Flash floods hit Kenya after months of drought

23 April 2018

Heavy rain and flooding has caused large scale destruction and displacement in Kenya.

The flooding has hit Mandera country and the town of Dadaab, which is one of the world’s largest refugee camps home to over 235,000 people.

The camp was initially established in 1991 as Somalian refugees fled civil war, since 2011 a second influx of refugees have fled drought and famine in Somalia.

Estimates suggest that at least 750 homes have been swept away in the flooding and 4,500 people displaced.

Many of the refugees in Dadaab fled their camp and sheltered in nearby schools.

The flooding has also put thousands at risk of contracting waterborne diseases such as cholera.

The flooding follows a severe period of drought in Kenya which severely damaged livelihoods, agriculture and livestock across the Horn of Africa, causing food insecurity for 3.4 million.

Caleb Odhiambo, Area Manager of Save the Children’s Dadaab operation commented:

“Children are children and they want to play in the water, which is practically toxic. They don’t realise it could be fatal. What’s more, the floodwaters are washing away people’s belongings, livestock and homes, and families are living in open areas without access to shelter or food.”

Caleb Odihiambo added:

“In Dadaab, the refugees feel doomed either way because when there’s a drought, there’s no food and when it rains, there’s disease”

Climate change has worsened the effects of flooding in the area as desertification and deforestation has eroded top soil for crops and trees to grow.

Without vegetation to capture soil moisture, heavy rain cannot infiltrate and floods the surface.

Caleb Odihiambo noted:

“When there are no trees or vegetation to secure the soil’s moisture, heavy rains can be as disastrous as drought. Rather than rainfall being absorbed into the soil to nurture crops, the land simply washes away, taking everything in its path”

If you’d like to stay informed on the latest updates in aid and development, please sign up for the AIDF newsletter.

Image credit: UNHCR