Floods claim six in Kenya

2006-08-09 22:23

Marsabit - At least six people have drowned and hundreds displaced after flash floods swept through villages in northern Kenya in the last three days, say officials.

They said that hundreds of livestock had also been swept away in the region that was recovering from a searing drought that also affected the whole east African region.

Marsabit district commissioner Mutea Iringo said: "Six people have been swept away by raging floods in Loiyangalani.

"It has been raining heavily for the past few days. Those who were swept away were four women and two children from two families."

Red Cross deploys assessment teams

He added: "The floods also swept away 600 goats and five camels. Right now, survivors from the area have moved to higher ground and they now need clothes, food and shelter.

"The government is trying everything possible to ensure that those displaced get the necessary facilities."

The Kenyan Red Cross said they had deployed assessment teams in the region and were distributing relief supplies.

Farid AbdulKadir, the society's head of disaster response, said: "We have used our stock in Marsabit, both food and non-food items and we hope to start distributing them tomorrow."

AbdulKadir was referring to a township about 430km northeast of Nairobi.

Over the weekend, at least 212 people were killed after floods swept through neighbouring Ethiopia's Dire Dawa township, about 500km east of the capital, and displaced about 10 000 others.

- AFP