EU steunt Keniaanse Rode Kruis bij hulpverlening na gijzeling in Nairobi (en)

European Commission

Press release

Brussels, 25 September 2013

EU supports the Kenya Red Cross for its response to Westgate hostage crisis

The European Commission is making aid available to the Kenyan Red Cross Society (KRSC) in an act of solidarity with the victims of the tragic incident in the Westgate Shopping Mall in Nairobi.

" We are responding with €25,000 to a request by the Kenyan Red Cross Society at this difficult moment. They are doing an excellent job through first aid, ambulance and referral services, tracing and reuniting lost family members and psychological support ," European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva said.

The EU assistance will help replenish of the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) that will support the Kenyan Red Cross society in its current efforts to give referral and blood donation services, provide community- based health care and boost the psycho-social care for the people affected by the Nairobi incident.

The KRCS has spearheaded a much needed nation-wide blood donation campaign to support the medical facilities in Nairobi in treating the casualties. The Kenyan population has also shown impressive generosity and unity, raising funds and giving blood for the victims and volunteering in large numbers to support survivors and the families of victims.

The Kenyan Red Cross Society (KRCS) has been a long-standing partner of the European Commission, in particular in the area of emergency preparedness and response. The Commission has contributed to strengthen the response capacity of the KRCS through capacity-building, first aid training of local volunteers, stockpiling of basic items and coordination with stakeholders. This support, for an amount of €800,000 goes on.

For more information

MEMO/13/811 : Joint message by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy to the President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta

MEMO/13/823 : EU supports Kenya in facing terrorism and its consequences

The European Commission's humanitarian aid and civil protection:

http://ec.europa.eu/echo/index_en.htm

Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva's website:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_2010-2014/georgieva/index_en.htm