Period covered by this Operations Update: 13 October to 3 November 2009;
Appeal target: 1,124,682 (USD 1,061,020 or EUR 749,788) Appeal coverage: 6 %;
Appeal history:
- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 13 October 2009 for 1,124,682 (USD 1,061,020 or EUR 749,788) for 2 months to prepare five National Societies to assist up to 25,000 beneficiaries.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 161,487 was initially allocated from the Federation's DREF to support the Eastern Africa Zone office to respond.
Summary: Intense rains and flooding has been experienced during the first weeks of the current October to December rainy season. Communities in eastern Kenya and parts of Uganda have already been affected by what is predicted to be an extended and above average rainy season.
The International Federation Eastern Africa Zone office has begun procurement and pre-positioning of relief, and water and sanitation (WatSan) items with support from the British Red Cross and DREF funds. More support is needed to ensure that the Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania National Societies have sufficient emergency response resources available in the region to initiate timely humanitarian intervention.
The situation
The October to December seasonal rains have started in East Africa and this year's expected rainfall will be particularly intense due to current El Nino conditions. Previous years with El Nino conditions resulted in significant rainfall and flooding throughout the region and led to tens of thousands of persons being displaced. This current rainy season is predicted to experience above normal rainfall that will last through January.
Currently after three weeks of rain, severe flooding has already occurred in northeastern and coastal Kenya, as well as southwestern Uganda. Some 1,200 households have been displaced in the Coast Province of Kenya to date and rain has been recorded in the region for the last 6 days. The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has initiated a disaster response in the region targeting up to 5,000 households that are expected to be displaced over the next weeks if the rains continue at the current rate.
The seasonal rains will further exacerbate the on-going two year drought that has plagued the region. Entire communities are extremely vulnerable to the rains and floods due to damaged livelihoods as a result of failed crops and livestock death.
In addition, health emergencies related to floods are expected to rise over the next 2 to 3 months. Outbreaks of cholera have already been reported in parts of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi and are expected to increase as the rains continue. Emergency health, and water and sanitation activities will be the areas of intervention that require a quick and timely response to minimize suffering and deaths.
