Fire Tragedy Devastates Sinai Slums in Kenya

On Monday, September 12, 2011, a huge fire broke out along the Lunga Lunga Road between Nairobi city centre and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Industrial Area, in which at least 100 people mainly from the Surrounding Sinai slums lost their lives and at least one hundred more were admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital, many with serious burns.

Official reports from the government and at the scene indicate that the inferno broke out after a Kenya Pipeline fuel pipe burst close to the Sinai slums and leaked into the sewerage and the Ngong Rover which passes through the slum area. Kenya Pipeline Company MD Selest Kilinda claimed that there was a technical problem that led to a faulty valve. This caused a leakage which could not be easily contained because of the rain which caused it to leak into the slums. Kenya Pipeline did shut down the pipe but it was too late to avoid the tragedy.

Reports from survivors of the inferno in which at least 100 people have been confirmed dead claim that people from the densely populated shanties of Sinai had already started siphoning the fuel when the fire broke. Unconfirmed reports further indicate that people cooking close to the pipeline may have sparked off the inferno.


What are the Humanitarian Aid Needs?

Caritas Kenya carried out an assessment jointly with Caritas Nairobi, Parish priest and local community leaders. The team visited the scene of the tragedy and the temporary camp which has been established jointly by Kenya Red Cross Society and the Government of Kenya. The team also visited Mater Hospital and Kenyatta National Hospital where the victims are hospitalized.

The assessment established that more than 100 people had died. About 112 people were admitted in various hospitals in Nairobi 15 of them were treated and discharged. 97 still in hospitals (9 are children, 36 are women and 52 are men). 10 out of the 97 are in critical condition (with more than 80% burns).

At least 9 people out of those who had been admitted at the KNH have now succumbed to the burns and died, many more still in hospital with various degrees of burns, need urgent medical attention and blood donation.

There has been a temporary camp which has been established for those who were displaced following the tragedy. The camp is hosting about 200 people who include children, women and men. The number of people in the camp is increasing every day since those being discharged from the hospitals are coming to the camp.

People affected by the fire are now in need of food items, clothing, shelter, mosquito nets, sanitary towels, clean & safe drinking water and psychosocial support.



How is Caritas Helping?

After the assessment which identified the immediate needs, Caritas Kenya on September 14, 2011 delivered food items, blankets and mosquito nets all valued at about Kshs 700,000.
The bishops of the Kenya Episcopal Conference though the Bishop Chairman for Caritas Kenya, Rt. Rev. Martin Kivuva, sent their condolence message to the relatives and friends who have been affected and urged the government to become more accountable for the safety of the people of Kenya through a press statement delivered at the Tom Mboya hall where victims are camping.

The meeting of bishops further agreed that the Sunday of 18th September 2011,will be a day for all catholic churches in Kenya to dedicate Holy Mass and pray for the victims of the fire tragedy.

Following the incident, the camp had registered about 150 people which include men, women and children.

There is further, an urgent need for psychosocial support to the families affected by the tragedy and the church in Kenya has joined efforts with other humanitarian organizations to give support to the victims.