Shock as hunger , diseases claim 40 in Turkana

By Lucas Ng’asike, the Standard, Posted November 18, 2011

At least 40 people are feared to have died of starvation and diseases in the last four months in Turkana Central District.

Out of the 40, all from Kerio Division, 15 people lost their lives in the last two weeks and have consequently been buried in freshly dug graves, The Standard has learnt.

The victims, including two school children, died in Louwae, Nakoret and Kangirisae villages where they had sought refugee after being displaced from their homes four months ago due to raids by armed bandits.

And more people are still crying out for assistance, and there are fears the death toll could rise.

The sorry state of affairs would appear shocking especially taking into account the recent major fundraiser in which close to Sh1 billion was raised.

Dubbed Kenyans for Kenyans, it was initiated by Kenyans to save the lives of starving citizens.

When contacted, Turkana Central DC Humphrey Nakitare declined to confirm the deaths, saying they were still investigating. "I am waiting for a report from the medical teams and then I can make public the deaths and causes," said Mr Nakitare.

The DC said the Medical Officer of Health had dispatched a team to intervene after they received a report of the tragedy. He said they had delivered food to Kerio Division last month.

However, The Standard team that visited Louwae area counted 15 freshly dug graves. Medical personnel who visited the areas said the victims might have succumbed to hunger, cholera, dysentery or malaria.

Hundreds of people moved from their clash-prone homes and hid in the bushes after bandits shot dead 15 people in Mugur and Kangirisae areas in inter-clan conflicts.

Kerio Division Public Health Officer Diana Rotich led journalists and other Government officials to the areas where the victims lived.

Three hideouts

The team found some of the hunger victims lying on the ground at the three hideouts. Some relatives of people who had died were burying the bodies at the hideouts when the team arrived.

Chiefs at Nakoret had issued the burial permits.

The medical team had a hectic time treating desperate victims. One person collapsed and died in the presence of medical personnel. Majority of the people complained that they had not eaten for several weeks.

Ms Rotich said the number of people who had died was high, but declined to confirm it to the Press.

"We have realised that many people have died of either starvation or other diseases but I cannot confirm the number to the media. Please ask my boss," she told journalists.

But residents interviewed confirmed that at least 40 people have died within the last four months.

Explained Rotich: "An average of four people die per day of mysterious diseases." She said most victims, especially children, were severely malnourished. She suspected there was an outbreak of pneumonia and dysentery in the area.

"Most of the patients we attended to were complaining of chest pains and some diarrhoea cases. But the condition was worse due to severe malnutrition," Rotich said. The MoH said they had taken stool samples for laboratory analysis.

Loriu Ewoton, a resident, said since they moved to the bush, they have not received any relief food.

Turkana Central MoH Joseph Epem declined to confirm the number of deaths.

Source: The Standard

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