World Vision supports 4,200 Flood Affected & Displaced Households living in camps with Transitional shelters & Essential Household Items in Tana River County
Heavy rains characterized by flash floods are a perennial occurrence in Kenya. The country experienced heavy rainfall and flooding during the October-November-December (OND) 2023 short rains and the March-April-May (MAM) 2024 rains killing hundreds and displacing thousands of people, destroying critical infrastructure, farmland, health facilities, schools, and water sources. Livestock in pastoral communities were not spared either.
According to UNOCHA 2024 heavy rains and flashflood indicators, 315 people were killed, 188 injured, and 38 were reported missing, while more than 306,520 (61,304 families) were affected by heavy rains and floods between March 1 and June 18 2024, including an estimated 293,200 people (58,641 families) displaced according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC).
In Tana River County, at least 6,840 families (34,205 people) were affected and are hosted in 46 active displacement camps. Humanitarian partners in Kenya and across the Eastern African region in partnership with governments continue to provide post-flood humanitarian assistance such as food and non-food items to people still living in camps in Kenya.
Climate change and environmental disasters are reshaping migration patterns, and displacing people in Kenya. Decent and dignified shelter remains one of the greatest challenges facing children and families affected by flood disasters, who are now residing in camps. The devastating floods left countless families in dire need of shelter and necessities.
In response, World Vision Kenya and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Kenya, in partnership with the County and National government under the #TransitionalShelterProject have provided transitional shelters and essential household items to over 4,200 flood-affected households in Tana River County to help these vulnerable communities rebuild their lives from the squalid conditions in the camps. Our efforts include distributing tarpaulins, cooking utensils, mosquito nets, and other vital items to help these vulnerable communities rebuild. We prioritized the most marginalized, including the elderly, pregnant women, orphans, and people with disabilities. Government officials attended the distribution including the Ziwani location Chief, community members, camp leaders, and representatives from the International Organization for Migration Kenya.
In Tana Delta Sub-County, World Vision Kenya distributed the shelter and NFIs to six clusters; Ziwani-379 households, Garsen High School-403, Kuindwa-60, Mwina-110, Mnazini-23 and Baomo cluster-25 households.
During the distribution activity, Jeff Odhiambo, the National Programmer Officer of Shelter Settlement at the International Organization for Migration Kenya (IOM), pointed out that “rebuilding from the devastation caused by flooding has proven to be an ongoing challenge for the affected communities.” An assessment of the situation at the camps revealed that there is still a significant demand for basic humanitarian needs, comparable to those provided during the emergency floods, particularly for shelter. Julius Kazungu, World Vision Kenya staff in Tana River confirmed that the shelter items will be useful because the ones provided during the flood response are in deplorable condition exposing the children to cold, rain, and mosquitos. “These items will assist the families to maintain themselves in their camps and carry on with their everyday lives, including safety protection concerns during the recovery period.”
On their part, the joyful community members thanked World Vision Kenya and IOM for “providing us with a lot of things we have never received from anyone and for standing with us during our hour of need” The sentiments were echoed by the Ziwani Ward administrators, the area chief and officials from the local and national government in the National Disaster Management Authority present during the distribution.
World Vision Kenya’s Project Manager in Tana River County Mr Oyoko Omondi confirmed that transitional shelters & Non-Food Items (NFIs) distribution targeting 25,200 people cumulatively was extended to other counties in Kenya namely; Garissa, Mandera, Kilifi and Homabay flood-affected households (HH) whose temporary shelters have deteriorated and broken-down. The transitional shelter and NFIs will give dignity to the households to afford decent shelter while in the camps.
By Jared Ontobo, Emergency Communications Specialist, World Vision Kenya