Growing support for Mama Matata

sh. Today we not only served 3,500 refugees at remaining hot temperatures but we could do it in the presence of many journalists from Nairobi as well as a TV crew from Switzerland (TV TSR). A big help to bring together so many press people was Josef Muyu, Director of the Lake Nakuru Lodge. Mr. Muya (see right picture) also brought a present for the refugees: 4 bags of milk powder, answered questions from the journalists and praised the activities of the Rhein - Valley Hospital. Today we gave out food for the next 3 days: corn, rice, sugar, white and brown porridge, Frutapura baby food, beans, milk powder and not to forget: fresh drinking water. Some hope is dawning: the press is acknowledging our work and we have to forget the past. Let's build together a new future for the Kenyan people!

Enough drinking water thanks to our fountains

sh. With the current high temperatures water is the gold for Kenya's population. Thanks to our two fountains that we built in and above the Rhein-Valley Hospital thousands of people luckily still have enough fresh drinking water. Today we were in the town (Nakuru) and saw some used shoes on the street. We just wondered if these were the clothing collections from the help organizations that are being sold instead of being given to the poor...? On the market there are enough fresh fruits (see picture) but the people don't have the money to buy them.

Mama Matata did the planning for the coming week, so that the food distributions on Tuesday and Saturday can be done without problems. And on Monday we will start installing the tents. There will be a whole tent camp and all the sanitary facilities have to be organized. So a busy week is in sight.

Austrian Food Container arrived in Nakuru

sh. This morning we had to get up early to greet the two representatives of the Austrian "Schilling für Schilling" organization at the Airstrip in Nakuru. They sponsored a food container that arrived today at the hospital. Oliver, Michaela and the Manager of the African Safari Club hotel in Mombasa came for the arrival but could only stay for two hours, before they had to continue their journey.

Today we gave out food for 3500 refugees at the Rhein-Valley Hospital and there was a vaccination day for the mothers. We also had an important visit: Mr. Meina (left in above picture together with Stephan Holderegger in the middle) from the UN World Food Program was here and appreciated our work. He plans to hold a press conference tomorrow where he will inform about our activities at the hospital. While here he also called up the secretary of the Swiss Ambassador in Nairobi and told him about our constructive work for the poor. Mr. Meina said that he hasn't seen so much inspiring activities for a long time and that he tries to get foods from his organization.

We just heard that the National Swiss TV SF DRS1 with Gaby Schädler from the "Rundschau" program will visit us from March 21-27 to produce a film in Nakuru together with Swiss dulcimer player Nicolas Senn.

50 tents from the Swiss Red Cross arrived

sh. This morning we prepared everything for the arrival of the 50 tents that the Swiss Red Cross donated for the refugees of Nakuru. Each tent has a weight of nearly 60 kg. Immediately after receiving the tents we started to assemble the first one. The family tents will carry 6-8 people and all tents have a special waterproof roof. After 3 hours the first tent was ready! Now we can prepare all tents so that the refugees get some shelter which is especially important in regard to the rain period that is starting soon. We also got a call that the expected food container is only 25 k away from the hospital.

Mama Matata's friendship with streeet boys

sh. Tonight Stephan Holdereger arrived in Nakuru as mentioned in yesterday's post. On the way to the hospital we saw 3 large fires, but couldn't find out any deatails. Today we discussed the program of the coming week and the street boys that always helped Mama Matata (Ruth Schäfer) came to see her. They haven't been around for quite some time. The boys were happy and greeted Ruth cordially. They all got 1 Liter of milk, 1 kilo of bread and a portion of French Fries. We also met a boy who has a mutilated leg. He recognized us because we previously checked the possibility of an operation, but it unfortunately was not possible. Mama Matata is the last resort for these boys.

New plaster will help the burn patients

Yesterday a boy with some heavy burn visited again our hospital for checking his condition. Last week we could successfully reduce the infections he had and a new skin is regrowing. We are now waiting for a new plaster that we should soon get from a company in Kerzers, Switzerland. With this plaster we can treat all such burns in the future.

Today we gave out more baby food, corn and cabbage, which had first to be cleaned before we could use it. The temperature again was high with 30° C (see also our regularly updated weather chart in the right column) and there is a strong wind blowing in our region. Asthmatics are suffering from the occuring dust. Tonight my partner Stephan Holderegger again is coming to visit me and the hospital. I will pick him up at the Nairobi Airport and then we have another 3-4 hours until we reach Nakuru.

I would also like to thank all people who kindly donated money for our hospital in the last few days.

Ruth Schäfer

Swiss Red Cross promises 50 Tents

rs. Today 2800 people came to get their food portions at our Rhein-Valley Hospital in Nakuru. Especially the women were fighting to be first in line. I had to calm them down several times, explaining that there is enough for everybody. It is only now that I realize how much help I had in the last 10 days when Stephan and Hennie helped me with my work. I also have good news from the Red Cross in Switzerland: Mr. Thomas Kumpera promised to give us 50 tents by the end of the week. We urgently need them for our refugees.

Hoping for some help from the Red Cross

sh. There were again a lot of activities at the Rhein - Valley Hospital today. The situation is not improving and again thousands of refugees came for their food portions. Thanks to Soyana and Hero we could offer them soya protein, milk rice, bananas and cookies. The people were all very patient although we suffered from the heat at 50° C in the glazing sun. The faces we met were still sad but they are all happy to get something to eat. The work volume is increasing every day and we hope to get some help for Ruth Schäfer in the near future. Tomorrow the head of Red Cross Nairobi will visit us thanks to the assistance of Heinz Heer from the KidstoKids organisation in Switzerland. Kennie from Holland and myself (Stephan) will have our last mission before we return to our countries in Europe.

Visiting refugee camps in Naivasha

Today again the temperature was around 45 - 50° C and we visited two refugee camps in Naivasha, one with 3500 Kikuju's and another with about 1750 Kiranji, Luja and Luo people. Everywhere the sitution is the same: men, women and children are all traumatized and scared. According to the latest news people in Molo again lit fires and houses were burned to ashes. Still the people believe in God and hope for help.

We are preparing the food for tomorrow. 3500 to 4500 refugees are expected to come to the Rhein-Valley Hospital in Nakuru to get something to eat. We also have to register everybody in case the Red Cross can find another camp for them. Today's picture shows a boy that lost his leg seven weeks ago, when he was caught by a truck while flying.

The situation in Nakuru remains tense

Today a lot of police and military is present. The situation in Nakuru re- mains very tense. And in the Lake Nakuru National Park until down the hill to the lake a fire erup- ted. We have no further details what the reason is. Our daily pictures show the fire region and some local boys that usually help us guard our card and as recompense they get 1 liter of milk and a large loaf of bread!