Around 10,000 households in Kisumu County that were severely impacted by recent floods have started receiving much-needed relief supplies donated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in partnership with the Kenya Red Cross (KRC).
The devastating floods, which struck in April, displaced thousands of residents from Nyando, Muhoroni, Kadibo, and Kisumu East Sub-counties.
Heavy rainfall caused Lake Victoria to backflow and River Nyando to burst its banks, resulting in widespread destruction.
The KRC has begun distributing humanitarian aid to affected communities, with 1,600 families in Ogenya, Ombaka, and Kadhiambo sub-locations receiving food and non-food items at a ceremony attended by officials from the UAE Embassy in Kenya.
The delegation was led by Dr. Ahmed Saif Al Mansoori, UAE’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.
In Kadhiambo Sub-location, the situation remains dire. Many displaced families are hesitant to return to their village due to safety concerns.
“The area was completely cut off, and accessing certain parts still requires a boat as the floodwaters have not fully receded,” said Michael Buodoh, Chief of Kawino South Location.
Head of Operations Disaster Management at KRC, Ndighila Venant, emphasised that the relief aid is crucial in helping the affected communities recover from the losses and alleviate their suffering.
“This assistance is critical for families who have not only lost their homes but are also facing significant disruption to their livelihoods due to the floods,” Venant stated.
The families have received essential items such as wheat flour, maize flour, blankets, water Jerri cans, and tents to aid in the rehabilitation of their shelters.
Kadibo Deputy County Commissioner Gabriel Othina expressed gratitude for the timely intervention, noting that the UAE’s support would make a meaningful difference in the lives of the flood victims.
“The recurrent flooding in this area has severely disrupted local lives, forcing many to rely on well-wishers for basic needs support,” Othina remarked.
Thadeus Arodi, a village elder from Kasiwindi South, urged authorities to enforce long-term flood control measures like constructing the Koru-Soin dam and building dykes along River Nyando banks to control water overflow.
Venant reiterated that KRC is also actively advocating for permanent flood control solutions as a lasting solution for the region’s flooding and to address the community’s predicaments.
“We are pushing for the construction of dams upstream and dykes along the lakeshore and riverbanks to mitigate the flow of water into the villages in the future,” he said.
The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) reported that, as of June 2024, the floods had claimed 315 lives and displaced over 293,000 people across Kenya.
The partnership, Venant added, targets to directly support 50,000 households in Kisumu, Garissa, Busia, Tana River, and Homa Bay counties that were severely impacted by the latest floods.
The UAE Government, he said, has donated approximately Sh1.9 billion ($15 million) aimed at providing immediate relief and strengthening community resilience ahead of the rainy season.
By Robert Ojwang’
