A Westgate Update from the Kenya Ushahidi Team

All Ushahidi team members and their families are accounted for (as well as everyone on the iHub team). One of the Ushahidi team members (BRCK product), was traveling and his wife and children were inside the building. They were separated at the time, but all managed to get out and are safe now. Most everyone knows of the ongoing siege at Westgate Mall in Nairobi, where 10-15 gunmen have overtaken the shopping center, killed many and have taken hostages. There is a lot still going on, and we hope, in day 3, that we'll see an end to it. An excerpt from a message from Juliana to the team:

"It is during difficult times like these that we have to come together and reflect. From the response of our team in their individual capacity, to the generosity of giving blood, donations and sharing information. We have the opportunity to think about our work even more. We each joined Ushahidi for a reason. Today I am reminded of the one reason that binds us together. To make a difference, to assist, to make inefficient communication systems better, to change how information flows."

It's not over. We're still thinking and praying for the people in the building as hostages, for the security forces as they assault and try to end this mess.

Some Sources of information

As usual, Twitter is one of the best sources for real-time information. Keep an eye on the following: Officials: @IGKimaiyo - David Kimaiyo, Inspector General of Police, Kenya. @PoliceKE - The Kenya Police. @InteriorKE - The official handle for Kenya's Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. @NDOCKenya - The Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre manages and coordinates disaster response at a national level. Email info@ndockenya.org Call +254-020-2212386

"@InteriorKE: To report Missing Persons in the #Westgate mall attack use @KenyaRedCross Trace HOTLINE on (+254)714820219 #WeAreOne"

— Disaster OpCentre KE (@NDOCKenya) September 23, 2013

News Media: @DailyNation - Kenya's largest newspaper, the Daily Nation @Howden_Africa - Daniel Howden, journalist who covers Africa & some other places for The Independent. Contributor to The Economist. Co-Producer of Stolen Seas doc on Somali piracy. @MikePflanz - Kenya-based correspondent covering East, West and Central Africa for The Daily Telegraph and East Africa for the CS Monitor.

Remaining #Westgate attackers contained in top floor Millionaires Casino, with unknown number of hostages, business leaders

— Mike Pflanz (@MikePflanz) September 23, 2013

How to help: @KenyaRedCross - Twitter handle for the Kenya Red Cross. Emergency Hotline: 1199, 0700395395, 0738395395

If you're in Diaspora and want to HELP #RedCross donate here https://t.co/fVETumGt3X ^PO

— Kenya Red Cross (@KenyaRedCross) September 23, 2013

@SafaricomLtd - Safaricom has setup a way for people to donate money via Mpesa.

#WeAreOne Kes 25,488,348 as at 9am on M-PESA PayBill 848484 towards @KenyaRedCross humanitarian activities for #Westgate Tragedy

— Safaricom Limited (@SafaricomLtd) September 23, 2013