The World Vision Kenya has donated 200 non-food item kits to help families affected by the Friday night landslide that hit parts of West Pokot County.
Speaking on Tuesday in Kapenguria, the World Vision National Disaster Management Coordinator, Felix Musonye said each kit contains kitchen set, jericans, soap, mats, blankets and tents.
“We hope that the items will help the families. We are aware that most of the affected families saved nothing during the tragedy and the tents will offer them temporary shelter and a few utensils to be used by the affected families,” he said.
The Coordinator said the organization will further do assessment on the ground and promised to provide more support to the victims.
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Head of Emergency Department at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Dr. Tabu Simiyu, said the health team has managed to transfer all patients who were still held at dispensaries to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital.
“All patients that were in dispensaries have been brought to the County Hospital and I am happy to report that they are responding well to medication,” he said.
Simiyu noted that most of the children in the camps are coughing and the area is cold, saying medical practitioners had been dispatched to the camps to offer help.
“Medical team left Kapenguria early yesterday morning and out in the camps to offer help to the affected families and hoped that the situation will be controlled,” he said.
The Dr. Simiyu who is also a consultant surgeon, expressed concern that cases of water born diseases may erupt in the region.
“Most of water sources are contaminated and we fear that outbreak of water borne related diseases. Also we have taken measures by providing drugs for treating water before use to the locals,” he said.
Yesterday the Council of Governors led by Mandera Governor Ali Roba, Marsabit Governor Mohamud Muhammed and Baringo’s, Stanley Kiptis, joined West Pokot Governor, Prof. John Lonyangapuo in Kapenguria and later visited various areas hit by the landslide.
The Governors visited victims undergoing treatment at the Kapenguria County Hospital before heading to Mwino and Parua villages to visit the affected victims.
“I am deeply saddened at the loss of life and suffering that our brothers and sisters of West Pokot are experiencing as a result of landslide and through Council of Governors and people of Mandera offer my heartfelt condolence,” said Roba.
Governor Roba gave out Sh. 2.5million, a contribution from himself and from Governors towards helping tragedy victims.
Those who donated included Governors, Ali Roba, Anyang’ Nyong’o, (Kisumu) Mohamud Muhammed, (Marsabit), Stanley Kiptis (Baringo) and Mohamed Abdi (Wajir)
The area leaders led by the area Governor, Lonyangapuo called for more support in humanitarian aid to help the affected victims.
“We mostly need blankets and warm clothes to keep the children warm. The donations that we have received will be able to reach the affected people, today,” he assured.
He said that military trucks were helping in transporting the food to affected regions.
Also Al Khair foundation, Kape Matt, business community from Makutano and churches donated food and non-food items
The landslide that occurred in Muino, Parua and Nyarkulian has displaced over 10,000 people and death toll currently is standing at 43.
Transport along Kitale Lodwar Highway had returned to normalcy, however, transport along Marich – Lomut was paralyzed after Wei-wei bridge was washed away.
By John Saina
