Thousands facing El Niño in coastal city

 

Close to 3,000 residents from 500 homesteads will face the extreme effects of enhanced rains first hand in the event of an El Niño, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has said.

Speaking at KRCS Mombasa offices yesterday, KRCS County Manager Sudi Tengah said a contingency plan covering the county is already in place.

“However, we are short of adequate supplies for non-food items (NFI) despite having some stock at our disposal. We urge Good Samaritans to chip in and help us secure more as we prepare to mitigate effects of enhanced rainfall,” Mr Tengah said.

He said their stock balance of NFI which includes mosquito nets, collapsible jerry cans, kitchen sets, bar soaps, blankets and dignity kits can only support 350 households.

The Department of Meteorological Services said El Niño would start in October 2015 and end in January 2016. But its not all doom and gloom because the national government has set aside Sh5 billion and put on standby 70,000 National Youth Service members in readiness for the destructive El Niño.

Tengah urged people living in low lying areas and very close to the ocean to move to higher ground, adding that they are working closely with both the county and national government agencies in a bid to mitigate effects of enhanced rainfall.

“We already have competent volunteers in the field of disaster management numbering about 80 who shall be monitoring the fields in and around Mombasa and working in collaboration with other aid agencies in the county as we stay alert,” he said.

He said the strategy is meant to prevent deaths and property destruction like those reported in the last El Niño rains in 1997. “This emergency calls for a wholesome intervention by all including stakeholders in both the public and private sector,” he said.