Alex This is crazy. Why do you think this happened? On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 5:10 AM, Alex Gakuru <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > [Kenyans are furious with Red Cross after they contributed precious money > and foods under a locally initiated "Kenyans for Kenyans" famine relief > campaign. We raised far much more than those foreign humanitarian relief > operations could, only for Red Cross to lock up the food and let it expire > in their stores! A shame on Red Cross. They owe Kenyans and the world an > apology. The "International Community" must safeguard against their > demonstrated negligence from ever happening again, anywhere around the > world - Alex Gakuru] > > - - - > > By Lucas Ng’asike > > [image: nhcap120112_01.jpg] > > Tonnes of relief food meant for the starving in Turkana County have > expired in Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) warehouse in Lodwar. > > Some food expired on January 8 while another consignment is expected to go > bad next week. > The relief food has been in the store for months. > > KRCS relief officer in Lodwar Ms Flora Kyondo confirmed the expiry of the > supplies. > > Ms Kyondo was at pains to explain why the food was not distributed on > time. "It is true that food has expired in the store but it is now under > the custody of public health officers," said Kyondo. > > Kyondo said the organisation stopped distribution of relief food in > October last year. > > The relief officer said they had recalled about 1,866 Unimix bags, which > they had distributed to primary schools for analysis. > > Expired food > > However, sources said the organisation has been distributing relief food > in its compound in Lodwar. > > Kyondo had initially denied the presence of the food until the media > confirmed to her that they had taken clips of the expired food. > > Turkana Central DC Humphrey Nakitare said Kenya Red Cross Society should > handle the matter. > > "Kenya Red Cross is an independent organisation. It should be in a > position to explain what happened," said the DC. > > On his part, Turkana Central District Public Health officer Innocent > Sifuna said officials had seized 28 bales of Sorghum Mix, which expired on > January 8 this year from Kenya Red Cross warehouse in Lodwar. > > He added that all the bales have been recorded and will be destroyed > according to the law. > > Disappointment > > Dozens of starving residents in the county interviewed have expressed > disappointment over the expiry of relief food meant for them. > > Local leaders raised concern over the matter, questioning why KRCS kept > the food in the warehouse for several months without distributing it to > needy residents. > > Mr Derrick Ejore of Kenya Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it was > unfair for KRCS to keep the food until it expires while residents are > starving. > > "It is unjust for Red Cross to waste food, which Kenyans donated funds to > buy yet the hunger situation has not been alleviated," Ejore said. > > http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000049866&cid=4& > > > >