The Government of India on Tuesday sent 40 tonnes of relief supplies to support rehabilitation efforts in the flood affected regions of the country.
The consignment includes 22 tonnes of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HA/DR) items such as tents, sleeping bags/mats, blankets, power generation sets, ready to eat meals, basic sanitary utilities and hygiene kits,
They also donated 18 tonnes of medical aid, comprising essential life-saving drugs and surgical equipment for critical care and wound management.
A press release Tuesday also indicated that the donation also included items required for baby food, water purification, menstrual hygiene, repelling mosquitoes, along with malaria and dengue diagnostic kits, anti-venom treatment and several types of testing kits that could be readily deployed on the ground.
Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Ms. Namgya Khampa handed over the relief materials to Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of East African Community and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development Peninah Malonza at Embakasi military hangar.
India Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the statement said that the assistance to Kenya signified the strong and friendly relations with Kenya in the spirit of South-South cooperation and their commitment to keep Africa on top of their priorities.
“This is also in line with India’s philosophy of World in one Family (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam) and our commitment to collective action to deal with natural disasters under India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) for the Indian Ocean Region.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those affected by the devastating floods in Kenya. We stand in solidarity with the Government and People of Kenya,” he added.
An earlier consignment of immediate relief material was brought in by Indian Naval Ship Sumedha and handed over to the Government of Kenya at Mombasa Port on 10 May 2024.
Mercy Wanjau, Secretary to the Cabinet, Idris Salim Dakota, Principal Secretary, State Department for Cabinet Affairs and Mr. Harsama Kello, Principal Secretary, State Department for Arid Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development were also present.
Kenya has been hit by the devastation caused by the floods with 38 out of 47 counties being affected. An estimated 267 people have died, 188 injured while over 280,000 displaced. This year, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) estimated Sh1.9 million people in the country being food insecure and needing humanitarian assistance between February and March 2024.
By Wangari Ndirangu
