For Kenya, when it rains, it pours destruction all over

Jane Awuor and Jane Achieng in their flooded homestead in Kojiem village, Nyando on April 1, 2013. They were unsure of their next move after flood waters marooned their home in Kojiem village in Nyando. Deaths and loss of property have been reported as the rains pound parts of the country. Photo/TOM OTIENO

What you need to know:

  • As at last Friday—May 3—40 people had been killed in Rift Valley, 21 in Eastern Kenya, seven in the coastal region, four in Western and two in central Kenya.
  • As a result of the urgent humanitarian work needed, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has appealed to the international community for about Sh290 million to support Kenya Red Crioss as it scales up assistance for the affected communities.

The pictures streaming in from across the country tell it all; it has been a month of rain, rain and more rain.

And when it rains that much in these parts of the world, disaster is always a heartbeat away.

That is why the news last week that at least 74 people had died as a result of the heavy rains and almost 100,000 others displaced did not raise any emotions.

But is should have, because this is a disaster of national proportions, a tragedy that knows no age, region or class. The indiscriminate destruction has been heartbreaking, and the photos we gathered in that one month of deluge tell the story better than we can ever hope to.

As at last Friday—May 3—40 people had been killed in Rift Valley, 21 in Eastern Kenya, seven in the coastal region, four in Western and two in central Kenya.

Flash floods have caused widespread destruction of property and infrastructure as well as disruption of key activities such as farming and education.

The Kenya Red Cross Society last Wednesday evacuated more than 8,000 Tana River and Lamu residents after their homes were submerged in flood waters.

The exercise, led by KRCS’s Tana River County coordinator Michael Ayabi, involved a twin-engine boat to reach marooned villages, vehicles and other property in the lower Tana.

The disaster was caused by the swelling of water levels in River Tana two days ago occasioned by heavy rains pounding the region.

As a result of the urgent humanitarian work needed, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has appealed to the international community for about Sh290 million to support Kenya Red Crioss as it scales up assistance for the affected communities.

Dr Gullet said last week that the emergency appeal will enable the humanitarian agency to deliver assistance to more than 52,000 people affected by severe flooding and landslides across the nation.

“The main priority of the Red Cross is to continue emergency search and rescue efforts as many communities have been isolated by the floods without shelter, food or safe drinking water,” said Dr Gullet.

The appeal will fund the provision of food and other relief items, emergency healthcare focusing on disease prevention and hygiene promotion, safe water and access to improved sanitation, as well as cash and livelihoods support.