Mombasa: The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has intensified its disaster preparedness and response measures in Mombasa County following ongoing heavy rains that have affected parts of the region over the past two days.
According to Kenya News Agency, Mombasa County Red Cross Coordinator Aisha Al-Hussein stated that the organisation has been collaborating with key stakeholders, including the County Government, the Kenya Meteorological Department, the World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision, and various religious organisations, to mitigate the effects of the rainfall.
“In early March, we convened a stakeholders’ meeting where we disseminated early warning information in collaboration with the Meteorological Department to enhance community awareness,” said Al-Hussein.
She noted that the Red Cross has activated its community-based disaster response structures, deploying 20 trained coordinators across the county’s 30 wards. These coordinators have been sensitising residents, particularly those in flood-prone areas, and urging them to relocate to safer ground.
“In terms of preparedness, we have been educating the community on early warning and early action. Our teams are well trained to trace and reunite displaced individuals with their families, offer psychosocial support, and provide non-food items such as utensils, mosquito nets, and blankets,” Al-Hussein added.
To facilitate rapid response, the Red Cross has set up a 24-hour Emergency Operations Centre responsible for coordinating deployments and activating community response teams. Although the region has experienced significant rainfall, Al-Hussein confirmed that no major incidents requiring large-scale intervention have been reported.
“The main challenges reported are localised flooding and drainage issues, which the county government is addressing effectively,” she said. She further indicated that a stakeholders’ meeting was held on Thursday afternoon to assess the current situation and coordinate roles among various response agencies.
“As of now, our teams on the ground have not reported any serious developments warranting an emergency response, but we continue to monitor the situation closely,” she said.