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Kenya: 'My house has been burned, but I want to go back'Displaced people in Eldoret describe their situation January 11, 2008
Kenya 2008 © Susan Sandars/MSF Violence following the recent elections in Kenya left many houses burned to the ground, and many families homeless. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is working in Eldoret, a town about 155 miles northwest of Nairobi, where thousands of people have congregated to escape the violence following the December elections. Many of them now have no homes to go back to and are need of medical assistance and the most basic household items. “I came here when they attacked my village and burned it. We have nothing. All I could save was the mattresses for my husband and my children. We’ve been staying in this church for twelve days now. My husband was with us for the first few days, but then he went to stay with his brother nearby because there are no blankets here. He used to come and visit everyday, but I haven’t seen him for the last two days. My eldest daughter is not well; she has a fever and has had a rash for days now.” — Judith “My parents are still in my village, but my sister and I left with my daughter because they told us they would burn our house. We came in a big group by foot. Now there are 10 of us living in this tent. We can’t go back, as our house is completely burnt; it is like a field now. Anyway, those people are still there so it is too dangerous. Me, I don’t know what to do. It is a difficult life we are starting, because we are starting with nothing.” — Christine 
Kenya 2008 © Susan Sandars/MSF In Langas IDP camp, a MSF logistician distributes tickets so people can collect kits containing essential items such as blankets and jerry cans. “We came here because it is safe here. In fact, I came here during the last clashes in 1992. Things are much worse now. Last time they did not burn my house, but this time everything is gone. I came here by pick-up, someone brought me and my family. My house has been burned, but I want to go back and build a new one. I hope one day we can go back.” — Mwania “It’s difficult here, but at least it’s safe. We left our village because they beat the men and threatened us. There are 15 of us living here now. The police are taking some people back to collect their stuff or to stay if they want to. I don’t think we will go, though. My grandfather says it is too dangerous; if we go back they might surround our house and burn it while we are inside.” — Margaret 
Kenya 2008 © Susan Sandars/MSF A MSF nurse examines a sick child in Eldoret. “After the events, many people came to my house because they know me. They were seeking food or shelter. I was willing, but I didn’t have much to give them. I came to Langas police station (one of the IDP camps) because I thought people would seek safety here. When I saw how many people were here, I knew I had to help. During the day, the camp is not that busy, as a lot of people return to their villages to see if there is anything left that they can save. Then, they come back to the camp to sleep at night. In the clinic, we see many children who have infections because they are sleeping out in the cold. Some have diarrhea and vomiting because the sanitation is not good. I saw one young boy of about 12 who had a cut on the back with a machete. We dressed his wounds and referred him to the hospital. Another boy I saw had lost his family. He fled during the fighting and now he doesn’t know where they are. Many people are deeply traumatized. They come to us saying they have headaches or aches and pains. We call it hapa hapa (here here) syndrome. The point to themselves and say they have pains ‘here’ and ‘here’ but really their pains are more emotional than physical.” — Albina Aluda, nurse employed by MSF |
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