Death toll due flash floods in NEP region rises to 14
By Musa Bashir
The ongoing rains in Northeastern as now claimed 14 lives, Northeastern regional commissioner John Otieno has said.
He spoke on Thursday when he toured the Garissa-Modogashe road that has been cut off at Maalimin area.
He said that Mandera is the most affected with seven deaths as result of people drowning.
In Wajir five had lost their lives while in Garissa 2 victims have died all through similar circumstances.
He cautioned both members of the public and motorists plying flooded roads to desist from crossing previously would avoided accidents have ended claiming lives and sweeping away vehicles.
He further disclosed that so far 30,000 people had been displaced across the region.
He singled out Elwak town in Mandera south as well as Buna in Wajir North as some of the most affected towns.
He said the victims require urgent relief supplies that include food and non food items but because most of their areas cannot be accessed by road, the government is working with other partners to airlift the same.
“The government together with development partners are taking measures to make sure that we are able to save lives. We continue to appeal to all the partners to team up with the government to support the flood victims as the number continue to rise,” he said.
He disclosed that to Red cross has started delivering non food items to those who are in the internally displaced camps.
Otieno commended the county government of Mandera, Wajir and Garissa for coming in also to support those displaced saying that the spirit should continue until the situation comes back to normal.
Stranded passengers who spoke to the press regretted the turn of events calling on the government to urgently repair the road to allow traffic movement.
Nuria Ali ,a mother of three who was raveling to Wajir could hide her anger saying that the situation had put her in tricky situation considering that she was travelling with her young family.
“It is unfortunate that whenever it rains while we thank God for the blessings we are always left with a lot of inconveniences like you see. For how long will this continue. Why cant the government move with speed and find a permanent solution to infrastructure in this that remains a thorn in the flesh,” she said.
She added: “God forbid if it remains tonight then the situation could get worse and we might spend another night here.it is terrible,”.
Abdirashid Ali another passenger who was also stranded called on the government to fastrack the construction of the Modogashe-Wajir road so as to ease transport to those plying the route.
During a press briefing in Nairobi on Monday, Leaders from Mandera led by Governor Mohamed Khalif called on more partners and stakeholders to join in supporting the affected communities noting that the situation requires collective efforts to make a positive impact.
