I must admit, I’m a little late reading this considering you wrote it in July. However, once I had started reading, I simply had to continue, and in complete silence. I can see, hear, feel and taste what you speak of.

I lived in Nairobi for a year when I was a teenager and was then moved enough in 1995 to do something about what I’d experienced. I founded a charity called the Karibuni Trust and we work to raise money to help the children living on and off the streets in Kenya and awareness of the situation there.

The drought has had an effect on how much money we have to send to Kenya to all the various ‘projects’ we support. Trustees from the charity here travel to Kenya every year and we have known about the drought for at least two years. In Meru and Maua, the lattter being where much tea is grown and where, before the drought took hold, it was always very green, much of it is now so arid. We support ‘projects’ in both Meru and Maua but we also support a ‘project’ in Tharaka where it is now like a dustbowl and extremely hot.

I know that the situation in Somalia and in the Dabaab Regugee Camp is beyond the imagination of most people. Even when you see it in the papers, on the television or on the net and when you read about it all, it is never the same as when you are there. It is like when I go to Kibera, classified still I believe by the UN as the biggest slum in Africa and where the charity financially supports a Nursery started and run by the Methodist Church in Kenya (MCK), and when I have walked through Kibera, I can never put across to others here in England exactly what it is like.

But please, forgive me, the situation in Kenya, especially northern Kenya and going out towards Tharaka and on to Garissa and Dadaab, is also extremely bad. The cost of food is becoming horrendous. Even in Nairobi. The extra money we are having to send to Kenya due to the sharp rise in the cost of food and other necessities is having a major effect on the charity, especially when considering the global financial crisis and the effect that is having.

I am not asking you to donate anything to the charity, although that would of course be wonderful and greatly appreciated, I am simply writing to say thank you for writing such a moving account of your experience in Dobley, Somalia. I am also asking you and other other journalists who may read this post to understand that, although it is the Dabaab Refugee Camp in Kenya which has hit the headline news on many occasions and rightly so, the situation in other parts of Kenya is also dire and there are many people who are starving, families whose livlihoods are being destroyed when herds of cattle die.

I know, the situation in Somalia and in Dadaab is horrific, and that cannot be said enough, but the situation in Kenya is also awful.

Thank you again for your article above.

Best wishes,

Corinne
@malaikamakena

I still have lot of respect for my Muslim brothers and miss each one of them especially my dear friends in Kashmir.

However, I beg to differ on the title / message of this blog, though I agree with many of the facts provided in this writeup. I have personally seen, what we have gone through;
1) Hindu Houses were Burnt ……….not even a single belonging to Muslims
2) Thousands of Templetes were completely destroyed……..I am happy Masjids are safe
3) Hindu Leaders were Killed……None from Muslim community (by militants)
4) Hindu Families were Harassed……..Have not heared even a single complaint / vow against militants from Muslims
5) More than this, Pandits could not support the masses who were Anti-India and Pro-Pakistan

Let me also ask, what did the Muslim Organisations do to stop us from migrating to other parts of India ??

On contrary, I have so many examples, where the Muslim neighours help Pandits to flee during the nights…Thanks to all such people,who helped us survive.

I was fortunate enough to visit Kashmir last year and this year too…..
But now, I can see lot of change in the attitude and mindset among people in Kashmir;
- I am really happy to see Muslim brothers extending a warm welcome
- I am happy to see most concenterating on their own business /Jobs / Studies
- I am happy to see the younger generation moving out of Kashmir to other parts of country to pursive their caree goals…..have been fortunate to help few of my brothers.

I wish to be back and live a peaceful life back in Kashmir along with my dear Muslim brothers

God Bless all Kashmiris…