BY STANDARD TEAM

The ugly face of human suffering is quite evident in Tana Delta as mostly women and children are hurdled in camps without basic amenities. 

Humanitarian agencies revealed that in the one month of fighting between the Pokomo and Orma, about 5,000 families have fled their homes, a similar number affected directly either through loss of houses, cattle or relatives.

Internally displaced families give graphic witness accounts of the massacres that took a huge toll on women, children, and the elderly.

In IDP camps, which are  guarded by police, children play about and some cry for food as parents curse the persistent fighting that uprooted them from their homes.

Victims from Riketa, Kilelengwani and surrounding villages are living at Dide Waride and Witu town camps.

Security agencies are warning that the Tana Delta crisis is now spreading insecurity into Lamu, Malindi and Mombasa where some fleeing residents took guns and other weapons.

Kenya Red Cross added that the situation was grave, as many children have lost contact with parents and caregivers.

Police sources show that whoever planned the violence may have achieved ethnic cleansing as some places are now ‘ethnically pure’ while others are ghost towns or villages.

Thursday, Kenya Red Cross  relief officer for Tana County Caleb Kalinde said 1,047 houses were burnt and others knocked down leaving 5,000 people “directly affected  by the violence through arson”.

“A total of 120 people have lost their lives during this period,” said Kalinde, adding they are running short of basic amenities. At Witu Hospital where most victims received initial treatment, most medical staff fled in fear of reprisals or raids by rival militia.

With a few household items they salvaged, the survivors of the clashes wear exhausted faces and appear too weak.

Several boats full of refugees have been docking at the Lamu jetty in Lamu Island.

Mombasa County Commissioner Nelson Marwa warned that guns used in Tana violence may find their way to Mombasa and disclosed that 100 families who fled the conflict are now in the coastal city.

He told a meeting of security chiefs that people fleeing the violence into Mombasa should be screened.

An officer who asked not to be named told The Standard that “had we pursued the raiders we would have exposed IDPs,” referring to the close to 1,200 victims camping at Semikaro chief’s camp.

Another police officer complained that the Government was not providing adequate transport, back-up, and water for officers who have been working endlessly for weeks.

Most people fled from Semikaro, Nduru, Lemi, Shirikisho and Angasa villages, which were razed to the ground after the murder of four people by suspected Orma militiamen avenging the Monday massacre of 38 civilians and nine policemen at Kilelengwani, which has been blamed on Pokomo militiamen.

The District Officer’s office at Witu and Witu Primary School have beenturned into refugee camps.

Even as they endure cold and rainy nights without tents, victims are now worried about food shortage. Both Pokomo and Orma displaced families say they do not have adequate food since they lost crops and livestock  during fighting. Witu  Senior chief  Abdullah Ahmed said many families have agreed to host the victims of the clashes but others were suffering in the camp.

“We have a total of 1,020 IDPs and they need urgent assistance,” she said.

 Marembo Seif from Boko village said she abandoned her crops three weeks ago and they were looted.

“I fled with my children and left my maize in the farm. I will now rely on donations with are not enough to sustain me,” she said.

Reports by Patrick Beja, Paul Gitau and Awadh Babo