Around 12 million people are facing starvation in one of the worst drought in 60 years in East Africa. Leaving Wilson Airport we fly north-east bound to the Horn of Africa. The corrugated metal roofs viewed below intertwining with another on the ground fade out of sight as we leave Nairobi climbing to altitude.
Arriving at Dadaab airport we are met by Josephat Ngaira Musumba, Kenya Country Director for World Concern and Johnson Dima, Logistics Officer. We unload the 292kg of medicine followed by the fuel drum for future use. When the driver arrives all will be transported to the World Concern compound. MAF pilot Ben Durkee and MAF finance worker Thomas Mollu depart for Liboi airport with a returned arrival time of 12:30, 1.5 hours from now.
We find the 5 minute drive through the town of Dadaab very quiet. We pass the local school noticing it is empty and remember today is Saturday with most people at home except for the few that are shopping at the local shops. Driving another 10 minutes we are pleasantly surprised to find the World Concern compound used to be a guesthouse with each room having its own toilet. Preparations for the weeks ahead began 30 days ago. Staff have been here for 4 days and already secured the building lease for a year. Ngaira speaks that God’s hand is clearly evident with everything falling into place. The owner of the guesthouse also owns the local gas station and electricity runs from the common generator until midnight.
The town has no refugees in view or allowed in the town. World Concern, partnering with Medical Teams International (MTI), are working on both short-term and long-term plans for an expected growth of refugees travelling to Dadaab. We learn that the border is closed so refugees are travelling along cattle paths near Liboi remaining off the roads and out of view. With no money for transport, most refugees journey by foot as much as 30 days to live in 1 of the 3 camps out-skirting the town of Dadaab. The nearest health clinic is Kulen Health Centre, located approx. 19 miles west of Liboi. Most refugees have not seen medical care in years. The nearest hospital to Dadaab is Garissa, located 25 miles south and a two hour drive away.
Travelling to Liboi. we pick-up MTI worker Janis Lindsteadt from Portland, Oregon and Kenyan World Concern worker Kenyan Phillip C Kipchumba, Regional Safety & Security Officer.
Short-term: Set up a medical base in the town of Dhobley, Somolia approximately 10 miles east of Liboi. MTI works on setting up health and medical. Their resources are used for training local staff with 3 volunteers (1 doctor and 2 nurses) travelling from the USA and a revolving pharmacy. Making it a total of 6 people to travel daily from Dadaab to Liboi. Finding a secure housing compound in Liboi was not possible, so operations will have to travel daily from the town of Dadaab to Liboi. Road travel requires two vehicles-the escort that would have loaded arms for protection from any banditry. Staff with MTI are to travel in separate vehicle in case of hijacking for vehicle and supplies.
MAF is assessing whether we can help MTI in two ways: by daily flights to Liboi for clinics, and flights every 3 weeks for USA volunteer staff from Nairobi to Dadaab, saving them rather an additional 8 hours road travel which adds to exhaustion from 2 day travel from abroad.