EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESSGUIDELINESfor UNITED NATIONS PERSONNEL IN KENYA
Emergency Supplies
During emergencies it may be both difficult and dangerous to move around in order to get essential supplies. You should therefore ensure that you stock up on critical supplies and it is recommended not to wait until the last moment to do so. It cannot be ruled out that stores may become short of supplies the closer we get to the elections. It is strongly recommended that you start acting upon this as soon as possible to avoid a last minute rush
Water
Safe drinking water is essential for your survival. When planning to stock up on safe drinking water you should plan for approximately 3 liters/person/day. Ensure that you have at least 10 to14 days' supply of drinking water. Water purification tablets as a backup is also recommended. Example: If you are a family of four individuals you will require 3 x 4 x 7 = 84 liters of safe drinking water per week. If you have running water in your residence it is also recommended that you fill up whatever water-containers you have available at home.
Food
For guidance only: Under normal circumstances a grown male will require approximately 2500 calories/day. A grown female with require approximately 2000 calories/day. You should keep this in mind when stocking up on food and planning for quantities. Ensure buying food that can be stored for a long time without going bad. This means canned food, biscuits and other types of dried food. When buying canned food try going for cans that you can open without using any tools. For example; these days' tin cans often come with a lid that can be opened without using a can-opener. Leave your emergency supplies of food stored while it is still safe to go grocery shopping and there are still supplies available in the shops. Use the emergency supplies only when they are really needed and not for convenience. The following list of items is worth considering.
• Canned food;
• Cereals;
• Dried milk
• Children's food
• Ugali / Rice / Pasta;
• Dried legumes;
• Sugar;
• If you have pets also buy additional pet food;
• Cooking oil and baking flour
Other important items
A supply of medical items and a first-aid kit should be kept available and fully stocked, especially if somebody in your family needs regular medication. Ensure that you have adequate supplies, at least 3 months, to cover for periods when pharmacies may be closed or it is too dangerous to get to the pharmacy. There are a number of additional items that you should consider getting. A suggestion of such items is listed in the check-list below. As mentioned before, do not wait until the last moment to start stocking up on these supplies. The best time to plan and prepare for an emergency is not when you are in the middle of one.
6Blanket and/or sleeping bag
Insect repellent
Small AM/FM radio with batteries and/or crank generator
Candle-lights
Jerry-cans with fuel (if you have a vehicle)
Solar panel for charging electrical equipment
Cup, plate and cutlery
Lantern (Kerosene or Propane)
Spare batteries for everything that runs on batteries
Fire extinguisher(s) and fire-blanket
Matches and/or lighter
Storm-kitchen (gas or liquid fuel)
First Aid kit
Medication such as anti-inflammatory, malaria, antibiotics, pain-killers, etc.
Toilet paper/wet wipes
Flash lights
Nylon cord
Toiletries
Food
Rain-coat and/or umbrella
Water
Glucose sweets
Salt tablets
Water containers
Glue, duct-tape and ropes
Sewing kit
Water purification tablets
Residential Security
• Establish procedures for allowing visitors into your compound whether you are at home or not.
• Ensure that all alarms, locks and lights are in good working order.
• Check your perimeter fencing and gate to ensure that no attempts are being made to create an
entry point.
• Know the guards that are provided by your security company and ask that they inform you of anychanges that they will make to their personnel and ensure that a proper handing and taking over procedure covering access to the compound etc. are followed in your residence. Consider that during civil unrest, security companies might not be able to deploy guards as usual as public transport might be affected. The same applies to your domestic staff at home.
• Ensure that your guards are conducting frequent foot-patrols around the perimeter in order to detect any attempts of unauthorized entry.
• Consider designating a room in your residence to be your residential safe-haven. This would be the "stronghold" room where you could potentially lock yourself in to buy some time during a forced building intrusion (until help arrives). Preferably this should be a room with no or strongly protected windows and a heavy-duty door with secure locking-mechanisms from the inside.
• Ensure that you have filed a complete inventory of your possessions in Kenya with your HR office.
• Be aware of the arrangements and security plans of your children's schools.
• Make arrangements for your pets, which may stay behind in case of evacuation.
Moving Around
General
• The best way to remain safe is to avoid trouble in the first place.
• If in doubt; stay out!
• Follow your instincts. If something feels wrong it probably is wrong.
• Remain vigilant and if you observe something that looks wrong then do not go there.
• Avoid congregating at large establishments, such as public transport hubs, shopping plazas,prominent hotels, night clubs and bars, particularly at peak periods.
• Avoid fixed routines such as always using the same routes and time for travel. Do not use short cutsand isolated roads. Follow the main flow of traffic.
• Use a taxi from a registered company especially when you have to go out at night to reduce thelikelihood of being car jacked.
• Carry what you need to pay for fares and other essentials; do not carry large sums of money or yourATM cards and documents like passports that may not be required for a specific journey.
• Be alert when approaching the gate at your residence. Avoid long waits for the gate to be opened. If you feel uncomfortable with people you spot around your residence, change course and alert your
security service provider.
• Plan your trip well. Keep a road map as a guide and avoid stopping at obscure places to ask fordirections. Travel during daylight hours whenever possible.
Driving
• Do not drive in areas with poor street lighting or no lighting at all.
• Keep your windows and doors locked at all times and avoid displaying items on your back seats.
Preferably lock them in the boot of the vehicle.
• Be alert at all times and keep a watch on the vehicle following you. If following is persistent, divertcourse to a public area, the nearest police station or to a response vehicle of a security companyparked strategically on most routes.
• Keep a contact on quick dial on your mobile phone and let them know the route you are on and thesituation if you feel you are being trailed.
• Before driving from any parking area, scan your vehicle looking for any unusual things that were notpresent when you parked the vehicle.
Emergency Contacts
Police Emergency Service 999
Kenya Police
020-2724201
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