Karanja Njoroge
10 February 2008
Nairobi — The UN Chief Humanitarian Officer, Mr John Holmes, visited displaced persons in Nakuru and Molo and described their situation as tragic.
He called for a speedy solution to the political crisis to avert a catastrophe.
Holmes, who came face-to-face with victims of the post-election violence at Afraha Stadium, said he was impressed by the assistance from humanitarian organisations and wellwishers.
The UN official said majority of the displaced wanted to return to their homes if peace is guaranteed.
He said the solution to the humanitarian crisis depends on the outcome of the ongoing mediation.
"We hope the mediation will be successful to enable those displaced return home," he said.
He said the UN had donated $7million in humanitarian efforts.
The IDPs narrated to Holmes how they were evicted from their homes in various parts of Rift Valley Province.
Holmes said relief operations should be co-ordinated by neutral organisations to ensure fairness in provision of supplies to all communities.
"The humanitarian exercise should be done impartially and organisations involved should deal with everybody on an equal basis," he said.
The UN official also said violation of human rights during the violence should be investigated and perpetrators punished.
Earlier, Holmes had paid a courtesy call on Rift Valley PC, Mr Hassan Noor Hassan, who briefed him on the situation.
Noor said more than three million bags of maize were destroyed during the violence and warned of a looming food crisis if farmers are not allowed to return to their homes.
"At the moment we are not worried since the total production of maize in the province is 24 million bags but there may be a problem at the end of the year," the PC said.
He said at least Sh125 million would be used to reconstruct more than 28 schools destroyed.
He told the UN official that the province was the most affected, with more than 250,000 people displaced and 80,000 houses torched.
The Government, he added, would establish 45 new police stations in affected areas to restore security.
He said historical land issues were behind the violence where more than 400 people were killed.
Noor also said tea factories in Kericho may resort to plucking machines, since workers from certain communities had been evicted.
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