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UK firms consider Kenya holidays UK charities in Kenya aid push
(about 3 hours later)
British travel companies will meet on Monday to decide whether to continue cancelling holidays to Kenya. UK charities are mobilising to help the 250,000 people made homeless by violence which has gripped Kenya after a disputed presidential election.
The east African nation has been gripped by violent clashes in the wake of a disputed presidential election. British medical charity Merlin is vaccinating children against measles, providing mosquito nets to help fight malaria and supplying clean water.
The Foreign Office is still advising against all but essential travel to the country despite indications that trouble is easing. And the British Red Cross launched an appeal to provide relief.
About 500 British holidaymakers returned home on Saturday and a similar amount are due back on Monday. Gordon Brown has urged Kenya's political leaders to move "urgently" towards talks to end the bloodshed.
There are still about 2,000 Britons on safari and beach holidays in Kenya, away from the main troublespots in urban areas.
Kenya is an increasingly popular tourist destination with about 200,000 Britons visiting the country last year. Numbers peak in late January and February.
I think Mr Odinga and Mr Kibaki both recognise that unless they make a change, unless something happens that brings them together, the prospects for Kenya are very poor indeed Gordon Brown,UK prime minister
Meanwhile, Gordon Brown has urged political leaders in Kenya to move "urgently" to talks to end violence in the country.
The prime minister told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I think it is very important that the two sides come together. We have been working night and day behind the scenes to see what we can do to bring the sides together."The prime minister told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I think it is very important that the two sides come together. We have been working night and day behind the scenes to see what we can do to bring the sides together."
Mr Brown said he believed there was "a chance of reconciliation", adding that he had spoken to President Kufuor of Ghana, who is travelling to Kenya within the next few days to act as a mediator.Mr Brown said he believed there was "a chance of reconciliation", adding that he had spoken to President Kufuor of Ghana, who is travelling to Kenya within the next few days to act as a mediator.
People are being forced to drink unsafe water, risking diarrhoeal diseases, infection and severe dehydration Wubeshet WoldermariamMerlin
"There is a great deal of work being done behind the scenes," said the prime minister."There is a great deal of work being done behind the scenes," said the prime minister.
Fears are growing about the mounting humanitarian problems in the country. Fears are growing about the mounting humanitarian crisis in the country.
British medical charity Merlin has warned that Kenya is on the brink of a health crisis.
Disease and dehydration
Merlin's Wubeshet Woldermariam said: "Seven days into the crisis, food and clean water supplies are now running dangerously low, especially in and around Kisumu.Merlin's Wubeshet Woldermariam said: "Seven days into the crisis, food and clean water supplies are now running dangerously low, especially in and around Kisumu.
"People are being forced to drink unsafe water, risking diarrhoeal diseases, infection and severe dehydration. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the risk to people's health."People are being forced to drink unsafe water, risking diarrhoeal diseases, infection and severe dehydration. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the risk to people's health.
"If peace isn't restored within the next few days, disease and severe dehydration are very real threats.""If peace isn't restored within the next few days, disease and severe dehydration are very real threats."
Charity response
And the charity's country health director, Dr Afeworki Abraham said displaced people had flooded into Nyanza province, in the west of the country, from the north.
"They are staying anywhere they can find - police stations, churches, parks. It is hard to get food because the roads are blocked by gangs," he said.
Meanwhile, staff and volunteers of the Kenya Red Cross have been working to provide support to people.
An Oxfam spokeswoman said Kenya was well provided with its own agencies, but the organisation was considering ways it could assist, such as potentially providing sanitation facilities and other necessities at camps where displaced people had gathered.
The Foreign Office is still advising against all but essential travel to the country despite indications that trouble is easing.
British holidaymakers
British travel companies will meet on Monday to decide whether to continue cancelling holidays to Kenya.
About 500 British holidaymakers returned home on Saturday and a similar amount are due back on Monday.
There are still about 2,000 Britons on safari and beach holidays in Kenya, away from the main troublespots in urban areas.
Kenya is an increasingly popular tourist destination with about 200,000 Britons visiting the country last year. Numbers peak in late January and February.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has said he is willing to form a government of national unity in an attempt to bring an end to the violence.Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has said he is willing to form a government of national unity in an attempt to bring an end to the violence.
More than 350 people have been killed and 250,000 made homeless since the 27 December elections. More than 350 people have been killed since the 27 December elections.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on the leaders of Kenya's political parties to share power.Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on the leaders of Kenya's political parties to share power.