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Israel’s Ally, Kenya, Seeks Your Humanitarian Aid

Kenya Emergency COVID & Disaster Relief

www.TheQueenEstherProject.org

In December 1963 Golda Meir, then Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Kenyan Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta.  On that trip, Meir and Kenyatta laid the cornerstone for the Israeli Embassy in Nairobi.  That was the beginning of a long, productive relationship between Israel and Kenya that lasts to this day.

Kenya’s President Kenyatta, and Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) trade agreement in 2018.  The trade deal fosters economic growth creating opportunities of mutual interests.

Further, Israel benefits, and seeks, relationships in the Horn of Africa for security buffers due to terrorism activities in Somalia, and in and around the Indian Ocean. A safe, secure Kenya benefits the western world, especially Israel.

To that end, Kenyan humanitarian non-governmental organizations seek the support of the  Jewish world to help, and show compassion during a time of crisis.  Please read below the catastrophe of floods and COVID making this request urgent.

The Queen Esther Project, Inc. (QEP) announces collaboration with Kenyan NGO (non-governmental organization), Agrisystems Foundation, for the purpose of alleviating suffering due to flooding, and COVID-19 spread. The effort additionally aids the “Big Four Plan” for the Kenyan economy set forth by Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta.

The “Kenya Emergency COVID and Disaster Relief ” project was launched due to the increasing, and urgent, need to find solutions to recent events in Kenya.
The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring against a backdrop of increased humanitarian needs due to back-to-back drought, floods, desert locust, and a COVID-19 outbreak. As of June 8, 2020 Kenyan COVID cases were 2,989 with 88 deaths. COVID spread is intensifying due to a series of events leaving hundreds of thousands without shelter. Kenya is increasing testing. Case load is much higher than current numbers show.
Heavy rains also swept away the main water pipes running through forests in the Aberdare Mountain Range north of Kenya’s capital of Nairobi the first weekend in May. The Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company shut down a treatment plant for repairs which fed water to the city. Huge swathes of Nairobi are struggling with little to no water and supplies at a time when COVID-19 is spreading. Flooding from tsunami of water flowing from the burst pipes has rendered more than 800,000 effected, with 600,0000 remaining displaced.
 SUMMARY OF AREAS IMPACTED:
  • The Kangemi Slum – This area lies on the Eastern part of Nairobi Central Business area of Nairobi County. The population is 100,000; there is no running water. Kangemi is one of 200 slums in Nairobi, Kenya. The slum has over 150,000 people congested in a small valley with steep slopes rolling down the Nairobi River.
  • The Kirbira Slum: This is Africa’s largest slum – the sprawling, densely-populated informal settlement of Kibera is are in a race to stop the spread of COVID-19. Around 60% of the Kenyan capital’s 4.4 million inhabitants live in 200 high-density informal settlements such as Kibera. The population is one million who suffer from extreme poverty.
  • The Kariobangi Slum: With a population of over 100,000 living in 800 semi permanent, permanent structures, a controversy ensues over public land rights and the impoverished dwellers. More than 7,000 are without shelter.
The landslides, affecting the villages of:
  • Kitony (Northern part of the North Rift Valley, Market county.
  • Chesegoni Elgeyo Market lays at the border of Pokot Chesegoni Marakwet County.
  • Paraka – West Pokot
  • Nyarkulien and Muino in West Pukot.
Officials say the villages have been cut off by flooded roads and at least one bridge was reportedly swept away. President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement that his “heartfelt condolences were with the relatives and friends of the victims.” There remains massive destruction to property and infrastructure. Seven children were among the dead recovered, said officials.
 Further, bursting river have caused havoc to the residents rendering them homeless: The Nzoia-River, The Bundalangi River, Nyando River. Video below.

At the helm of The Queen Esther Project, Inc. is Lisa Benson. Lisa is a former Global Affairs radio journalist/ broadcaster (KKNT, Phoenix) based in Arizona. Her background includes an undergraduate degree at the State University of New York, Albany, and master’s in public policy work at the Rockefeller Institute of Public Policy, SUNY, Albany. Lisa has been engaged as a development consultant for nonprofits in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the United States for 30-years. She is an avid hiker, and professional photographer, using the lens of her camera to capture the incredible vistas of the Southwest United States.
In collaboration with Lisa Benson, and The Queen Esther Project, Inc. is Mr. Donald Mutuku Syuma, CEO, Agrisystems Foundation, registered in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr. Mutuku has over 30+ years in private and public enterprises. From 1976-1994, he worked with the World Bank. In 1997, Mr. Mutuku assumed a Diplomatic assignment and was posted to the Japanese Foreign Affairs Desk in Kenya. His Civil Service assignments include to this day as a conduit to securing a civil society for Kenya.
The collaboration project, “Kenya Emergency COVID & Disaster Response” seeks to raise $20,000 before July 1, 2020. Subsequently, financial goals through the end of 2010 include $250,000 from various foundations, individuals, corporations in the United States and abroad.
Distribution of food, clothing, medicine and COVID-19 prevention supplies will have oversight and evaluation on the ground in Kenya.
SECURE DONATIONS TO:
www.TheQueenEstherProject.org
For further information, please contact: Lisa Pandone Benson at: LisaPandoneBenson@gmail.com
About the Author
Lisa Benson is at the helm of The Queen Esther Project (QEP)(www.TheQueenEstherProject.org) a charitable humanitarian endeavor with a mission to educate on tyranny and genocide worldwide. Particular emphasis on Anti Semitism. QEP also has a local mission to aid refugees in our local communities are in urgent need of care and comfort as a result of fleeing persecution in home countries. Lisa Benson is a 25-year veteran of humanitarian, foreign policy, national security and nonprofit sectors. Lisa has been the voice of accurate, measured foreign policy information on Salem Radio KKNT, Phoenix, and the architect of Lisa Benson TV (streaming) and countless video and published reporting on geo-political issues. She is a compelling public speaker, broadcaster, non-profit development consultant, writer, humanitarian, and national security analyst. Lisa Benson is the author of a soon to be published book, “A Daughter’s Journey Into Ohrdruf Concentration Camp.” As a child, Lisa was introduced to the horrors of genocide by her father, Vincent, a concentration camp liberator. She remembers being only ten-years old when her dad sat her down at the kitchen table and tossed 12 packs of photos to her. His words resonate, “I want you to know where I was and what I saw.” Lisa recalls this story with tears in eyes as she will never forget that moment. The photos of piled up dead bodies were taken by Vincent when he marched into Ohrdruf concentration camp liberating it on April 4, 1945. The Ohrdruf camp was a sub camp of the Buchenwald concentration camp, and the first Nazi camp liberated by U.S. troops. From a 10-year old little girl with indelible memories, to a grown woman traveling the world speaking out on atrocities of unfathomable proportion, Lisa Benson holds nothing back as a speaker, broadcaster, activist or human rights educator. She is a riveting, compelling and transformational public speaker. The Queen Esther Project imbues the spirit of its namesake: Queen Esther. Knowing that “We Are All Born For Such A Time As This,” The Queen Esther Project has an ambitious agenda to educate, and eradicate, tyranny and genocide. Using the tools of broadcasting, publishing, online education, public speaking and fostering communication to world leaders, donors can be assured that with Lisa’s guidance projects will provide impact — the men, women and children in harm’s way will now have more Queen Esther’s to walk with them to safety. Lisa Benson invites you to join in the campaign to rid the world of genocide by 2022. The #EndGenocide2022 campaign seeks to obliterate the forces of genocide by the year 2020. We won’t stop until all ethnic and religious minorities are out of harm’s way. Lisa Benson has a B.A. from the State University of New York at Albany and attended graduate studies at the Rockefeller College of Public Policy at the State University of New York at Albany. Lisa is also an avid hiker and artist.