Alert Note: Floods in Tana River, Kenya

International Aid Services (IAS) has submitted an alert due to the floods in Tana River in Kenya.

The crisis gripping Kenya is primarily characterized by climate change-induced disasters, specifically the El Niño-driven heavy rainfall leading to widespread flooding. This crisis falls under the category of climate change disasters, where abnormal weather patterns, influenced by the El Niño phenomenon, have resulted in intensified and prolonged rainfall.

The ongoing crisis is a manifestation of the impact of climate change, highlighting the vulnerability of regions to extreme weather events. The heavy and persistent rainfall, attributed to El Niño, has triggered flooding, posing significant threats to communities, infrastructure, and the environment. The crisis is characterized by its slow onset and the escalation of environmental challenges.

Excessive rainfall has led to environmental degradation, soil erosion, water pollution, and damage to ecosystems. Overflows from the River Tana, in particular, have inundated local villages, contributing to the degradation of the affected areas.

According to reports from local media, the Kenya Meteorological Department's forecast on July 30, 2023, warned of a high probability, approximately 90%, of El Niño prevailing for the remainder of the year and possibly extending into early 2024. Since the commencement of October 2023, Kenya has witnessed persistent and intense rainfall, leading to extensive flooding, displacing over 15,000 households and resulting in a tragic loss of more than 120 lives nationwide, as reported by the Kenya Red Cross Society in November 2023. Government representative through the media has also announced that since October to date, 120 people have unfortunately died. According to Reuters, the latest estimated death toll in Kenya has doubled as heavy seasonal rains following the worst drought in four decades have submerged towns and villages across East Africa, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Thousands of homes have been washed away or are marooned, while farmland has been submerged and tens of thousands of livestock drowned. 89,098 households have been displaced and (are) being hosted in 112 camps established in affected counties. Subsequent updates from the Kenya Meteorological Department have officially attributed the heavy rainfall to the El Niño phenomenon. The situation has further deteriorated, especially in areas like Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera counties, where overflows from the River Tana have inundated local villages, exacerbating the crisis. Presently, nine additional counties are on high alert due to the ongoing weather-related challenges.