Kenya is in the midst of a severe flood crisis, resulting in over 70 deaths and thousands displaced.
President William Ruto declared this an emergency, highlighting the disaster’s severity following the region’s worst drought in four decades.
The floods, caused by the El Niño weather pattern, have also affected neighboring Somalia and Ethiopia.
President Ruto plans an emergency cabinet meeting to develop a crisis management strategy.
He stated, “These rains have caused 70 deaths and displaced around 36,160 families.”
He warned of more rain forecasted by the Meteorological Department, potentially worsening the floods.
The floods have heavily damaged northern roads, disrupting essential supply transportation.
Ruto noted the military’s role in air-dropping supplies to isolated areas.
This follows his previous underestimation of the El Niño rains, where he claimed they wouldn’t be destructive.
The situation in Kenya reflects a global increase in extreme weather events, likely due to climate change.
El Niño’s impact is especially felt in East Africa, where it causes droughts and floods. These events pose significant challenges to affected areas.
Kenya’s response is crucial for setting a precedent in handling climate-related disasters.
It provides a benchmark for neighboring countries facing similar issues. Effective crisis management in Kenya could become a model for these nations.
Additionally, the crisis highlights the need for improved infrastructure and emergency preparedness.
Learning from past El Niño events, like the significant one in 1997-1998, is crucial for developing more effective future responses.
This emphasizes the importance of national and regional strategies to tackle climate-induced disasters.