Looming humanitarian crisis from deadly deluge, 3 killed in Mandera, 6000 displaced in Meru

A humanitarian crisis is looming from the deadly deluge that has continued to pound many parts of the country that has left at least three people dead in Mandera while over 6,000 others have been displaced in Meru.

The situation has occasioned widespread displacements across the country precipitating humanitarian aid on essential supplies like food, make shift tents and fears of disease outbreaks in transitional camps.

In Mandera county, three people have died and thousands of others have been displaced by floods following heavy rains.

In Meru, over 6,000 have been left homeless and livestock swept away.

So far, one man aged 40 years has been reportedly swept away by ranging run-off water.

While presiding over the distribution of non-food items in Mandera town, area County Commissioner Amos Mariba said the three died after they fell into a flooded ditch in Mandera South.

“Three people, an 85-year-old woman and two children, the latter of which recently completed KCPE exams, died after they fell into a flooded ditch in Elwak, Mandera South.” Mariba noted.

According to Mandera County Kenya Red Cross Society Coordinator Mustafa Adan, nearly five thousand households have been affected by floods across the county.

“In four sub-counties, a total of 4,932 households need support out of which 3,113 were affected and 1,812 displaced by floods.”  Adan said.

Mandera North and Mandera East remain the most affected River Daua burst its banks, flooding nearby homesteads.

Adan said Mandera South and Lafey su-counties also need immediate attention as rain is set to increase in those areas. According to Khalalio MCA Mohamed Noor Yussuf, Dariqa location in Mandera East is entirely flooded displacing over 250 households.

“As a local leader, I have exhausted all available means to evacuate 250 families in Dariqa. We appeal for more support from the government and well-wishers before death cases occur.” Yussuf pleaded.

Mandera governor Mohamed Khalif has, however, pledged that his administration will support all the affected families with sanitation products and assorted foodstuffs to cope with the disaster.

“To the 5,000 people affected by floods we will provide food, non-food items, vaccines, and sanitation products to help prevent waterborne diseases.” The governor said.

In late October, president William Ruto Kenya will not experience El Niño rains as previously expected following highly publicised mobilization of billions of shillings for mitigation measures but scientists faulted him

Ruto said the Kenya Meteorological Department had downgraded its earlier warning, saying the rains will only be above average.

The national government had projected that it would spend more than Sh10 billion shillings to mitigate the effects of the El Niño rains, and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua convened several stakeholder meetings to review Kenya’s preparedness and come up with effective mitigation plans.