaded here.
Manuel Lackmaier, Head of Office of Malteser International in Kenya, is available for interviews and soundbites.
To arrange an interview, please contact: Katharina Kiecol, +49 (0)221 98227 181; katharina.kiecol@malteser-international.org
People in Kenya urgently need donations:
Malteser Hilfsdienst e. V.
IBAN: DE10 3706 0120 1201 2000 12
S.W.I.F.T.: GENODED 1PA7
Reference: “Kenya”
