Kenya (MNN) ― There's growing concern over the humanitarian crisis brewing in Kenya in the post-election violence.
The good news is that envoys have arrived, and Kenya's president opened talks with the opposition leader to discuss how to end the country's election standoff. This came just hours after the opposition called off nationwide rallies amid fears of new bloodshed.
Ethnic clashes have displaced an estimated 250,000 Kenyans, while food and clean water are in short supply. Roadblocks set up by vigilante groups prevented food trucks from leaving or getting into the port city of Mombasa.
Bible Pathway Ministries' Karen Hawkins says the unrest has had a severe impact on one of their partners. "Our Swahili translator actually lives in Eldoret, and he has a Bible school and orphanage. The school has been looted, their food supply has been taken, and some of their teachers have been beaten up. It's a very difficult situation. You can't get petrol. It's not a good idea to move anywhere, and if you don't have any food supply, it's extremely difficult."
A World Food Program truck convoy is expected to reach the worst-affected town of Eldoret sometime today. Although efforts are under way to provide aid to homeless people, the flow of asylum-seekers is expected to increase in the coming days.
Hawkins says they're looking for ways to send needed supplies. They're also urging prayer for their team members. "They're just praying, basically, for protection, that things will calm down. It's not something that's just going to happen overnight unless the President decides to forsake the presidency, which, obviously, he hasn't been willing to do up to this point."
