More than 50 people
have lost their lives following the inter-clan clashes currently going on
between the Degodia and Garre communities.
The media has tried to find out the
cause of these clashes but no matter the cause people are losing lives.
These communities have
been neighbours for decades but it happens that every now and then they lose
faith in each other and turn against each other due to competition for limited
resources or because of the ethnic differences. This is not reason enough for
killing each other. It is time that we move past ethnicity and see each other
as partners towards development.
That is beside the
point. Today, I write with a heavy heart as I reflect on the endless efforts by
Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to offer humanitarian services without discrimination.
We all have a clue of the extent that Kenya Red Cross staff and volunteers go
to so as to offer a helping hand in time of need. I am always proud to say that
I am a youth member and volunteer of Kenya Red Cross Society.
The Kenya Red Cross
Society has seven major guiding principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality,
Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. I am not
planning on giving you a lecture on the principles but I just want us all to
reflect n these principles.
It is very unfortunate that,
on Sunday 24Th August 2014,
KRCS E-Plus Ambulance was attacked a few kilometres from Rhamu. The militia
injured one of the KRCS staff and rendered the ambulance immobile. Thank God,
the police got there in time and rescued the crew.
Following this attack,
KRCS was forced to temporarily suspend E-plus Ambulance services in Mandera North.
The victims of the clashes were left with no one to offer first aid services to
the injured or to provide supplies/ relief to the displaced.
I cannot comprehend how
we sit in our living rooms comfortably every evening and watch the news on how
people are dying in Mandera and nobody takes action. I am yet to see harsh
measures by our government to curb the menace. To the opposition, if your claims
for a better Kenya are genuine, quit the referendum talk and start initiatives that
will help people in Mandera.
KRCS staff and
volunteers may be driven by compassion but they can only do so much. It is time
for the main players to do their job. Unless you take action, EVERY LIFE LOST IS ON YOU!!!!!!!
Here are related articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment