President Joe Biden's administration will extend Ksh150 million in humanitarian assistance to support Kenya’s flood response efforts.
In a statement dated Tuesday, US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman stated that the funds will be used to provide emergency shelter assistance, relief commodities, and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amid the ongoing floods.
According to Whitman, families affected by the prolonged El Nino rains will be given top priority.
“The United States is a committed partner to the Kenyan people, their government the Kenya Red Cross Society,” the US Ambassador highlighted during her tour of the Kenya Red Cross warehouses.
“Together, we are working with county governments, donors, the UN, and NGOs to meet the humanitarian needs of the Kenyan people mostly affected by these floods. While these are unprecedented times, our partnership is unwavering.”
Out of the Ksh150 million, Ksh38 million will go towards supporting the Kenya Red Cross to meet the needs of the affected Kenyans.
The remaining amount will be allocated to other organisations responding to the floods.
According to Whitman, Kenya is facing its worst floods in decades, with over half a million people being impacted. Over 100,000 families have also been displaced from their homes.
On December 19, 2023, six more deaths were reported, raising the tally of flood-related fatalities to 174.
El Nino floods have also destroyed roads and made them impassable, hindering the delivery of food and health provisions.
In the past three years, the US offered Kenya Ksh120 billion to support the emergency response and long-term resilience to the worst drought faced in the past 40 years.
Over five million people faced acute food insecurity, and one million children suffered malnutrition in the drought that spread to the Horn of Africa.
