On 7th April 2015, Kenya Red Cross continued to implement the interventions focusing on psychosocial support, Tracing Services as well as receiving donations and distribution to the beneficiaries in Chiromo. The response is in a bid to support the affected people of the Garissa university college attack that took a day and ended with intense security operation inside the university.
On 4th April 2015, all student survivors who had not been evacuated were evacuated and transported to Nairobi using the 8 NYS buses.
As at the release of this update, Kenya Red Cross was able to access the Hostels on 6th April 2015 after the two parents who had arrived in Garissa because they could not trace their children respectively. The Kenya Red Cross team and security personnel conducted a mop-up operation in the campus the whole afternoon of 6th April 2015 following the request by the principal and the county commissioner, the team was divided into 4.
They all checked the entire campus including class rooms, hostels, administration block, staff quarters and the environ but no evidence of missing students was found. The two parents also accompanied the teams in the search. A counsellor from the health had an opportunity to hold a counselling session with the parents and other escorting relatives. According to the counsellor the parents travelled back to Nairobi and continue with the search in Chiromo mortuary.
The college remained closed completely on 7th April 2015 according to the principal hence end of operation activities on the site. Government sources still confirm 147 persons were killed in the attack that took more than 12hours. The team at Nyayo Stadium stood down from the operation yesterday since work there was done. They have been incorporated in the Chiromo team and KNH team.
The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) continues to mount various operations that include, psychosocial support services, tracing and restoration of family links. Two teams were deployed on the 6th April 2015 to the two remaining operation sites.
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Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
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Chiromo Mortuary
KRCS Response
As of 0730hrs, two Disaster Response Teams and volunteers from the KRCS-Nairobi Branch were deployed to Chiromo Mortuary and Kenyatta National Hospital.
The family members who come to identify or trace their loved ones still show feelings of anxiety, tension, are curious, a bit confused, and hopeless and some are agitated. The Counsellors and PSS First Aiders continue to reassure the relatives and offer emotional support.
Psychosocial Support
The Psychosocial Support services are currently ongoing at KNH and Chiromo Funeral Parlour. As at 7th April 2015, in Chiromo a total of 121 people received PSS support (38 males, 83 females) while in Kenyatta National Hospital they had sessions with a total of 40 clients (35 female and 5 male) and 13 students who are in the wards. The different counselling agencies that are still present include; Kenya Red Cross, Amani Counselling Institute, Camp Africa Seventh Day Adventist, KCPA, international Professional Counsellors Centre, MOEST, MICS, Kibuo, Latana and individuals. The psycho social support is offered after the family members have positively identified their deceased and to those who hadn’t yet got in touch with their loved ones.
Tracing Services
Tracing still continues at KNH and Chiromo Mortuary. The family members had already started arriving and 115 deceased out of the 147 that were received had been positively identified (as of 7th April 2015). Requests from all over the country are still being received through the emergency hotlines for inquiries and updates.
- Coordination
The KRCS still continue to work with the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), stakeholders, partners and other well-wishers. These include the County Government, National Government, UN Agencies, International Rescue Committee, MSF ,NDOC, KNBTS among others.
The different counselling agencies that are still present include; Kenya Red Cross, Amani Counselling Institute, Camp Africa Seventh Day Adventist, KCPA, international Professional Counsellors Centre, MOEST, MICS, Kibuo, Latana and individuals. The psychosocial support is offered after the family members have positively identified their deceased and to those who hadn’t yet gotten in touch with their loved ones.
The KRCS is still spearheading the humanitarian response. The KRCS team on ground have a laid down structure of coordination in the provision of services. These are groups formed under tracing, psychosocial, management of mortal remains, referral, and reporting and blood donation.
The Kenya Red Cross Society in addition continues to receive donations from well-wishers, and more support is still coming in from various organisations and individuals.
To support Garissa attack humanitarian response Safaricom Kenya, Airtel Kenya, Orange Kenya, Mobikash and the KCB Kenya have opened accounts where money can be donated via MPESA, Airtel Money, Mobikash through Paybill Number 858585, via Orange Money through business number 222222 and through KCB A/C No: 858585858585