Plane with 48 bodies lands in city

Relatives of Garissa University College students who died in the terror attack queue at the Chiromo mortuary to identify their loved ones. PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI |  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the government had set up a National Disaster Operations Centre at Nyayo National Stadium to assist families and friends with information about their loved ones.
• The CS said the ministry dispatched a truck full of medical supplies to Garissa Level Five Hospital since services there were stretched to the limit.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
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The military began transporting bodies of terrorist victims from Garissa to Nairobi on Friday.

The air force plane carrying 48 bodies of students touched down at Wilson Airport a few minutes to 2pm. The bodies were then transferred to Chiromo Mortuary.

Health Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the government had set up a National Disaster Operations Centre at Nyayo National Stadium to assist families and friends with information about their loved ones.

“Families can get the list of students who died in the attack and where to get the bodies. There is a manifest of those who survived, where they are and how they can be linked with their families,” Mr Macharia said.

TRUCK DISPATCHED

He added that a crisis operations centre had been set up at the stadium. It is being manned by officials from various ministries. The centre is also offering psychosocial support and counselling.

He said the 500 students who survived would be taken to the centre by National Youth Service buses.

The CS said the ministry dispatched a truck full of medical supplies to Garissa Level Five Hospital since services there were stretched to the limit.

“We have also sent two surgeons and four doctors and nurses to assist,” Mr Macharia said.

He said the government would foot the medical bills of the victims. “No one will be required to pay anything for whatever services provided,” Mr Macharia said.