Thousands of people living in a makeshift camp in Kenya were today told that Ireland and the international community would do all in its power to help them return to their farms and homes.
On the first day of his visit to Kenya, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern vowed that the Irish government would support a displacement camp.
He told an open air meeting of thousands of displaced Kenyans near Eldoret in Kenya¿s Rift Valley that Ireland stood shoulder to shoulder with them in their hour of need and would remain "a voice of hope" for them in the international community.
¿What happened to you was tragic, but every effort will be made to nurture the political and civil conditions which I hope will give you the confidence to return to your homes,¿ he said.
¿In the interim, Ireland will continue to aid the displacement camp.¿
The Kenyans fled ethnic violence earlier this year following the Presidential election. The outbreak of violence lead to an estimated loss of up to 1,500 lives, the displacement of 600,000 people and the destruction of 41,000
properties.
Since 2006, the Irish Government has provided €27 million in emergency aid to the country. Channelled through charities and NGOs, an estimated €1.5 million of that has been paid so far this year.
The NGOs, supported by Irish Aid, are engaged in providing food and basic supplies to those who remain displaced and in helping those who returned home to restart their lives.
During the day, Mr Ahern also met with religious leaders including Bishop Maurice Crowley, from Co. Cork, at Kitale.
Tomorrow, the Minister meets with the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nairobi.
PA