Kenya: Heavy Rains and Flooding Update - Flash Update #7 (19 June 2024)

HIGHLIGHTS

• More than 306,520 (61,304 families) have been affected by heavy rains and floods between 1 March and 18 June 2024, according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC).

• An estimated 315 people have been killed, 188 injured, and 38 missing, while more than 293,200 people (58,641 families) have been displaced.

• At least 81 displacement sites in six out of 43 counties affected by floods are active, accommodating 54,000 people, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society as of 14 June.

• An estimated 350,000 learners are out of school due to floods and lack of school meals, since schools resumed for the second term on 13 May 2024, according to the Ministry of Education as of 10 June.

• The March-April-May (MAM) 2024 rainfall period has ceased over most parts of the country, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD).

• The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) released US$3 million to support lifesaving and life-sustaining assistance to 190,000 people in 10 counties in Kenya.

SITUATION OVERVIEW & HUMANITARIAN IMPACTS

An estimated 315 people have been killed, 188 injured, and 38 missing, while more than 293,200 people (58,641 families) have been displaced and nearly 306,520 (61,304 families) have been affected by heavy rains and floods between 1 March and 18 June 2024, according to the NDOC. The March-April-May (MAM) 2024 rainfall has ceased over most parts of the country. The forecast for the June-July-August rainfall period suggests that the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, the Lake Victoria Basin, the Rift Valley, parts of the Highlands East of the Rift Valley, and Northwestern regions are likely to receive above-average rainfall, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department. This might lead to flooding and subsequent populations displacements. Some 81 displacement sites are active in six out of 43 counties affected by floods (46 in Tana River, 14 in Busia, 8 in Kisumu, 6 in Homa Bay, 4 in Migori, and 3 in Garissa), accommodating 54,000 people as of 18 June 2024, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society.

In Garissa County, about 4,140 people (828 families) are still hosted in three displacement sites (Young Muslim, FTC, and Waterground). In Tana River County, at least 6,840 families (34,205 individuals) are hosted in 46 displacement camps. The most flood-affected counties in the Western Kenya region are Kisumu, Homabay, Busia, Migori, and Kakamega. Nearly 28,300 families (141, 490 individuals) have been affected by heavy rainfall, floods, and Lake Victoria backflow. In Homa Bay, 211 families (1,055 individuals), 1,032 families (5,160 individuals) in Kisumu County, 73 families (365 individuals) in Migori County, and 1,807 families (9,035 individuals) in Busia County are hosted in displacement sites. An estimated 57 evacuation sites in the western Kenya region hosting 7,352 families have been closed and families returned to their homes. In the region, 14 schools are submerged and closed because of floods, including Kisumu (8) and Busia (6) counties. Some schools are open but still hosting displaced people in Kisumu County. In Busia County, four primary schools are still hosting displaced people, according to the KRCS and authorities.

The Ministry of Health reports that 18 health facilities were inaccessible (destroyed or submerged) in six counties.

As of 18 June, 79 cholera cases were reported in three counties, including Tana River (60), Lamu (18) and Siaya (1). The cholera cases in Tana River and Siaya counties have been contained while 18 cholera cases are still active in Lamu County.

In the education sector, an estimated 5,278 schools across the country, including 3,196 primary and 2,082 secondary schools were affected by floods with 140 schools remaining closed impacting school continuity.

Nearly, 960,000 girls and one million boys were affected by floods. About one million learners have reported to school since 13 May 2024. However, 350,000 learners are out of school across the country with Tana River, Isiolo, and West Pokot counties reporting the highest number of dropouts, which has been attributed to floods and lack of school meals caused by supply chain breakdown as of 13 June, according to a recently released report by the Ministry of Education and Education in Emergencies Working Group partners.