Floods displace hundreds of families
| Lake Baringo Floods: A girl emerges from a house at Ng’ambo village in Marigat, Baringo County on July 27, 2013, where houses are submerged after the water level in Lake Baringo rose, displacing residents as the water continues to spread further due to rain that continues to pound the lake’s catchment. PHOTO/JARED NYATAYA (Eldoret). |
More than 800 acres of food crops have been destroyed after the waters of Lake Baringo rose, flooding farms and homesteads.
The worst hit are Ng’ambo and Salabani locations in Marigat District where more than 2,000 people have been displaced by floods.
“We fear that hunger will worsen next year if the rains persist as the volume of the lake extends by at least 10 metres every day.
Risk of starvation
“We appreciate government and humanitarian organisations’ efforts to assist the affected persons but giving them utensils will not be of much help. They should be given food as all their harvest has been submerged in water,” said Ilchamus Ward Representative Wesley Lekakimon.
Mr Lekakimon, who was among leaders who talked to the Nation yesterday, said many people were at the risk of starvation.
He said the affected families were putting up with relatives while others were camping in Salabani, Kiserian, Ng’ambo, Ruggus and other areas and were in need of humanitarian assistance such as food and tents.
The ward representative said that the residents, who have over the years suffered the wrath of floods, were ready to move to safer grounds as a lasting solution to the problem.
Wild animals among them hippos and crocodiles, swam in the flood waters towards homesteads killing hundreds of livestock.
Ng’ambo area chief Joseph Lenasheku, said more than 120 houses had been submerged a since April.
