Read More About Kenya:
Emergency Response and Disaster Relief
Kenya's disputed December 2007 presidential elections set off violent political and social protests throughout the country, resulting in a major humanitarian crisis. The brutality spanned a period of over four months and many of the attacks where ethnically targeted.
This upheaval resulted in more than 1,200 deaths and displaced 300,000 people from their homes, most being forced to seek refuge in temporary camps. Dangerously low supplies of food and clean water in urban areas and camps heightened the risks for disease, dehydration, and infection.
AmeriCares responded to the serious health care needs by sending 54,000 pounds of medicines and medical supplies. AmeriCares emergency aid arrived within two weeks of the initial protests and was distributed in refugee camps by local partner the International Medical Corps (IMC). These shipments included antibiotics, vitamins and medical equipment to treat the outbreaks of infection, malaria, severe diarrhea, trauma and injuries throughout the refugee camps.
In February 2008, a power sharing accord was signed by all political parties, promising to restore peace throughout Kenya. As the country struggles to rebuild, most of the 200,000 displaced Kenyans lost everything and continue to desperately need assistance.
Medical and Humanitarian Aid
Since 2007, AmeriCares has delivered over $11 million worth of medical aid and humanitarian relief to Kenya. AmeriCares’ partnership with the International Medical Corps aims to restore stability and help the people of Kenya live longer, healthier lives.
AmeriCares delivers regular shipments of lifesaving medicines and medical supplies to the city of Kisumu through a partnership with the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI), a project of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. Kisumu is the third largest city in the country and serves as a regional hub for Western Kenya. Despite its potential for growth and development, the city has one of the highest poverty levels in the country and its health system struggles to deliver health care to the city's 500,000 residents.
In order to strengthen local health systems, AmeriCares delivers critically needed supplies to help health workers provide safer care to more people, like safety syringes, face masks and examination tables. Our shipments also include essential medicines that change lives – from eye drops to cure eye infections to specialized heart medicines.
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