Government deploys security team to help flood victims

An aerial view of some of the areas that have been submerged by floods in Wajir County.[Mohamed Saman, Standard]

The government has scaled up measures to address the ongoing flooding in different parts of the country.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Interior and National Administration on November 20, the government has identified certain security measures to help victims in flflood-proneounties.

"Disaster response and security teams have been activated and in the short term are identifying locations that are likely to be marooned in respective flood-prone Counties through aerial and ground reconnaissance," read the statement in part.

The initiative has been taken by the National and County Governments in conjunction with the Kenya Red Cross (KRC) and humanitarian organisations.

Further, the government has assigned teams from the Kenya Coast Guard Service, National Police Service, Kenya Defence Forces, and Kenya Wildlife Service to rescue people in the flood-affected counties in case of an emergency.

In the process, the rescue team will help in the distribution of food and any other items to the affected counties.

They will also provide temporary shelter for the displaced persons during the long rains.

According to the latest Kenya Meteorological Department weather update for October to December, heavy rains were predicted to pound several parts of the country.

Areas predicted to receive above average rainfall; The Lake Victoria Basin, Highlands West of the Rift Valley and Central and South Rift Valley; Northwestern Counties (Turkana and Samburu); The Highlands East of the Rift Valley Counties, including Nairobi area (Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Murang'a, Kiambu, Laikipia East, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Nairobi)

Additionally,th e South-eastern Lowlands Counties (Kitui, Makueni, Machakos, Taita Taveta, and Kajiado); The North-Eastern Counties (Mandera, Marsabit, Wajir, Garissa and Isiolo); and Coastal Counties (Mombasa, Tana River, Kilifi, Lamu and Kwale).

Consequently, the ministry has warned those living in flflood-pronereas to vacate and move to higher grounds.