South Africa responds to Kenya’s Appeal for Emergency Relief Support for its Internally displaced Persons

The South African Government will tomorrow, Friday 07 March 2008, send a relief consignment to Kenya in response to an appeal by the East African country for emergency support aimed at helping its Internally Displaced Persons. This comes in the aftermath of the December elections which resulted in sporadic violence that led to the displacement of thousands people who now live in temporary shelter.

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. These are 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.

Tomorrow South Africa, through its National Disaster Management Centre, will send 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.  

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

For more information:

Ronnie Mamoepa
Foreign Affairs
082 990 4853

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X 152
Pretoria
0001

06 March 2008