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Kenya

Kenya: Floods Preliminary Emergency appeal n° MDRKE012

Attachments

GLIDE n=B0 FL-2010-000003-KEN

This Preliminary Emergency Appeal seeks CHF 7,311,822 (USD 6,908,734 or EUR 5,231,857) in cash, kind or services to support the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to assist 111,743 beneficiaries for 6 months, and will be completed by the end of October 2010. A Final Report will be made available by end of February 2011 (three months after the end of the operation).

CHF 432,589 (USD 415,950 or EUR 292,289) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation. Unearmarked funds to replenish DREF are encouraged.

Summary: This Preliminary Emergency Appeal is being launched to assist communities affected by floods in various parts of the country. This follows heavy rains that have resulted in flooding in various parts of the country after four successive seasons of drought causing moderate to severe food insecurity in the affected regions.

The onset of the long rainy season in Kenya has started with devastating impacts in the country. Since early onset in March, 66 people have been reported dead in various parts of the country. Over 7,525 households approximately 44,270 people have been displaced and 111,743 people have been affected by floods countrywide. Large tracts of land under cultivation and domestic livestock have also been destroyed by flood waters thereby threatening not only the food security of those affected but also compromising the livelihoods of these mostly rural communities.

The destruction of infrastructure such as bridges and roads has been widespread thereby slowing down relief efforts to the affected areas. At least 40 bridges have been destroyed and water systems affected in North Rift, South Rift, Upper Eastern, South Rift and North Eastern regions. Some 11 classes and an administration block have been destroyed in six schools across the country.

On 30 April 2010, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KENGEN) issued a flood alert warning responders of imminent floods due to release of excess waters since the dam was filling up. With an overspill of excess waters in Masinga Dam, over 150,000 people are likely to be affected in Garissa and Tana Delta.

Based on the situation, the KRCS aims to respond to the immediate needs of floods affected populations focusing on search and rescue operations, distribution of non-food items and implementing health, water and sanitation interventions to mitigate the effects of the floods. Additionally, the National Society will endeavour to support early recovery processes among the population affected by the floods with an attempt to restore their livelihood.