Flood victims in Chewele location of Bura constituency have a reason to smile after a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) volunteered to make them new houses at a higher land to avert perennial crisis along the banks of River Tana.
Those to benefit from the programme are the ones living close to banks of Tana that has been flooding during rainy seasons displacing thousands of households downstream. The project will cost Sh 20 million and targets to at least 600 houses within Tana River County.
Speaking during a groundbreaking ceremony in Shikaadabu village, the Al-Imdaad Foundation Director Abdulrahman Mohamed said that the 100 houses would be ready for occupation within the next five months.
“We will allocate these houses to the poor and the needy who cannot afford to build their own homes. We want to help those who have been experiencing challenges during floods especially the children and women living in deplorable conditions,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed further noted that the organization would further look for means to supply water to the residents of the area.
“We are also going to make sure that those who get the houses will have a steady supply of water. If the water sources are far, we will look for alternative other measures. We are going to build 50 pit latrines to make sure that sanitation is well maintained,” Mohamed said.
Tana River County Women Representative Rehema Hassan thanked Al-Imdaad foundation for choosing to uplift the lives of the poor and needy in the county.
Rehema urged other organizations and governmental institutions to do the same.
The residents called for a free and fair allocation of the houses on a need basis once the project is complete.
By Erick Kyalo
