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Kenya: 70,000 displaced by floods in urgent need of aid

At least 27 people have died while 70,000 are in urgent need of shelter, water, food and healthcare after heavy rainfall caused massive flooding, forcing thousands to leave their homes in Kenya, reports CISA.

The heavy rains that started in December have destroyed roads and bridges cutting off villagers and leaving them without food and safe water, putting them at risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

According to local residents, the roads to Baragoi in Samburu and Kargi in Marsabit, in Eastern Province, are inaccessible and hundreds of children in Marsabit were still at home and had not reported to school as roads were closed.

On Wednesday January 6 the ministries of Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Regional Development, Special Programmes, Water and Internal Security launched a major relief operation to provide flood victims with food, water, medicine and mosquito nets.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga speaking in his office this week after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disaster Response said there would still be difficulties providing some of the relief efforts in parts such as Turkana East and Lodwar, where the supplies have been stored.

“Over a few weeks, Kenya has moved from one extreme to another. The biggest problem was that the rains did not follow the pattern predicted by the Meteorological Department in its report to the government last year,” the Prime Minister said.

According to weather predictions, the rains will continue into the first week of February.

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TAGS: Kenya floods urgent need of aid relief operation cholera waterborne diseases

[01/11/2010]

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