Nairobi: A devastating health emergency looms in Kenya where an explosion of post-election violence has killed hundreds and displaced a quarter of a million others, British charity Merlin warned today.

Although the government and aid groups are struggling to deliver aid to displaced civilians mainly in the country s western region, the charity warned that humanitarian supplies were dangerously low.

"Food and clean water supplies are now running dangerously low, especially in and around (the western city of) Kisumu," Merlin s Country Director in Kenya Wubeshet Woldermariam said in a statement.

"People are being forced to drink unsafe water, risking diarrhoeal diseases, infection and dehydration. The longer the crisis continues, the greater the risk to people's health," he warned.

"If peace isn t restored within the next few days, disease outbreaks and severe dehydration are very real threats," the charity warned.

At least 361 people have been killed in poll-related violence since election day on December 27,according to a tally compiled by AFP from hospitals, police and mortuaries.

The UN estimates that the chaos may have displaced 250,000 Kenyans, some 100,000 of whom need immediate help in western Rift Valley region. The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR has pledged to provide aid.

Local aid workers fear an outbreak of diseases in crowded make-shift camps in schools, hospitals and churches, most of which were still out of reach owing to their inaccessibility or safety concerns.

Source : PTI