Red Cross Red Crescent to assist 125,000 Kenya flood victims
13 May 2002

Following heavy rains, floods and landslides which have left more than 30 people dead and tens of thousands displaced, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an appeal for 1.7 million Swiss francs (1.04 million US$) to enable the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to assist 125,000 people. The funds will be used to provide flood victims with shelter materials and emergency relief items.

"These floods are the worst to hit the country since 1997, when heavy rains linked to the El Niño phenomenon killed more than 80 people in 24 hours", says Abbas Gullet, Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross who just returned from an assessment in the flooded area.

The Kenya Red Cross, which is part of the country's national disaster response unit, has begun distributing emergency relief items (including clothing, blankets, tarpaulins) and helping evacuate flood victims. Local enterprises have spontaneously offered donations to the KRCS. Volunteers have been active in the hardest-hit areas such as Migori, in south-western Kenya, where some 13,000 people have been displaced due to the swelling of the nearby Migori and Kuja rivers.

Severe flooding has also been reported in the districts of Kisumu and Busia in the vicinity of Lake Victoria. Although the long rainy season, which runs from April to June each year, started a little late this time, more heavy rains are expected, with the possible consequence of more flooding and landslides, causing loss of life and displacement of people. There is special concern about villages and towns near the Tana River. It is feared that three hydro-electric dams along this river will overflow within the coming days due to water running down from Mount Kenya. The towns of Garissa and Hola in particular are at a very high risk.

"We call on sister Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as well as other local and international donors to support the Kenya Red Cross in its remarkable efforts to alleviate the suffering of fellow countrymen affected by this disaster", says Françoise Le Goff, Head of the Federation's Regional Delegation in Nairobi. Among the most urgently-needed items are blankets, tarpaulins, jerry cans, mosquito nets and water purification tablets. Throughout the affected area, wells and latrines have been flooded out, which has resulted in a shortage of drinking and cooking water and has increased the risk of an outbreak of water-borne diseases.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

In Nairobi:
Andreï Neacsu, Regional Information Delegate Tel: + 254 733 632 943

In Geneva :
Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel: + 41 22 730 4346 / + 41 79 217 3345

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.