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East Africa: Saving lives on the front line
13 February 2012
Six months after the East Africa drought and food crisis made headlines around the world, RedR has supported hundreds of aid workers operating on the front line with essential skills training.
As tens of thousands of refugees fled across the Somali border into camps in neighbouring Kenya and Ethiopia, experienced RedR trainers began responding to the immediate technical and security needs of humanitarian agencies.
The effective provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities for the scores of men, women and children in need of assistance is always amongst the first priorities in a disaster of this kind.
To ensure that WASH resources are correctly allocated – a difficult task in camps which at their peak saw 2600 people arriving each day – aid workers need rapid access to the most up-to-date, accurate information and tools.
In response, RedR has delivered essential training to more than 131 national staff from the UNCHR and their local implementing partner organisations in how to use the UN’s new ‘WASH Monitoring System’. The system provides humanitarian workers with essential data and allows for the prioritisation of resources. Ultimately, it enables agencies to focus their efforts on the areas of greatest need, saving many lives.
Yet, effective aid delivery inside some of the world’s biggest refugee camps, such as Dadaab on the Kenya-Somalia border, is often hampered by other risks.
The security of aid workers responding to the food crisis has been a particular concern. A number of security incidents have occurred since July, including the high-profile kidnapping of two MSF staff in October.
With considerable experience in equipping humanitarians with life-saving safety and security skills, RedR has since trained more than 500 national aid workers from CARE International; ensuring assistance continues to reach those who need it most, safety, reliably and effectively.
Michael Chilla, Senior Safety & Security Manager for CARE International in Kenya said:
“The personal safety and security training carried out by RedR could not have come at a better time. CARE was facing sudden changes in the security situation; the threat of kidnap/abduction and terrorist attacks was now real. Staff in our Kenya programme were being directly or indirectly affected by security incidents. It was time to do things differently.
“The training has been welcomed by all staff; we’re now much more confident and aware of the threats within our operating environment, and can now respond, adapt and manage threats so that CARE can continue doing what it does best - providing relief to people affected by the crisis in Kenya.”
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Photo: Two girls living in Awbare Refugee Camp, Ethiopia © Michelle Farrington/RedR
