The Kenya Red Cross Society's mission is to build capacity and respond with vigor, compassion and empathy to those affected by disaster and at risk, in the most effective and efficient manner. It works closely with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in over 185 countries.
In Brief
This Information Bulletin No. 2. November/2008 reflects the information available at this time.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
Mr. Abbas Gullet, Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Email; gullet.abbas@kenyaredcross.org Phone 254.20.60.35.93; 254.20.3950000 Fax 254.20.60.35.89
Dr. James Kisia, Deputy Secretary General, Kenya Red Cross Society, Email; kisia.james@kenyaredcross.org Phone 254.20.60.35.93; 254.20.3950000 Fax 254.20.60.35.89
Mr. Titus Mung'ou, Public Relations Officer, Kenya Red Cross Society, Email; info@kenyaredcross.org Phone 254.20.60.35.93; 254.20.3950000 Fax 254.20.60.35.89
Kenya Red Cross adheres to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning the Kenya Red Cross programmes or operations, or for a full description of the Society's profile, please access the Kenya Red Cross Website at http://www.kenyaredcross.org or the Federation's Website at http://www.ifrc.org
Situation
Nyanza Province: Siaya, Budalangi North and Budalangi South districts have been affected by floods. In Budalangi South, 19 villages are flood waters and 1,029 people have been displaced from their homes.
Kenya Red Cross assessment indicates the most critical needs as food, shelter and clean water. A dyke broke down at three different points causing massive destruction. Some people are still marooned in their houses and villages, and rescue efforts were underway to move them to safer areas. Some of the affected people are camping at Muhobole Health Centre in Magombe West sub-location, Budalangi Division.
In Budalangi North, seven villages were affected and 55 households displaced. Those trapped in their houses were rescued and moved to safer grounds. A Kenya Red Cross team went to Alego Usonga where floods were reported.
North Eastern Province: Mandera District is relatively calm despite fears and tension that gripped El Wak towns and its environs following a bandit attack on 9th November 2009. Two Italian nuns were abducted in El Wak during the bandit incident. A night curfew is still in force in Mandera.
Some people have fled El Wak town to the neighboring towns of Wajir, Takaba and Mandera fearing an attack by bandits. The flood situation has worsened in the entire Mandera District as River Daua has burst its bunks leaving more than 1,500 hectares of farmlands under water. Rhamu Dimtu, Kalicha and Hareri are the most affected with areas.
Kenya Red Cross health team has attended to 156 patients in flood-affected areas, among them 32 cases of diarhoea in Garbaqoley. The Society is working closely with the District Public Heath Office in carrying out surveillance of dysentery cases. Five more people have been admitted to Mandera District Hospital bringing the total number of people attended to in the health facility since October 2008, to 159. Kenya Red Cross has donated dressing materials and basic surgical equipment to El Wak Hospital and Wargadud Health Centre. Distribution of water purifiers and household visits has been intensified. More than 10,000 purifiers have been distributed and 224 households attended to.
Locals have been alerted to move to higher grounds following the rise in level of water in River Daua.
Basic Health Care Unit
Kenya Red Cross mobile team shifted its operations from El Wak to Mandera East District in order to assist in surveillance of diarrhoeal cases. This follows an upsurge of diarrhoeal-related disease in the district after flash floods swept the region mid-October 2008. The floods caused destruction of 428 latrines and contamination of many water points.
Kenya Red Cross mobile clinic activities started on 10thNovember 2008 in Garba Koley sub-location in Mandera town. The medical outreach team has provided medical services to 156 patients. The top five diseases were reported as URTI (51.9%), gastroenteritis (20.5%), malaria (8.3%), PUD (5.1%) and arthritis (4.5%).At least 140 persons were de-wormed and 40 others given Vitamin A supplements.
Mandera East: The District Hospital started receiving patients complaining of diarrhoea and vomiting from 28th October 2008. Some 350 patients have been treated for diarrhoeal-related illness.
Heavy rains have been experienced in Wajir District during the past one week. The district had faced a long dry spell before the start of the rains.
Wajir Central Location, Arbijahan and Hadado, in the West and Bute, Danaba, Ogomti and Gurar, in the North, and Wajir Bor and Mansa in the East are vulnerable to floods.
Initial assessment indicates that in Central Location floods have affected an estimated population of 80,000.
In Wajir Central Location, land topography is characterized by peripheral rocky terrain and gullies in some parts that drain massive flash floods to the central town which is in a depression.
Wajir town has no flash floods drainage channels and rain water harvesting from roof structures results in massive stagnant water that submerge homesteads, water wells and bucket latrines. The affected households are mainly in the catchments sites. Health hazards are posed by contamination of water.
Wajir District records perennial diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera outbreaks during rainy seasons, with the most recent being the occurrence of cholera during the short rainy season.
Households Displacement
About 70% of the households in Wajir Central Location live in the traditional huts structures which cannot withstand the marshy water and collapse. Some permanent structures are often submerged in flood waters displacing many people. It is estimated that at least 400 households will be affected during the current floods, especially in Township, Madina, Got-ade, Waberi One, ADC, Khalkhaja and Gotrahma villages.