Red Cross questions support for RVH

rs. Early this morning Maina Muhia from the WFP told me that the Red Cross does not want to support our hospital anymore. I immediately called the Assistant Chief and he said that he will check the decision again. It seems that we are not popular because we are too kind to the refugees and let them live in our camp. Other camps are being closed and the refugees more or less forced to go back which is combined with big risks. Muhia intends to visit us next week together with a whole group of people and a report will be made, that can be presented to the Government. We certainly hope for continous help of the WFP, otherways we would also be forced to send the people back and close the camp. The Rhein-Valley Hospital cannot finance the hospital and the camp indefinitely.

Carol helping to complete the list of available medications

New food delivery from Kenyan Red Cross

rs. Today I planed a full program but several unexpected things occurred. The telephone rang early in the morning to inform me about an express mail from the Meds company, problably the insulin was in it, and I had to hurry because it needs refrigeration. Then I heard that the Kenyan Red Cross was at the hospital with a food delivery and I had to get the key of the storage container and asked all available refugees to help unload the track. It was matter of time to get everything into the dry before the next rain started. It's not only that but the truck has no chance to get down the hill on a slippery road! By 5 pm everything was done. Although I had a sweater, I was freezing because the temperature went down to 16°C and it was raining extensively. I am happy to have a covered home but had to think of the many camp people who also must be cold tonight.

Grand Coalition Government: New hope?

sh. Today at 5 pm the Kenyan TV station KTN broadcasted a live report on a new Cabinet with President Kibaki, Prime Minister Odinga and Vice President Kolonzo. Now they have to proove that they will bring back the standard of the country to its previous level. Sudden results cannot be expected over night, but the first steps in the right direction are done. Let's hope that God will protect them and guide our country.

It was also a day of preparation for us at the Rhein-Valley Hospital. Tomorrow we will have to feed 3500 refugees with corn, beans, milk powder, porridge and some baby food. At the same time we will have to do more regsitration work for the UN and the Red Cross. Each family living in of our tents will be listed. Our Swiss guest Alex Paur helped to load our Landrover. Then he insisted to visit a Governent Hospital but after 5 minutes they have seen enough. The circumstances were not so inspiring. Alex will probably stay for another 2 days to witness our big food distrubution.

270 water containers and 300 blankets arrived

sh. Today was a multifaceted day - regarding our work as well as the weather, which presented itself from the very hot to a fairly cold side. Early in the morning we got a call from Mr Meina Muhia (UN World Food Program) that he wanted to discuss the latest details about the sanitary installations and that 270 water containers for the refugees waited for us to be transported to the hospital. Then we controlled the last works to dig the necessary wholes for the toilets and showers. And finally the 300 blankets donated by the Swiss Red Cross arrived! Many thanks.

Mama Mata just got the promised 300 blanket from the Red Cross Switzerland through the intiative of Heinz Heer of "kidstokids".

The different tribes could live together peacefully

sh. This was a day of organization. We had to plan the last things so that the 30 toilets for men women in our camp can be installed tomorrow. The sanitary situation has to be under control, otherways it is not possible for us to handle the refugees in the camp. We have to be strict that all regulations are observed. Together with our medical care and the disposal of fresh drinking water the minimum requirements are given. Thanks to Mama Matata we also should get the 300 blankets donated by the Swiss Red Cross by tomorrow. We still had to pay 18,000 KsH but luckily the Swissport Kenya abstained from collecting the storage fees of 90,000 KsH.

These young men in our camp demonstrate that it is absolutely possible that people from different tribes can peacefully live together. All the hatred is only a dark vision
in some people's minds!

Red Cross will help with the sanitary installations

rs. At midnight Stephan arrived in Nakuru. He again will help our crew for a couple of weeks. And he also brought some gifts from Switzerland. The Rohner company sponsored 1200 pairs of socks. In the morning, our first activity was the meeting with a representative of the local Red Cross in Nakuru. After discussing the sanitary situation they agreed to help build the toilets and showers so that minimal hygienic conditions are guaranteed. We also talked about the rules for the refugees established at our camp and how they can be implemented. Later in the afternoon we had to go home because our electrician was expected to repair our electric system. After 1 1/2 hours everything was back in order. Now we can make our last preparations for tomorrow. On Monday we have a big food distributions action because this time the people will get the portions for the whole week.

After an intense day we were rewarded with a nice sunset!

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.

Spontanous help on the street

rs. This morning, on my way to the hospital I saw a woman at the border of the street. She seemed to suffer. I rushed to her and pulled her into my car (see picture), where I realized that she had a low blood sugar level. Immediately I gave her some sweet drink and her condition improved. We then checked her condition in the hospital. Today we also worked on the organization of the priorities in regard to the refugees who will get one of the 50 tents that should arrive from the Swiss Red Cross in Berne end of this week.

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.

Waiting for the Red Cross delegation ...

sh. The Red Cross in Nairobi promised to visit the Rhein-Valley Hospital this morning at 10 am, to discuss the arising problems with the increasing number of refugees in our region. Many of the refugees came to our facilities in order to manifest their cause. We waited until 2 pm but nobody from the Red Cross arrived. We will try to intervene in Switzerland and Holland after we return home tonight. We have enough video and photo material to convince the organization on the urgency of the situation. Thousands of people are on the move and fear to go back to their homes. We promised them that we will do our best to improve the sad situation. Ruth Schäfer, the director of the Rhein-Valley Hospital will stay here and still hopes for more cooperation and support for the coming days and weeks. The picture below was also taken today and shows patients waiting to get their vaccinations; in the middle Ruth Schäfer.

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.

Meeting with the Red Cross in Nakuru

sh. Today we me the head of the Red Cross in Nakuru and had a meeting for 1 1/2 hours discussing the situation around the Rhein Valley Hospital. They were surprised hearing all the figures of the hospital's aid programme and how much Ruth Schäfer already did for the people at this mountain region. They were full of gratitude for all the help and requested that we would speak with the refugees to convince them to be transfered to another camp in Naivasha. The people certainly will not be forced, but it would improve their situation. The Red Cross promised to support us, but should have some patience be- cause everybody seems to be over- burdened. The pho- to above shows an empty street in Nakuru where there is still a curfew from 7 pm to 7 am; the picture below is from today's meeting with the Red Cross offi- cials. All photos by Stephan Holderegger.