Relief to flood affected people in Garissa, Kenya
Andreas Zetterlund
Website: http://www.ias.nu
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Escaping the floods
International Aid Services (IAS)
International Aid Services (IAS)
GARISSA, KENYA, December 11, 2006 - International Aid Services has received a grant from Danish Mission Council Development Department , Swedish Mission Council / Sida, and Läkarmissionen for a relief intervention in Garissa, North East Kenya. In the last weeks since the beginning of November 2006, abnormal rainfall has hit Eastern Africa, specifically eastern Kenya and in this case, Garissa and Tana River districts and surroundings. High rainfall has caused the Tana River catchments to fill up fast thus sending massive amounts of waters down the River Tana.
The Tana River has been swelling for the last few weeks. The high rainfall in this area, as well as higher upstream is the cause of this swelling. It came to a point of breaking the banks on 17th November 2006. Due to the high rainfall in the catchments area, the hydroelectrically dams higher in the river is also full to capacity and they where forced to release some of the water. This increased the problem.
On 17th November the water reached so high, that it burst its banks causing hundreds of people to flee from their homes due to the floods. The waters caused people to drown in the river, leaving many people homeless and in despair. In many villages along the river, pit latrines have been filled with water and washed away, causing health hazards to the population.
This intervention is dealing with a specific target area in north eastern Kenya, where IAS partner, Life Ministry, is working. The area is a stretch of 85 km's between Sombo village and Korati village, along Tana River far into the interior, away from the main town centres and main road of Garissa / Nairobi.
The following activities will take place
1) Scouting & Rescue
- Displaced persons rescued and taken to the camps.
2) Returning & Resettling
- 1,100 blankets distributed.
- 2,100 jerri cans distributed.
- 550 utensil kits distributed.
3) Sanitation
- 15 toilets have been established.
4) Water purification
- 1,350,000 litres of drinking water treated.
5) Shelter & Mosquito nets
- 5,500 plastic sheets for shelter distributed.
- 6,400 mosquito nets distributed.
6) Treatment of stationary water
- Stagnant pools of water sprayed.
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