Regional Overview of the Flooding in Eastern Africa, 14 January 2010, No. 1

Highlights

- More than 50,000 people in need of immediate assistance due to floods across the Eastern Africa region.

- Kenya and Tanzania worst hit, as heavier than normal rainfalls lead to destruction of infrastructure and loss of lives and livelihoods.

- Humanitarian response on-going in affected areas in Kenya and Tanzania.

- Government of Kenya approves spending KES 4.5 billion (US $ 53 million) for flood response.

Regional Flood Summary

A mild to moderate El Niño, characterized by heavier than normal rainfalls, continues to affect several countries in the region. Heavy downpour in Kenya and Tanzania has resulted in increased population displacements, destruction of infrastructure, loss of human and animal lives, loss of livelihoods and disruption of learning, as schools and business premises have been destroyed by the floods. According to Governments and Red Cross, more than 50,000 people are in need of immediate assistance across the region.

In Burundi, heavy downpour in early January 2010 resulted in damage to houses in Bujumbura rural province.

No flood reports have been received from Uganda, Eritrea, Rwanda, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia. Parts of Ethiopia and Somalia are currently experiencing below normal harvests following erratic rainfalls received during the last quarter of 2009.