AMREF's Appeal for Aid to Kenya

Special Urgent Appeal for Kenya January 11, 2008

AMREF's Response to the Humanitarian Crisis and Call for Help -DONATE NOW!

When election results were announced, Mama Kiki was in her home with her 7 children and 2 orphaned grand-children. Their home was attacked by a gang who set fire to both it and the neighbouring food kiosk which provided the whole family a reasonable living. They all escaped alive, but lost everything that they owned. They are now staying with a neighbour, who is sheltering them. Mama Kiki is pictured here, standing on the rubble of her life.

Dear Friends of AMREF, On behalf of all of the women, men and children AMREF serves, thank you for your remarkable generosity throughout 2007 and for the outpouring of concern and compassion during this very troubling and sad time in Kenya. Post-election violence has left up to 500 dead, thousands injured and more than 300,000 people homeless and forced to take refuge in 42 camps across the country. I want to take this opportunity to update you on the current situation, AMREF's response and to ask you to please make a donation to AMREF's Kenyan Response Fund.

What is happening...

Many people had very little to begin with but the violence destroyed many homes and families with children have fled in fear. Thousands of people are living in makeshift camps with rudimentary water supplies, no sanitation or health care. Many more are afraid and trapped in their own homes hiding. Just a few minutes' drive from AMREF’s Headquarters in Nairobi, people are living and sleeping in Jamhuri Park. With so many people sharing few public toilets and little to no water supply, there is a serious risk of an outbreak of disease and dehydration.

A few miles away in Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, our health clinic has re-opened. Before the unrest it provided services to 97,000 people. Now, some people are frightened to go to the clinic, so three new mobile clinics will visit different areas, providing essential medical services. As our Director General, Michael Smalley said, “It is back to AMREF’s roots. If people can't come to us, we will go to them”. The Kenyan Ministry of Health and the Kenyan Red Cross have asked AMREF to help because of its specialist medical skills and experience. AMREF has responded rapidly.

As you know, AMREF is not an emergency response organization, but with so much turmoil on our doorstep in Kenya , and pr oje c ts already in pla c e, we c ould not ignore the need around us. AMREF Kenya has completed an assessment, and we are fo c using on three areas: Providing water, sanitation and health edu c ation to 5,000 people living in Jamhuri Park , Nairobi . Establishing an emergen c y laboratory to monitor and diagnose illness in Jamhuri Park , thus pr eventing the spread of disease. Establishing three new mobile clinics to work in Kibera. We need your help To support these essential initiatives, AMREF has established the Kenya Response Fund. Every penny counts. Please help by making a donation today to support this life-saving effort. Please click here now to make a special secure, online donation. Alternatively, you can call our office at 416-961-6981 to make your donation by phone. Together we can make sure that people who have already lost their homes and families do not risk their lives due to untreated disease or illness.

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I will continue to update you as information becomes available. Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information or visit us online at http://www.amrefcanada.org/. Once again, please know how much your thoughts, concern and support mean to your colleagues and their families in Kenya. Asante sana,
Alanna Rondi Executive Director, AMREF Canada P.S. A concerned group of AMREF supporters has already begun planning a fundraising event on January 23rd at Manyata Courtyard Café in Toronto. If you would like to get involved, please call our office at 416-961-6981. DONATE NOW