Kenya: Turkey helps families displaced after demolition

NAIROBI, Kenya

Hundreds of families in the Kenyan capital Nairobi who were left in the cold after government bulldozers flattened their houses for encroaching on private land have received aid from Turkey's state-run aid agency.

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) distributed water tanks, blankets, food and hygiene items for women and children to dozens from the Mukuru slums which were hit by the demolitions.

The Kenyan government issued a notice to families whose dwellings along road reserves, pipelines, powerlines and other types of private land were subject to imminent demolition.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Emre Yuksek, TIKA's Kenya coordinator, said shelter for the families was important, especially due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

"During the pandemic, curfew measures put in place already complicated the casual workers' daily struggle. Unfortunately, untimely demolitions not only left people homeless but worsened their vulnerabilities during these trying times."

He added that "TIKA with the support of Turkish non-governmental organizations has extended help to the families with food aid hygiene kits for babies and mothers, sanitation support through water tanks and buckets, and also helped disabled and vulnerable families. We hope to extend this support in the upcoming weeks again."

TIKA noted that most of the beneficiaries were disabled, and as many as 80 families benefitted from the Turkish aid.