Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o is appealing for humanitarian support from well-wishers towards people affected by flash floods in Kisumu County.
Prof. Nyong’o made the plea on Wednesday when he officiated the distribution of relief aid worth Sh5 million to the affected households in the area.
The recent flood disaster has so far affected some 725 households in Kisumu East, Kisumu Central, Muhoroni, Kisumu West and Kadibo Sub Counties.
The county boss feared that with the continuing rains in the area, the number of victims risks increasing further aggravating the situation in the county’s major flood hotspots.
Floods that were witnessed in the area, caused massive displacements of families, property damages and jeopardized economic lifelines.
He said that his administration has set up a multi-sectoral County Disaster Committee to help in resource mobilization to aid the vulnerable people overcome the challenges posed by the floods.
“As we continue with the response measures, I want to appeal to other stakeholders and our people of goodwill to join us in this journey in ensuring that our kin and kith are cushioned from these ravages of nature,” pleaded Prof. Nyong’o.
Nyong’o said that the County Government donated food and non-food relief aid intended to support some 1200 households for the next 2 weeks.
The consignment included maize flour, wheat flour, cooking oil, baby porridge, rice, milk, maize and beans.
Also, the county procured blankets, bar soap, solar lamps, sanitary towels and children’s gum boots to prevent exposing the young ones to bilharzia infections.
To effectively respond to the disaster, Nyong’o noted that his government has activated a continuous assessment spearheaded by the multi-sectoral County Disaster Committee which brings together stakeholders in disaster response from the County Government, the Red Cross, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Safe Water and AIDS Project (SWAP), World Vision, Kisumu Business Community and the National Government Administration Officers (NGAO).
“The assessment carried out by these committees is critical in informing our coordinated response mechanisms in addressing this catastrophe,” he said.
Red Cross mobilized family relief kits comprising cooking pans, blankets, mosquito nets water jerricans, plates and other cutlery as well as evacuation tents.
Care Kenya Organization donated 72,000 sachets of water purifiers to help mitigate potential health risks emanating from sanitation concerns.
Further, Nyong’o expressed his appreciation to UNICEF for supplying 1000 pieces of 20-liter jerricans, 1000 pieces of 10-liter buckets, 30 cartons of hand washing soap, and 90 kilograms of Calcium hypoclorite in support of the noble course.
By Robert Ojwang’
