Kenyan refugees shelter in Plan school

Children and families receiving food aid at the school camp

8 January 2008: A Plan-supported primary school in Uganda is sheltering hundreds of children who fled across the border to escape violent political unrest in Kenya.

More than 1,300 people have taken refuge in St Jude’s primary in Malaba in Uganda’s Tororo district and up to 80 more are arriving each day as violence continues in the aftermath of last month’s disputed Kenyan election. Almost half of the refugees are children.

Essential supplies

Plan is providing essential food such as milk and soya flour as well as firewood and water purifiers to the refugees, most of whom crossed the border with empty hands having been forced to flee for their lives.

Many lost all their positions as their homes were burned by supporters of Kenya’s opposition politicians.

The sick and wounded are being cared for at Malaba Health Centre which is stocked with medicines donated by Plan. Children have arrived suffering from malaria and one from a heart condition. One mother gave birth to a baby girl shortly after reaching refuge in Uganda.

Violent clashes

95% of the refugees at St Jude’s are from the Kikuyu tribe of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki whose disputed victory in the 27 December presidential election sparked violent ethnic clashes.

More than 2,500 Kenyans are believed to have fled to the Tororo district of Uganda. They are unlikely to be able to return to Kenya for at least 3 weeks and may be forced to stay for longer if they politicians fail to strike a compromise to defuse tensions.

Make a donation

Please help Plan assist children and families displaced by the violence in Kenya. Make a donation via our fundraising countries:

Canada | Germany | UK | USA