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Many Children at Risk as Kenyan Violence Spreads
Westport, Conn. (February 1, 2008) — Save the Children is moving quickly to assist thousands of Kenyan children and their families who have been forced from their homes due to the continuing ethnic violence in the country.
Save the Children is implementing various programs to help protect children caught up in the wave of violence. In Nairobi, the agency is developing a national child-protection training strategy and working to set up an interagency database for separated children with Kenyan government's Children's Department. In addition, it is establishing a safe play area for children who have taken refuge in Furaha Stadium and is distributing education supplies — including "school-on-your-back" kits — to teachers and students in Nairobi, Nakuru and Haruma Chief's Camp, as security allows.
Nearly 7,000 Kenyans have fled across the border into Uganda, where Save the Children is working to ensure that children are not separated from their parents during relocation, including registering and tracing unaccompanied minors. In Mulanda camp, the agency also has established safe spaces and provided toys and games, which will benefit 1,700 children. Distributions of blankets and mattresses will begin in the coming days.
"The security situation in Kenya is quite fluid and the violence erratic, which has created an extremely dangerous situation for tens of thousands of children," said Save the Children President and CEO Charles MacCormack. "Since the outbreak of violence in late December, homes and schools have been destroyed, and more than 290,000 people have been forced onto the road. The safety and security of these children — whose lives have been so cruelly disrupted — must be of primary concern."
MacCormack said he welcomed efforts by the United Nations and the U.S. government to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict, but noted, "The continued threat of violence is severely hampering aid workers in assisting displaced families with food, water, shelter and medical supplies.
"Security is a major concern of humanitarian organizations right now. We need to make sure our workers can move safely within the region to assist families," MacCormack said.
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