Over 700 people displaced by floods in Mandera County

Heavy rains have flooded most parts of Mandera County (Courtesy)

MANDERA—More than 700 homes have been swept in Mandera County and over 4,500 people have been internally displaced in North Eastern by floods caused by the heavy rains pounding most parts of the country.

The flooding came at a time the region was facing severe and prolonged drought that hs wiped livestock and claimed lives across the Horn of Africa

An estimated 3 million people in the country are facing acute food shortage. Refugees within Dadaab Camp in Garissa County are spending nights in the cold as their homes were destroyed by the floods.

Caleb Odhiambo, the area manager of Save the children Operation in Dadaab said it was not clear how many of the refugees’ homes were destroyed by the floods.

“This year, children have been hospitalised in Garissa county because of cholera. The Tana River has risen by almost one metre from four metres to 4.9 metres, posing great danger to residents including those in Dadaab subcounty,” he said.

Odhiambo noted that heavy rains have left ten thousands of refugees  at risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

United Nation International Education Children’s Fund (Unicef) reported 817 cholera cases and 10 confirmed deaths from the disease.

Nairobi, Garissa. Embu, Kirinyaga, Mombasa, Turkana and Wajir are among seven Counties who are still reporting cholera cases following the heavy rains.

When there is drought , refugees in Dadaab camp lack food and when it rains they are affected by water borne diseases.

Communities in Northeastern have been praying for rain. There are no trees or vegetation to secure the soil’s moisture. Around Dadaab and Kakuma camps, refugees have cut trees and destroyed the environment. Heavy rains can be disastrous because the soil is washed away, taking everything in its path.

By February 28, Dadaab hosted 231,103 refugees while Kakuma had 185,899.