The African nation-states of Kenya and Tanzania are reeling from incessant rain that has plunged East Africa into disarray.
Tanzania and neighboring nations in East Africa, a region particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, have experienced an onslaught of unusually heavy rainfall during the current rainy season. Reports of numerous fatalities have also emerged from Kenya as well.
The destructive floods occurring during Kenya’s rainy season, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, have claimed the lives of at least 38 individuals and forced thousands from their homes as rivers overflowed and engulfed low-income areas.
Images and videos inundated social media on Thursday, depicting individuals stranded on rooftops of submerged residences. In various neighborhoods of Nairobi, residents resorted to using boats to rescue those marooned by the escalating floodwaters.
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Venant Ndighila, serving as the emergency response manager for the Kenya Red Cross, disclosed that the nation has reported at least 38 fatalities and 11,275 displaced persons. He underscored the associated risks, including outbreaks of diseases and disruptions to essential goods and services.
Furthermore, Kenyan President William Ruto called for an urgent multi-agency meeting on Thursday to address the crisis following the torrential rains that led to widespread chaos in Nairobi, obstructing roads and bridges and submerging homes in slum areas.
Citizens of Kenya have been advised to remain vigilant as the forecast predicts further heavy rains across the nation. Authorities have also announced plans to relocate individuals residing in the most vulnerable areas.
In the meanwhile, Tanzania has also been ravaged by flooding and landslides resulting from several weeks of relentless rainfall, claiming the lives of at least 155 individuals and causing injuries to 236 others, as revealed by the country’s Prime Minister. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa addressed Parliament, attributing the worsening of the current rainy season to the El Nino climate pattern, which has intensified the flooding and inflicted extensive damage on infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and railways.
El Nino is a natural climate pattern typically associated with increased global temperatures, as well as periods of drought and heavy rainfall.
Moreover, earlier this month, both the United Nations and the fellow East African nation Burundian government reported that approximately 96,000 individuals were displaced due to months of incessant rainfall.
Moreover, The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provided an update this week stating that in Somalia, the “Gu” rainy season (from April to June) has intensified, leading to flash floods reported since April 19.
Uganda has also experienced severe storms, resulting in the bursting of riverbanks, with two confirmed fatalities and several hundred villagers displaced.
