Categories
Letter from the Editor

Letter from the Editor March 2014

Dear KANERE readers here & abroad,

The future is unpredictable at the cosmopolitan camp of Kakuma! The refugees are fed on rations, schooled, used as tool of aid promotion and warehoused! And who knows what lies ahead? But you can speculate!

In this issue, we focus on different stories: The South Sudanese crisis has massively impacted Kakuma with more than 20,000 new arrivals seeking asylum in Kenya since the start of violent conflict in Juba in December. The camp has literally changed from the makuti thatched roofs and old mud walls to a tent city.

In the months of January through March, Kakuma experienced hectic weather conditions compounded by the high temperatures, dry spell and dust storms. On many occasions, huge sandstorms have swept through the settlement, which was believed to be the root cause of fire outbreak of which more than ten incidents were reported. Kakuma 4 settlement area had the worst experiences of the dust storms in the open space.

A murder scene at Kakuma 1 has created tension between refugees and the host community when a local Turkana man who deliberately stabbed a refugee child to death was killed by a group of refugees from the Didinga community; while the makers of illicit alcoholic drinks have suffered the negative outcome of the Police raid.

From Dadaab refugee complex, the security situation continues to fluctuate. On 8 January, an improvised explosive device was detonated on the road between Dadaab and Dagahaley camps that was set to target the police vehicle which escorted the humanitarian workers to the camps. All humanitarian activities were suspended in the field following a security assessment, and normal activities resumed after a week.

Moreover, on 4 January fire broke out in Dagahaley’s MSF medical warehouse in the MSF residential compound, destroying all drugs, medical equipments and therapeutic food stock which was estimated to cover four to six months – all burnt to ashes. According to the official camp report, the cause of the fire is suspected to be an electrical fault.

For Turkana County, the calamitous drought has already aggravated the suffering of thousands of victims, where residents live a nomadic way of life with their animals. The starvation has become a double disaster for the county population, including the refugees who were affected by the cut in the food rations since 2013.

And finally, a Journalism workshop was offered by KANERE in partnership with the Arrupe Learning Center in the Camp. The workshop invited youths in the community to engage in interactive discussions and critical thinking. KANERE will aim to provide more media training opportunities to empower refugee youths to be potential storytellers and news gatherers.

The story of a Turkana wedding ceremony was an intercultural high point and enhancement of religion and diversity in old Kakuma refugee camp.

As always, we’ve missed a few spots. However, we’re dedicated to the spirit of a free press and to autonomy of critical thinking. We are asking for contributions from general readers and most specifically from the elite refugee youths in telling local stories.

We hope that you’ll enjoy reading KANERE News,

Truthfully,

Qaabata Boru – KANERE Editorial Executive

Categories
Quotes of the Month

Quotes of the Month January – February 2014

“I was running, stepping on the bodies of the people lying, some are in their last minutes dying. I don’t know what would happen to them,”

– Chuol Ajak, a Dinka newly arrived southerner, told Kanere at Kakuma 4/ “The Fate of South Sudan”

“This is a good reminder that culture is not really static. While their different songs embody a particular worldview, they seemed united by a common thread; joy was that common thread,”

–  Father Paul Vidal, a Jesuit priest/ “Turkana Wedding Ceremonial”

“We are asking humanitarian support to save the lives of the thousands who are displaced and living in hunger,”

– Turkana County Governor – Josphat Nanok told Kanere/ “Alarming human disaster in Turkana”

“This thing is illegal but we don’t get enough food for children, do we eat stones to live?”

– a woman who wished to remain anonymous stated at Kakuma 1/ “Police raid on illicit brews”

“I was at the scene, the place was very noisy and crowded with drunkard people, and the child was stabbed with a sharp knife and died,”

– A Lotuko woman told Kanere/ “Murder scene at Kakuma 1”

“I was flabbergasted. I never imagined this could happen, I never lit the fire and we didn’t even cook a breakfast that day because there is no food in the house,”

                   – Anger Dowel, a South Sudanese fire victim told Kanere at Kakuma 2/ “Fire Outbreak”    

 “I barely escaped death, in some towns like Bor and Jonglei people are identified by ritual marks and killed,”

– Duop Nhial – a South Sudanese Nuer new arrival – told Kanere/ “The Fate of South Sudan”

 “The child is our pupil who is learning in standard 2 West, the incident happened outside the school compound but we felt strongly sorry about it,”

– A school teacher at Jabel-Marra primary told Kanere/ “Murder scene at Kakuma 1”

“They told us they wanted to be baptized in the Church and become deacons. Since that day, the boys brought many other friends, neighbors, and family members to join the Church,”

– Father Fikremariam, a Monk at the Medhanealem Ethiopian Orthodox church/ “Turkana Wedding Ceremonial”

 “I did not prepare these drinks, it was not mine, I was brought to police station after they beat me,”

                   – The accused, Susan Etati – claimed to have been charged unfairly, she told Kanere/ “Police raid on illicit brews”

 

Categories
Community and Culture Human Rights News Updates

The Fate of South Sudan

The December war crashing from inside Juba – capital city of South Sudan – has resulted in thousands dead and more than 650,000 people displaced.

Categories
Human Rights News Updates

Police Raid on Illicit Brews

The police raid on illegal alcoholic drinks has resulted in several local manufacturers suffering the outcome in Kakuma 1.

Categories
Human Rights Humanitarian Services Kakuma Town and Kenya News Updates

Alarming Human Disaster in Turkana

Kenya’s Meteorological Department has raised alarm over the persistent drought while the government urges the pastoralists to sell their animals to the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC).

Categories
News Updates Peace and Security

Murder Scene at Kakuma 1

A Turkana man who stabbed a refugee child to death was killed in mob justice

Categories
Education News Updates

Journalism Workshop

At least 33 youths including volunteer staff of KANERE News turned up for a journalism workshop at Arrupe Learning Center.

Categories
News Updates

Fire Outbreak

The predominant fire incidents have brought worries to many of the block residents in the Camp.

Categories
Community and Culture News Updates

Turkana Wedding Ceremony

Deacon Michael Eroo and Stella Akom were married, supported by a colorful crowd cheering in many different languages. 

Categories
Arts News Updates

Peace in South Sudan

By QB

I run away because