UNICEF, UNHCR, Map Int. & UN WFP on a visit

sh. After an uneasy night with gunshots and barking dots we went to the hospital early this morning because many visits were expected. At 11 am delegations from the UNICEF, the UNHCR, Map International and UN World Food Program arrived to check our hospital and they were all very impressed about the organisation and the tidiness everywhere. In the maternity they could see a baby born this morning at 1 am. By the way the mother is fine and already could leave the hospital in the afternoon. The delegates then visited the refugee camp on our ground, the preset for the toilet and shower facilites, the big new fire place and our food storage room. All guests praised the work of the Rhein-Valley Hospital and promised us assistance for the coming weeks. They will also inform the Government about this positive well functioning humanitarian institution.

Today the refugee workers not only got their daily meal but also some clothes.

Working hard for our camp installatations

sh. Today we had a busy day with all the works for the finish of the central fire places, the building of a roof for it and the last earth digging for the sanitary installations. In addition we are planning some laundry strings. As it will rain more often in this season, all these works are more than necessary. Currently about 40 workers are involved, 25 from our own crew, the rest recruited from the refugees. All workers have now the same T-Shirt so it is visible who is part of the group. We still have to control a lot because we have a lot of equipment around and especially in the night our protection personnel is needed. Tomorrow Mr. Muhuia from the UN will visit us again to help us with the final decisions and installations. On our way home, we met some women and girls carrying heavy wood sticks for their fires at home. It is not rare that they have to complete distances of 15-20 k with loads of 30-40 kg!

Last minute news: The political situation here in Kenya is not getting better for the time being. Today 18 people were killed in Nairobi and many cars burnt. The fight of the Mungiki's seem to continue and the military together with the police are present. In the Cabinet again an incident occured: when Odinga wanted to take his seat, he was pushed away and had to sit where his other group members are. Only next Tuesday the final seating order will be announced.

30 toilets and showers to be installed soon

This morning Mama Matata had to get up at 4 am to be able top reach the border to Tanzania to get a new Carnet. Normally this takes about 24 hours, but she got it in only one hour. So she had time to get the blankets that the Red Cross Switzerland donated through the initiative of kidstokids. But then she was amazed that the custom authorities wanted to charge her a big amount of money, probably more than the value of the blankets. Unbelievable! She is now trying to get them out for free. Let's hope for the best. As she won't be back before midnight, we will inform you tomorrow about the outcome.

While Mama Matata is on her misson in Nairobi, I was with the delegation of the UN World Food Program. Together we prepared for the 30 toilets and showers to be installed on Friday. We also built the central fire places (see picture) for the refugee camp here on the Rhein-Valley Hospital ground. A good organisation within these camps is of paramount importance as the number of refugees increases even more after the explosive political situation here in Kenya. Unfortunately there are still no signs of settlements within the Government and peace for the people in sight. The population asks for an immediate decision and a new election. As we heard all humanitarian organizations are at their limits and we do not know how all will continue. - Stephan Holderegger

WFP Containers arrived this morning!

rs. After a half-ruined night (I had a broken water tube in my house), things became better in the morning. I got a call that the containers of the UN/WFP (World Food Program) were on their way to the Rhein-Valley Hospital. I just rushed together my things for the day and drove to the hospital - just in time. The truck was arriving the same minute at our grounds and I could help him find the correct place to unload the goods. People from our crew and from the refugee camp helped to unload the 50 k bags and even an elderly man wanted to help. He said that he regularly gets food here and that he also wanted to help a little bit. We counted the bags and there was only one bag of corn missing. They even promised to bring the last one on Monday when they will have a chance to witness our food distribution to the needy.

"Little" Ruth Schäfer amongst piles of food bags

Returning home in the evening I had another call, this time bad news: The mother of the little girl that we are currently treating because of her heavy burns, wanted to go back to her burnt home, perhaps to find something left there. Arriving in Eldoret people started to throw stones on her and she had to be hospitalized. This episode again reminded me that the situation is still very tense between the different tribes, but we will continue our help for the displaced persons.