Flooding Affects Over 100,000 People in Dadaab, Kenya

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Flooding Affects Over 100,000 People in Dadaab, Kenya
CARE Urges Increase in Emergency Assistance

NAIROBI, Kenya (November 16, 2006) - Heavy rains and flooding are causing havoc in Dadaab, Kenya, further exacerbating an already precarious humanitarian situation, says CARE. CARE is the lead implementing agency for the three refugee camps in the area, which are home to over 165,000 displaced people.

Click photo to view an enlarged version (© 2006 Thomas Schwarz/CARE)

"What was supposed to be the short rainy season has turned into a widespread disaster affecting over 100,000 people," says Mohammed Qazilbash, senior program manager for refugee assistance for CARE in Kenya. "Food storage facilities have been flooded, latrines have collapsed and a significant number of shelters, including one wing of the hospital in Ifo camp, have crumbled."

The local population in Dadaab has also been severely affected, according to CARE staff. The town's latrines have broken down, leading to extensive contamination of the area and serious repercussions for overall hygiene standards.

"Access to safe water is a major concern under the current circumstances," explains Qazilbash. "Fuel to run the borehole wells that CARE manages in and around the refugee camps has become scarce due to logistical and transport constraints." There is a potential for disease outbreak if the situation gets out of hand, adds Qazilbash. Children swimming in dirty water and the possibility of unclean water consumption could present serious health risks to the people in the camps.

Thanks to a donation of water tanks by UNICEF, CARE has been able to provide access to clean water and educate the communities on its use. Information campaigns on safe water access and basic hygiene and sanitation practices have also been carried out by UNHCR and other aid agencies. Food distribution on behalf of the World Food Program is scheduled to start again this week, but household food storage remains a concern because of flooding and high levels of humidity that are likely to spoil food supplies.

Primary and secondary schools in two of the refugee camps (Ifo and Dagahaley) have been closed down and are being used as temporary shelters for those refugees whose settlements have been flooded. A total of 50 school latrines have collapsed. As a result, four primary schools have failed to meet minimum health and safety standards. Nineteen classrooms remain waterlogged, and the water has ruined many textbooks. Despite current challenges, CARE and other agencies have managed to ensure that students were able to take their end-of-year examinations.

"We are also temporarily relocating some refugees that have been affected by the floods to higher ground to ensure their safety," says Bud Crandall, country director for CARE in Kenya. "We recommend that relocation to areas less prone to flooding be explored as soon as this emergency is over."

Depending on the availability and the flexibility of funding sources, CARE is also planning to distribute emergency supplies to the refugees and the Dadaab population, including plastic sheets, mats, blankets, mosquito nets and jerry cans.