The African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) has launched a global appeal to raise $1.5m to provide health care to victims of the post-election violence in Kenya that has left nearly 500 dead and over 300,000 people living in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the country.

AMREF already works in the places affected by the recent events such as Kibera, Kisumu and Eldoret. In fact, as Africa's leading health organisation and having worked in Kenya for 50 years, AMREF is uniquely placed to intervene in the humanitarian crisis and protect the health of those affected.

"In most of the affected communities, people had very little to start with but the violence destroyed many homes and livelihoods. Families have fled their homes in fear, and thousands of people are living in makeshift camps with rudimentary water supplies, sanitation and health care. Many more are trapped in their own homes, afraid to venture out to seek health services," said Mette Kjaer AMREF's Kenya Country Director.

AMREF in partnership with the Kenyan government is applying its specialist medical skills and health sector experience in the most affected areas, including Kibera, one of Africa's largest informal settlements. AMREF is launching three new mobile clinics to provide essential health services. Though AMREF's Community Health Centre in Kibera, which was serving 97,000 people before the crisis, has re-opened, few people are coming for services due to the prevailing tension. AMREF Director General Dr Michael Smalley said: "The mobile clinics will be deployed in different areas, providing essential health services. This is back to AMREF's roots. If people can't come to us, we will go to them."

The outreach will be extended to Kawangware, Dagoretti and Baba Dogo in Nairobi which are home to over 1 million of the most affected communities. AMREF's work will focus on the needs of women and children, providing maternal health services, immunisation, health education, counselling, and HIV/ AIDS and TB care and treatment.

At the Jamhuri IDP camp in Nairobi, which is home to 4,000 internally displaced people, many have to share public toilets and water supply is sporadic. AMREF is concerned about the possibility of disease outbreak and is providing clean water, sanitation facilities and laboratory services. The laboratory will test anyone who gets sick so they can be diagnosed and treated quickly.

According to AMREF Deputy Director General Florence Muli-Musiime, though the worst part of the violence seems to be over, there is still great need. "People continue to suffer. Many are traumatised and living in make-shift conditions. The money raised will support AMREF's appeal in Kenya. If we raise more money than we need the extra will go towards supporting our existing programmes in Kenya and other parts of Africa," she said.

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Note to editors:

AMREF is Africa's leading health development organisation, based in Nairobi, Kenya. AMREF has been working with African communities for 50 years to improve health and health care for the most disadvantaged people. In 2005 AMREF won the Gates Award for Global Health in recognition of its work in Africa. See www.amref.org/uk

For further information please contact:

· Louise Orton - communications manager for AMREF in the UK, on +44 (0)207 269 5526 or +44 (0)7939 141 764, email: l.orton@amrefuk.org

· Bob Kioko - communications manager for AMREF HQ in Nairobi, on +254 (0)20 6993111 or +254 (0)735 546440, email: bobk@amrefhq.org