* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Alert
Kenya
Floods at Kakuma Refugee Camp
Geneva, 23 October, 2014
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
Flooding in the Kakuma refugee camp after heavy rains. The seasonal Tarach River that cuts through the camp has burst its banks. The river swept away several houses, others were flooded. Initial assessment conclude that 552 houses were either swept away or severely affected. 9 people have been confirmed dead, and more are missing (8 host community members and 1 refugee confirmed dead). Later a total of 278 households consisting of 1,188 individuals were registered as being the worst affected and in need of immediate support (non food items and food). (Gender/age breakdown will be submitted later). These people will need to stay in a temporary shelter for some time (not sure how long) before shelter can be available and they can go back to the camp again. One school (Kakuma Secondary) was adversely affected with 8 classrooms damaged, 2 badly. Two sections of the main water pipelines crossing the river bed were swept away. One serving Kakuma IV (new area with arrivals from South Sudan) and one serving 2 boarding schools.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
Non Food Items and wet feeding is most likely possible to provide with locally or already available resources. The immediate need is to reinstall the water system, the broken pipes affect not only the individuals directly affected by flooding, but also impacts on the whole of Kakuma IV (new area, nearly 50,000 refugees) and 2 board schools. Immediate action is to provide water via trucks, however this is extremely expensive. Water provided per refugee per day will decrease below minimum standards, which increases the risk of decease outbreak, especially as several latrines have been flooded as well. Locally available resources are focused on food (wet feeding) and non food items and temporary shelters while additional resources are needed to restore the water supply and construct new shelters.
Since some households were displaced from their shelters, and road infrastructure destroyed, there is an immediate need to construct new shelters and rehabilitate some key access roads around and within the camp.
3. National and international response
Agencies working in Kakuma including UNHCR, WFP have responded and continue to address the needs in sectors they are responsible for. LWF is responsible for water, which is our immediate need, NCCK is responsible for shelter and infrastructure.
Emergency meetings have been convened by UNHCR and agencies on the ground, and an initial rapid assessment has been done. The displaced population has been sheltered in public spaces like schools.
4. ACT Alliance response
LWF and NCCK work in Kakuma. The wider ACT Kenya forum will be kept informed. An RRF application is intended to be submitted to the ACT secretariat, for this emergency.
5. Planned activities
- Water trucking to provide safe potable water to refugees
- Restoring the damaged water distribution system
- Construction of shelter to replace the damaged ones
- Rehabilitation of key access roads.
6. Constraints
We are on the ground, with technical staff and capacity. Security is good, logistics in place, etc. We see no specific constraints except funding and weather.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Roshan Rajaratne, Finance Officer (rra@actalliance.org)
