Thousands affected by floods in coast, northeast regions

Thousands of Kenyans have been affected or displaced by flooding in the Coast and Northeastern Provinces and will need assistance for several months because continuing heavy rains across the country have destroyed their farmlands, the Kenya Red Cross (KRC) said on Monday.

At least 60,000 people have been affected in the coastal districts of Kwale and Kilifi, including 1,000 people marooned in Vanga location of Kwale. Six deaths have been reported. Another 10,000 are affected in the northeastern districts of Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo and Moyale, with two children reported drowned and three others missing.

"Flooding has been reported in many parts of the country, but the worst-hit areas are in the Coast and Northeast," Anthony Mwangi, the KRC public relations manager, said. "Some areas have been cut off after bridges collapsed, homes have been submerged and farmlands destroyed. In the northeast, the impact has been largely due to seasonal rivers bursting their banks or changing course."

The destroyed bridges have affected commuter transport and aid delivery to the affected areas. "We have asked the government and the Kenya Wildlife Society to provide a helicopter to airlift food and non-food assistance to those affected," Mwangi added.

There were also fears of disease outbreaks after pit latrines had collapsed, contaminating drinking-water sources. On Sunday, the Kenyan health ministry issued an alert for possible outbreaks of water-borne diseases, notably cholera, in the affected regions.

"The people expected to harvest crops in December or January," Mwangi said. "But because the rains are unlikely to subside until December, people will need assistance for at least three months since their crops have been destroyed. And we will be going into a situation of drought."

According to the weather outlook for October to December from the Kenya Meteorological Department, some parts of the country will experience above-normal rains during this period, with a possibility of floods and landslides. The flooding and excessive still water could also increase the incidence of malaria and water-borne diseases while affecting transport and public safety, Joseph Mukabana, director of the meteorological services, said in the outlook report.

Flooding occurs regularly in various parts of Kenya and environmentalists blame it on rampant deforestation and changing climate patterns.

"Trees drill water into the ground. They funnel water into underground aquifers where it is stored to supply rivers during a drought," Nick Nuttall, spokesman for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said last week. "Forests are needed to build resilience into the natural ecosystem. They are a buffer against extreme floods and droughts."

The loss of ground cover due to deforestation resulted in flash floods during heavy rainfall, leading to soil erosion. "That is the start of desertification," said Beneah Odhiambo, a professor of geography at Moi University in western Kenya.

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