Earthwatch Update on the Situation in Kenya
The situation in Kenya has stabilized considerably. Negotiations, led by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, have successfully brought both parties to the table and made significant progress towards the establishment of a coalition government, as well as commitment to a timeline for a new constitution and new elections. Both the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the US State Department have modified their advice on travel to Kenya to limit their ban on non-essential travel to western Kenya and the slums of Nairobi, where unrest continues. Areas in which Earthwatch has operations are no longer included in these travel advisories. Our Field Director in Kenya, as well as our researchers on the ground, report these areas to be peaceful and quiet.
Earthwatch will resume all operations in Kenya as of 1 April 2008. This includes scheduled teams on all research projects, meetings between PIs and local communities, and travel by Earthwatch staff members to Kenya
As always, safety is our primary concern. We are in direct contact with our Field Director in Nairobi for daily updates on the situation. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and respond as appropriate to further developments.
Earthwatch cannot guarantee anyone's safety completely. Natural and political disasters can and do happen without warning. Volunteers should read Project Briefings thoroughly and think carefully about their personal comfort level with the field conditions of the project, the volunteer tasks and their own physical and mental capabilities. We encourage volunteers to educate themselves about current conditions in Kenya by consulting Foreign and Commonwealth Office
If you have booked an Earthwatch expedition to Kenya and would like to speak to an advisor please call 01865 318831.
For press information please contact Zoe Gamble, + 44 (0) 1865 318852 / zgamble@earthwatch.org.uk
Editors Notes