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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Turkana county disaster team in bid to boost flood, humanitarian response

Rift Valley

By Lucas Ngasike | Sep 19, 2024

**Houses marooned by floods in Kawalase and Soweto in Lodwar, Turkana county.** [File, Standard]

Turkana County Steering Group (CSG) has rolled out disaster preparedness plans after the weatherman predicted a short rainy season.

The team has developed a contingency plan to map out areas prone to floods across the county.

According to the Meteorological Department predictions above–normal rainfall is expected during the October, November, and December (OND) short rains season.
The Director of Meteorological Services in Turkana, Francis Muinga, said the weather forecast was aligned with traditional rain pattern readings.

“We expect near-normal to slightly above-normal rains during the OND period, and there is a potential for flash floods,” Muinga said.

He argued that the forecast was sufficient to warrant the development of a robust contingency plan by the County government.

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“The County Disaster Department should formulate plans in collaboration with multiple stakeholders to support farmers, pastoralists, traders, and institutions whose livelihoods are directly impacted by rainfall patterns before the onset of rainfall,” he said.

Director of Disaster Risk Management, Benedict Mukoo, asked the stakeholders to ensure timely plans are put forward for an effective response to emergencies.
An alert has already been relayed to the community on disaster preparedness.

Mukoo regretted that lack of adequate resources had hampered the implementation of the plans and called on development partners to support the initiatives in the event of an emergency.

“The communities rendered vulnerable by unpredictable climatic changes. We require a contingency plan to safeguard them during a crisis we have a collective responsibility to ensure a coordinated response, and this plan is part of that effort,” he said.

National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) Jacob Ekaran emphasized that the plan aims to guide disaster response through evidence-based and timely information.

The collaborative effort between the CSG and the Meteorological Department seeks to ensure the effective dissemination of weather-related information to all relevant sectors, allowing for swift action and mitigating the risks posed by extreme weather conditions.