SA responds to Kenya’s appeal for emergency relief support

By Ilhaam Hoosain
08 March 2008

The South African Government responded to Kenya’s appeal and sent on Friday a relief consignment for emergency support aimed at helping its Internally Displaced Persons.

This comes in the result of random violence that led to the displacement of thousands of people who now live in temporary shelter, after the December elections.

“It includes a lot of non-food items including mosquito tents, blankets and a number of medical,” says Foreign Affairs’, Ronnie Mamoepa.

The Government of Kenya in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society has launched an international appeal for emergency support relief including non-food items.

· water purification medication to prevent waterborne diseases
· mosquito nets to prevent malaria
· shelter (tents, plastic sheeting and tarpaulins)
· blankets and public health supplies.

“We have pledged our solidarity and we are confident that the people of Kenya will overcome this calamity”, said the Minister responsible for national disasters, Mr Sydney Mufamadi.

On Friday, South Africa through its National Disaster Management Centre, sent a consignment which is made up of 10 000 blankets; 1000 chemically treated mosquito nets; 1000 tarpaulins/plastic sheeting; 2000 water purification tablets and boxes of female sanitary wares.

“The total cost of the intervention is R4million. This includes the buying of the relief supplies, transportation, storage, customs clearance and airfreight,” says Mamoepa.

The relief consignment was scheduled to be airlifted from Johannesburg. It was received in Nairobi by the South African High Commissioner who handed it over to the Kenya Red Cross for distribution.