Kenya Red Cross has pledged to increase its humanitarian support to communities adversely affected by floods following Ksh130 million funding from the US.
US ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman announced the financial support on Thursday when together with KRCS Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Idris visited flood-affected families in Mradi Mathare 4A where residents were hardest hit by the recent flooding.
She also toured one of the evacuation camps established by the humanitarian organisation, currently hosting 252 families.
“Today, the U.S. announced KSh130 million in new assistance to support Kenya Red Cross and its work with communities affected by recent flooding. My heart goes out to all families impacted by the recent devastation” the US envoy said.
Idris thanked the American government for the funding.
“With new funding announced by the Ambassador, the Kenya Red Cross will increase its humanitarian support to communities adversely affected. We extend our appreciation to the American people through the USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, who have been providing invaluable support for temporary shelter and settlement needs and WASH NFIs, besides the normal emergency programming”.
As of Wednesday, 257 lives had died and a total of 188 others were injured, while 293, 661 people have been affected and 54,837 households have been displaced.
The government further said 61 health facilities had been affected in 11 counties and crops on approximately 9,816 acres of land had been destroyed.
