UN: Kenya facing humanitarian crisis

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-11-2008 11:04

The UN's humanitarian aid chief has been meeting victims of violence in Kenya's Rift Valley, and areas around the capital, Nairobi. John Holmes warns Kenya has a difficult task ahead. This, in handling the hundreds of camps that have absorbed some 300-thousand people who have fled tribal attacks.

After surveying areas affected by violence, the UN official said Kenya is facing a huge challenge.

After surveying areas affected by violence, John Holmes said Kenya is facing a huge challenge.

John Holmes, UN Humanitarian Aid chief, said, "It's clear from what I saw and from people I talked to that there is a very serious humanitarian problem. We estimate on the base of government and Red Cross figures that there are something like 300 thousand people currently, in almost 300 IDP camps scattered around the Nairobi area and of course through out rift valley."

Holmes describes the response to the humanitarian crisis as "reasonably satisfactory."

He also says a political compromise is needed to bring an end to the violence.

The UN's humanitarian aid chief has been meeting victims of violence in Kenya's Rift Valley, and areas around the capital, Nairobi.

Kenya's rival parties are preparing to negotiate a power-sharing agreement.

Both sides gave ground last week at talks mediated by former UN chief Kofi Annan, paving way for a deal to stop the political crisis that has killed more than one thousand people and has uprooted 300 thousand more.

 

Editor:Liu Fang