UNICEF has stepped in to help county governments support children and families affected by floods in West Pokot and other parts of the country.
A statement released on Thursday said UNICEF sent supplies to areas that were hardest hit by the floods and landslides.
“Children’s lives have been interrupted by the ongoing rains and floods in Kenya, with many of them losing their homes, schools and access to health care and we are working closely with county governments in affected areas to provide life-saving interventions, to meet the immediate needs of flood affected children and their families,” UNICEF Kenya Representative Maniza Zaman said.
A total of about 130,000 recipients are also from Baringo, Garissa, Isiolo, Kisumu, Mandera, Marsabit, Nairobi, Tana River, Turkana, Samburu and Wajir.
The Government has since revealed that 330,000 people have been affected by the floods and landslides; 17,000 are displaced from their homes and 132 killed.
Roads, schools and health facilities were severely damaged which disrupted access to critical services for children and families.
”UNICEF has distributed supplies in the areas of child protection, education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation in affected counties.This includes pre-positioned supplies that are stored in flood and drought-prone areas in case of emergencies,” Zaman said.
As a measure of ensuring that children and their families are safe, UNICEF has partnered closely with communities solve health and hygiene related issues caused by submerged toilets and contaminated water supplies which increase the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.
Some of the supplies sent include over 200,000 sachets of oral rehydration, 85,000 bottles of sodium lactate solution to treat severe diarrhea, 30,000 tablets to treat pneumonia, and 1,600 cholera test kits.
In a bid to improve water sanitation and hygiene, 22,400 jerry cans, 22,500 buckets, 53,000 bars of soap, over 311,000 sachets of water purification chemicals, and 2.1 million tablets of water treatment chemicals.
The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains are expected to continue across the country up to mid-December.
Zaman says UNICEF is working closely with communities to improve their emergency preparedness.
“UNICEF will continue to support the ongoing flood response in order to ensure that children are safe, healthy, and able to continue their education. To achieve this, we work closely with communities in flood and drought affected areas to prepare them for any future natural disaster” she said.
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