LEADERS and human rights activists in Garissa have demanded justice after a nine-months pregnant refugee woman died in a scramble for food on Friday.
Hadija Ali, 28, lost consciousness after being pushed during the stampede at the Ifo 2 camp in Dadaab subcounty.
Garissa Woman Representative Udgoon Siyad termed the incident unacceptable.
“No woman, let alone a pregnant one, should lose her life in a setting meant to provide relief and refuge,” she told the press at a Garissa hotel.
Officers at the scene had rushed Ali to Ifo 2 Red Cross Hospital, where she was put on oxygen but died a few minutes later.
Witnesses reported that refugees had been waiting in extreme heat for hours, which led to heightened tensions in the crowd.
When people began pushing to exit the congested area, a stampede ensued despite efforts by security personnel to control the crowd.
The distribution was being jointly conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the World Food Programme and the Department of Refugee Services.
Siyad called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident by all the implementing partners.
She said it is sad that in the pursuit of basic sustenance, lives are being put at risk.
Muhuri Garissa coordinator Abdihakim Shurie called for the arrest of anyone found culpable of sleeping on the job.
Salah Yusuf from the Garissa civil society and human rights network asked why stakeholders are yet to explain what happened.
“It is very unfortunate we lose a mother and her child and yet we don’t have a situational report or a word of condolence,” he said.
“Losing a mother and her unborn child through an act of negligence is very sad,” she said. “We will push this matter until justice is served to the victim," activist Fatuma Bathi said.
National Gender and Equality Commission Northeastern regional head Abdiwahab Ibrahim also promised to pursue justice.
“We call upon the UNHCR and
the DRA to carry out comprehensive
investigations and submit a report,”
he said.
