ReliefWeb

Four people lost their lives and another 21 injured, 3 of the critical after a clash erupted between the Gare and Degodia clans of Rhamu, Mandera County, also rendering at least 7,000 people homeless. The incident, which occurred on Wednesday 28th February 2013, left property worth thousands of shillings destroyed and houses burnt down.

The Kenya Red Cross Branch office in the area was also looted. In response, Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) dispatched a disaster response team from the Dadaab Refugee Operations comprising Clinical officers, Nurses and Paramedics to offer humanitarian assistance and since 28th February 2013 the team has been camping in Rhamu, providing the same to affected families.

The KRCS has also dispatched at least 7.5 tonnes of relief food as a stopgap measure while more food will be dispatched from the Government and WFP. Furthermore, an Emergency Medical Services Ambulance was also dispatched on 1st March 2013 from Nairobi, to support the operations team on the ground. A medical team is already on the ground The KRCS Secretary General, Dr. Abbas Gullet, visited the affected areas on 1st March 2013 and held peace meetings with members of both communities.

Also present was the Provincial Administration that included the PPO, PC, Senior Administration Police, Provincial Intelligence Committee from Carissa and local Peace Committees. Members of both communities pledged to maintain peace. Meanwhile, the causes of the conflict are allegations that some people had been ferried from Nairobi and neighbouring Countries to come and vote in the area for favoured communities living in the area.