Garissa: For the majority of Kenyans, rainfall is a blessing, offering opportunities for agricultural production and relief from water scarcity.
According to Kenya News Agency, this is not the case for residents along the Tana River belt in Garissa and Tana River counties. For them, the rains bring about mass displacement, destruction of livelihoods, and disruption of education.
Every rainy season, residents must stay alert to flood warnings, as even upstream rains or controlled dam releases can cause the River Tana to overflow, leading to destruction. This season, the Garissa County Steering group reported at least 1,000 households displaced in Garissa township, with 60,000 others at risk countywide. Affected residents from villages such as Bulla Punda and Ziwani are now in internal displacement camps.
Mzee Issa Malio, a resident of Ziwani, shared that the floods destroyed their farms and left them with nothing. Despite the floodwaters subsiding, the fear of further dam releases remains. Life in the camps is challenging, with inadequate shelter and health risks from mosquitoes and potential disease outbreaks.
Residents like Khadija Swale face constant displacement, with floods disrupting their children’s education and posing health hazards due to lack of sanitation facilities. Abubakar Mohamed Ali, headman of Bakuyu village, highlighted the urgent need for food assistance.
Daud Ahmed from the Kenya Red Cross emphasized the coordinated efforts to assess the flood situation and called for more resources to support affected residents. The organization is providing non-food items and evacuation services, urging farmers to avoid flood-prone areas.
