Current Crisis: Floods in Kenya
Over 40,000 people have fled their homes as heavy rains cause chaos in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Current estimates put lives lost at 32 but the number could increase.
Reports have indicated that in slum areas citizens have been forced to sleep out on the roofs of their properties, due to the severity of the floods. Transport links around the country have come to an impasse as floodwater has covered roads and motorways, and train companies have cancelled services temporarily.
Whole neighbourhoods have been flooded and officials are claiming that the county government is overwhelmed.
Edwin Sifuna, the County Senator, said that local government was ‘clearly overwhelmed’. He went on to say on social media that ‘The situation in Nairobi has escalated to extreme levels,’ he also shared a video showing the situation in the area with people stranded on rooftops. Kithure Kindiki, cabinet secretary for the Interior Ministry, reassured Kenyans on a social media post stating that government agencies were beginning a operation to help the people of the country in a rescue and evacuation mission.
Government Response to the Flooding
“This morning I engaged leaders in counties and regions affected by the ongoing heavy rains,” Kenya President William Ruto added on social media. “Consequently, I directed the ministries of Interior and EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, and the National Youth Service to
immediately respond to the situation caused by the floods in Kenya. They will immediately step up multi-agency response efforts.”
Unfortunately, there will be no respite for Kenyans with the Kenyan Meteorological department predicting heavy rainfall will continue until May, potentially leaving the country in an even more disastrous position than it already finds itself in.
Broader Impact of Floods in Kenya
The rains began all the way back in March and have continued to devastating effects to the present day.
The extreme conditions have been felt across East Africa with heavy rains building up over the last couple of weeks. The death toll in Tanzania currently stands at 58.
The El Nino weather system has been blamed for the abnormal weather patterns. The combination of warm waters in the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean causes much heavier rains than are usually seen in this part of the world.
One of the strongest El Nino patterns seen was in 1997-1998, when 6,000 people lost their lives in 5 countries after similar strong rainfalls.
The Kenyan floods come just months after previous floods that caused nationwide damage, killing dozens of people across the country.
In Somali
Daadkii Kenya
In ka badan 40,000 qof ayaa ka barakacay guryahoodi kadib roobab mahiigaan ah oo ka da’ay caasimada Kenya ee Nairobi. Tirada dhimashada ayaa hadda gaaraysa 32, iyadoo laga cabsi qabo in tiradu sii korordho. Xaaladaha qaar, dadka deggan xaafadaha saboolka ah ayaa ku qasbanaaday inay habeenkii ku seexdaan saqafyada guryahooda sababtoo ah fatahaadda daran ee biyuhu keeneen. Isku socodka gaadiidka dalka oo dhan ayaa xayirmay iyadoo biyo badani ay qariyeen waddooyiinki waaweyna, halka shirkadaha iyo tareenaduna ay joojiyeen adeegyadooda si kumeelgaar ah.
Jawaabta Dawladda
Mas’uuliyiinta dalka oo uu kamid yahay Senetarka Degmada, Edwin Sifuna, ayaa sheegay in dowladda deegaanku aad ugu daashay musiibadan. Madaxweyne William Ruto ayaa ka falceliyay arrintan isagoo la xiriiray hogaamiyeyaasha gobollada ay saameeyeen roobabka xooggan, wuxuuna amar ku bixiyay in si degdeg ah loogu jawaabo xaaladdan adag. Wasaaradaha Arrimaha Gudaha iyo Horumarinta Gobollada qalalan iyo kuwa qoyan ayaa la faray inay sare u qaadaan dadaallada wadajirka ah ee jawaab celineed. Waxaa la filayaa in roobabka culusi sii socdaan ilaa bisha May, taas oo keeni karta xaalad ka sii daran.
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