Floods Displace Thousands in Garissa Town and Neighboring Areas

GARISSA – The River Tana’s overflow has forced thousands from their homes in Garissa town and the adjacent village of Mororo in Tana River County, following a breach of its banks. The floodwaters have inundated multiple areas including Bulla Punda, Kamor, Sheikh, Vumbi, Windsor, and Bulla Nyuki, prompting residents to relocate to higher grounds.

According to Kenya News Agency, an 80-year-old resident of Bulla Punda village, his family, which includes 14 children and 4 wives, was compelled to move to Jaribu Primary School after their home was submerged. “We are just camping in this open-air compound with no tents. We lost several household items and food stuff in the floods,” Aden stated. This displacement marks the second such incident for Aden’s family within four months, following the El Nino rains.

Aden Hassan Bille, the Garissa County Chairperson of Persons with Disabilities and chairman of the Bulla Punda residents, also displaced, spoke on behalf of the affected families. He highlighted the urgent need for tents and food aid as most families were left without shelter, enduring cold conditions since the floods began on Saturday night. “We are tired of the series of displacements; we need a lasting solution to the endless cycles of the River Tana floods,” Bille asserted. He criticized the management of water dams at the Seven Forks hydroelectric station and urged the government to find a permanent resolution.

Furthermore, Bille advocated for financial assistance through cash transfer programs instead of food donations, referencing past incidents where food aid was looted during the El Nino floods. Batula Mohamed Lukumso and Said Abdullahi, representing other affected groups, echoed these sentiments and stressed the poor conditions and lack of basic necessities at the displacement sites.

The floods have also impacted several governmental and private institutions in the area, including the Jamhuri Club, Galbet Chief Office, the Director of Teacher Service Commission’s North Eastern headquarters, and the North Eastern Technical Training College. Additionally, the Garissa livestock slaughter house, Salama Girls Secondary, and the Garissa Farmers Training Center have all suffered flood damage. Local religious centers like the Katim and Towfiq mosques in Bulla Kamor have also been severely affected, with significant damage to their facilities.

In response to the ongoing crisis, affected families are constructing makeshift shelters at various educational and public facilities in Garissa Town, such as Kazuko Girls, Hyuga Girls, the North Eastern Police Training Centre, Iftin Primary School, and Young Muslim Secondary School.