Families displaced by floods in parts of Homa Bay County

Homa Bay

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

KNA by Davis Langat

The ongoing rains have caused floods displacing at least 500 residents in Rachuonyo North, Homa Bay County.

The affected residents hail from Kamser Nyakongo, Central Karachuonyo, and Kogweno Oriang locations.

Red Cross County Coordinator Samwel Omondi said the affected families needed humanitarian assistance.

The floods have been caused by heavy rains which have been pounding the area for the past few days.

The situation has made their houses inhabitable with household items of unknown value destroyed.

Crops in large tracts of land have also been submerged by the floods posing serious food shortages in the future.

Residents complained of hunger since the floods had also interfered with their cooking arrangements.

“We are unable to cook any food because the floods have interfered with our fireplaces. Life is very unbearable here,” said Pamela Otieno, a victim

They called on the county government and the National government to provide them with long-term solutions to the problem.

Cloy Achieng, a victim said the problem has persisted in the area every rainy season.

“We call on our elected leaders and government officials to intervene in this matter. The floods have been a perennial problem in this area,” Achieng said.

The residents have pitched tents in various camps in the sub-county.

The camps include Yala Primary School and Kogembo dispensary. The residents appealed for humanitarian aid to help them mitigate the adversity of the floods.

“We are calling on well-wishers and government agencies to assist us with food and nonfood items to reduce the adverse impact of the situation,” Achieng said.

Omondi of the Kenya Red Cross said they were assessing the flood situation in the county.

Courtesy; KNA