Kenya Floods Situation Report No. 4
DHAGVA - 98/0142
Present Situation
1. Much of Kenya has received extraordinarily
heavy rain since 10 January. Many locations have received several times
their long term mean for January. This is exacerbating the situation in
many districts, including Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, Isiolo and
Masarbit which in late December had just began the long process of recovery
from the effects of severe droughts (April 1996 to March 1997) and flooding
(since mid-October).
2. Whereas it had been assumed that
given the normal dry seasonal conditions from mid-December onwards, there
would have been a substantial return to normality by early February 1198.
This now appears totally to be totally unfounded. Stranded communities
will continue to be unreached by road until March at the least, and in
the case of centres like Wajir rather much longer.
Destruction to infrastructure
3. The torrential rains have caused
great damage to infrastructure. One particular consequence of the rains
is that the road link between Nairobi and the WFP Garissa air base operations
has been severed. Garissa base serves the Kenya and Somali flood emergencies.
It is also the base from which most of the food and other supplies for
125,000 refugees at Dadaab camp are despatched. At this time it is no longer
possible for stocks of food and aviation fuel to be trucked by WFP to Garissa.
One of the bridges on the main Nairobi - Mombasa highway has also been
destroyed and the highway is partially in operation as big trucks are not
allowed to use the highway.
Assessment Mission
I. Mission findings
4. As a follow-up to the 11 December
mission to North Eastern Province, another mission including representatives
from UNDP, WFP, UNICEF, British High Commission, European Union, The Netherlands
Embassy, USAID and Government officials has visited the Eastern, North
Eastern and Coast Province on 13 - 14 January.
In districts visited, (Isiolo, Mandera,
Wajir, Garissa and Tana River) mission reports heavy damage to agricultural
lands and infrastructures. Livestock is dying.
Distribution of vaccines and essential
drugs have stalled.
Water systems have broken down, wells
and other water supply sources are being contaminated: no water treatment
is being undertaken and electricity has been cut. Some areas are
completely cut off from the rest of the country by road and can be reached
by air only.
II. The Rift Valley Fever and the
health situation
5. A Rapid Response Team has been set
up by the Ministry of Health with technical assistance from WHO to investigate
the situation, collect samples, develop a clear case definition of the
disease, put together guidelines for health education and improve on disease
surveillance.
6. The mission noted that, according
to briefings from local authorities in the affected areas, there
are similarities in symptoms associated with deaths (fever, fatigue, vomiting
blood and diarrhoea). Case definition by the established Rapid Response
Team will help in further case identification based on guidelines developped
by the team.
III. Recommendations
7. The mission recommends:
a. the need to strengthen co-ordination
within the districts, province and with the Natural Disaster Committee
in the Office of the President to improve relief operations. This point
is addressed already by DHA Geneva.
b. the need for rapid assessment of
damage to infrastructure, roads, water supplies, irrigation, health facilities.
c. the need for an increase in air-drop
of food supplies to areas marooned by floods.
d. the need for shelter, clothes, blankets,
cooking utensils.
e.the need for rapid assessment of the
deteriorating health situation and outbreak of various disease, particularly
the Rift Valley Fever, malaria and other diseases.
At the request of the UN Resident Co-ordinator
in NAirobi, DHA Geneva is taking action on recommendation (a) to assist
the Government of Kenya.
COORDINATION ARRANGEMENTS
8. DHA-Geneva is prepared to serve as
a channel for cash contributions, to be used in the immediate relief phase,
in coordination and consultation with the relevant organisations of the
United Nations system. DHA provides donors with written confirmation and
pertinent details concerning the utilisation of the funds contributed.
9. Donors wishing to channel their contributions
through DHA can transfer funds to DHA account No. CO - 590.160.1 at the
Swiss Bank Corporation, Case Postale 2770, CH - 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland,
with reference Kenya Floods, DHA - Geneva.
10. For coordination purposes, donors
are requested to inform DHA - Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions,
pledges or contributions and their corresponding values by item.
Telephone number: + 41 22 917 1234
In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917
2010
Desk Officer: Guillaume de Montravel,
direct tel: + 41 22 917 1481
Contact for medias: Ms M. Moulin-Acevedo,
direct tel:
+ 41 22 917 2856
Telex 41 42 42 dha ch
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: info at dha.unicc.org
DPR 310 KEN 97 (1)
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN
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