UN humanitarian chief expresses determination to stay the course in Kenya

(Nairobi/Geneva/New York, 10 February 2008): John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, concluded his three-day mission to Kenya, expressing his determination to help displaced communities return to normal life and calling for a rapid solution to the political crisis.

'I have met a lot of people in a very sad and tragic psychological state. The stories about what had happened to
them and their fears for the future were moving, and that has reinforced the determination that I and my
colleagues have to do all we can to help in the situation,' Mr. Holmes said. During visits to the Tigoni and Karathimo displacement camps outside Nairobi and to the Jamhuri Show Ground camp near the Nairobi slum settlement of Kibera, Mr. Holmes met with camp dwellers to discuss their concerns about their moving out of camps and between areas of Kenya. He also spoke to the Kenya Red Cross Society and to NGOs about psycho-social programmes underway to ease the trauma experienced by many IDPs during the past six weeks. He stressed that the United Nations is keeping up the pressure to find a sustainable solution to the political problems through support to the Kofi Annan-led meditations, while offering impartial humanitarian assistance to people in need regardless of their political or ethnic affiliation.

The circumstances at the Tigoni police station camp during Mr. Holmes' visit were particularly emblematic of the
fluid displacement situation in Kenya. As the violence subsides and a resolution of the political crisis appears
within reach, IDPs are acting on their wish to return home. On Saturday, approximately 6,000 IDPs left the Tigoni
police station camp on buses, with their possessions loaded on trucks, to return to their ancestral lands in Western and Nyanza provinces.

Mr. Holmes also met with the Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Moses Wetangula, and the Opposition leader
Hon. Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). During these meetings, he called for a
resolution of the political situation and emphasized that when IDPs return home, they must be do so on a
voluntary basis. There was agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs that communities should be consulted
on matters related to returns.

'Our fundamental and overriding hope is that a political solution will be found in the short term so that the
violence can stop definitely,' said Mr. Holmes. 'We welcome the calm in the recent days which has created an
opportunity for politicians to tackle the problems that are clearly fundamental. We hope the violence will stop and
we strongly emphasize the need for accountability for those responsible for that violence. That is why the United
Nations is helping not only on the humanitarian front but also in the political process,' he added.

As many as 1,000 people have been killed and over 310,000 people have become internally displaced in the six
weeks of violence following the announcement of the results of the disputed Presidential elections of 27
December. The Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces as well as slum areas of Nairobi have been most
affected by the unrest. In addition, some 12,000 Kenyans have fled to neighbouring Uganda. As international
mediation efforts continue, the United Nations agencies and their humanitarian partners are working to provide
immediate relief to almost a half a million people.

'I think the response during the first six weeks has been reasonably satisfactory, led in a commendable way by the Kenya Red Cross with help from the Government, NGOs and the international humanitarian community', Mr.Holmes said.

For further information, please call: Christina Bennett, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 8059, mobile +1 917 435 8617; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570; Jens Laerke, OCHA-ROCEA-Nairobi, +254 (20) 762 2119, mobile +254 (0)7 22 513 503. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.