Lewa Marathon

For the last few months, I have been getting my exercise on the 3.3 km sand road around the UN compound.  A few laps is no big deal, but try training for a half marathon on the sand! 

My training ground.

What was I training for?  Why, the Safaricom Half-Marathon in Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (or "Lewa" as the natives refer to the race).

Still feeling good at 10 kilometers.

Safaricom is the largest Kenyan cellphone provider and is the major sponsor of the marathon and half-marathon (which most people opt to run)  held in  Lewa Wildlife Conservancy near Mount Kenya.  The full marathon is considered one of the most difficult in the world, and I'd argue that the half marathon is one of the toughest as well! The course runs through the bush over undulating terrain at an average altitude of 5,500 feet.  But what makes the race so unique is its location in a game park.  The conservancy is home to over 100 rhinos, herds of elephants, and other exotic animals, so you never know who/what might be running next to you as you make your way to the finish line.  Security is must, and armed rangers, helicopters and a spotter plane are all deployed to watch over the runners during the race.

View of the first water station

Upon arrival at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, my friends and I received our race bibs, quickly stopped by the campsite and then, as any good Kenyan would do in a nature park, went on a game drive.  I am still awed by the sight of giraffes, zebras, gazelles just meters from the car!

Our safari vehicle!

Roughing it

Pre-race game drive, of course!

The race is limited to 1,000 participants with a cap on the number of spectators as well, so you better sign up early!  The conditions on race day were ideal, cool with some cloud cover.  As to be expected, the scenery  along the 21 km circuit was spectacular. 

 I snapped many photos along the way.  Unfortunately, I also shared some water at one of the water stops with my camera.  Of course, the pictures of the elephants next to the race course now look like elephants in a blizzard...or just a blizzard.

 The race, which raises money for the conservancy as well as projects benefiting the local communities, is not to be missed.  Runners come from all over the world to enjoy the beautiful landscape, challenging course and merriment that make up the Lewa Marathon weekend.

And we're off!

If you run and find yourself in Kenya in June, I definitely recommend signing up for the race!

1 Refugee Is Too Many

July 20, 2011 marked the 10th anniversary of World Refugee Day and the 20th year of refugees in Dadaab, Kenya.  This year's global theme, "One Refugee Is Too Many," was especially poignant in Dadaab as the number of refugees living in the three camps now exceeds 370,000!  At each camp, the day was celebrated with skits, songs, and readings by school children, ethnic minorities, musicians, community leaders and others.  There were many appeals to UNHCR to increase its efforts to meet the needs of the ever-increasing camp population.



Sporting our World Refugee Day t-shirts at Dagahaley Refugee Camp.



Dagahaley Refugee Camp school group performing a song and skit.



The crowd was enthusiastic, and everyone enjoyed the performances - even when the loudspeakers stopped working!

Children watching the performances.

Refugees recognized for their contributions in the camps.

  

Students performing a skit in which people fleeing from Somalia are attacked by bandits who steal their few remaining possession.

 A female school group singing a rap song.

The Dagahaley Camp Chairman gives a speech.  The camp chairman and chair lady are the top leadership positions in the camp.

 UNHCR staff and special guests at the World Refugee Day events in Dagahaley Refugee Camp (I'm next to and behind the people wearing red shirts).

This year alone, over 62,000 newly arrived refugees have registered with UNHCR in Dadaab - with a daily average in June of 1,500 people!  And remember, the camps were only built to hold 90,000!  Fear of Al Shabaab and the continuing drought in Somalia have caused people to exit the country in staggering numbers. 

Familiar sight of a newly arrived family.

Each day as we drive to the UNHCR field offices in the camps, hundreds of people sit in the dirt near the UNHCR gates waiting to be helped.  The sight is heartbreaking- children without shoes, having walked for days in the hot sand; dust-covered faces; naked babies carried on the backs of young children; and elderly people carried on makeshift stretchers.

Temporary shelters (which end up being long-term shelters) provided to new arrivals.

Waiting to be assisted by the Department of Refugee Affairs and UNHCR at Ifo Refugee Camp.

Keeping up with the growing number of people who arrive each day at the refugee camps is a difficult task.  Although emergency food is provided immediatley upon arrival, it does not last long.  It is only after a refugee has been registered with the Kenyan government and then UNHCR that the family receives a ration card, giving them access to bi-monthly food distributions.  Food is distributed over a one-week period, based on family size.  But even that food is not enough.

Standing with colleagues at the reception center for new arrivals in Ifo Refugee Camp.

For most refugees, registration is just the beginning of a long period of waiting and hoping for help from aid agencies.  Resettlement is the end goal for the majority of refugees; however, it can take years to be scheduled for a resettlement interview, have your case processed and finally board the plane to a third country. 

Below is a photo of a Somali Bantu family whom I interviewed for resettlement.  Because one of their children is Albino, the wait for their interview was only (ONLY!?!) 3 years.

 There is no end in sight to the refugee situation in Kenya, but each day we can try to give someone hope for a better life.