Half a million displaced and 160 killed in Kenya floods

Induced by the El-Nino phenomenon, floods have been taking over various parts of Kenya, claiming more than 160 lives and displacing more than half a million Kenyans from their houses. 

Kenya's government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura said Tuesday that the floods resulted in displacing 529,120 people from 105,824 households and have killed more than 160 people so far.

"A concerted push to distribute essential supplies, including food and non-food items, continues by road and through airlifts and airdrops in inaccessible areas in 19 affected counties. Evacuation efforts are also ongoing with Kenya Navy boats and the Kenya Coast Guard Service," said Mwaura.

"The impact on infrastructure is significant, with numerous roads rendered impassable, disrupting transportation of people and relief efforts," Mwaura added in his statement.

In response to the escalating crisis, the government has been forced to establish nine additional camps in Tana River County, Migori, Homa Bay, and Voi to accommodate the displaced population dealing with the aftermath of the floods.

The ongoing rains in Kenya have triggered a chain reaction of disasters, with widespread flooding, landslides, and mudslides wreaking havoc across the country.

Along with the ongoing catastrophe in Kenya, other African countries have also been affected by the tragic floods, including Somalia and Ethiopia. 

On November 30th, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said that heavy rains swamped different parts of the country triggering floods that killed more than 101 people, displacing 1 million Somalis.

In a televised speech, President Mohamud said that Somalia is facing a humanitarian crisis due to the climate change-caused El Nino phenomenon, which is taking its toll on various parts of the country. 

"Our people everywhere in this country have been affected by the climate change-related floods. The floods have also killed 4,000 livestock and destroyed 140,000 homes" he told the press.

"for the last 16 years, the al-Shabaab terrorist group has hindered the people’s ability to farm and harvest and has refused to allow humanitarian organizations to help the people in the areas they control" Mahmoud added.