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Success story May 2024
Displaced families moving to evacuation camps
Flood response May 2024
Heavy rains and back flow of the lakes cause massive floods country wide in Kenya. 300 people died and 75 still missing, while 188 sustained injuries. 55,621 households displaced. 64 health facilities and 2000 schools submerged by water and others used as evacuation camps. 168,000 acres of land destroyed and 8722 livestock drowned. Roads and bridges and other infrastructure destroyed. People lost their livelihood and income. There were several landslides. SWAP is member of the Western HumanitarianHub and became one of the first responders with funds raised through Donor See and Swapkenya.nl
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Response at Ombaka Evacuation Camp
Ombaka is situated along the lake shores and was worst affected by the floods and back flow of the lake. About 380 families moved into an evacuation camp at the Primary school, while others occupied the classrooms and in erected tents. SWAP supported the affected families with food and non-food items such as water treatment, hand washing stations and soap. SWAP trained a local disaster committee and organized a medical camp for the families in the camp. Many were suffering from malaria and upper respiratory tract infections.
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People in the evacuation camp receiving support
Medical outreach for families displaced and affected by flood
Response at Ombaka School
Ombaka School has been supported by SWAP under the Adopt a School Initiative. Reopening of schools was postponed due to the flood. When they reopened families displaced and in classrooms were relocated to Churches, tents and integrated with other families. SWAP procured food for the school feeding program, since most of the crops were destroyed and livestock drowned. Also sanitary pads were provided to the eligible girls. A happy tap handwashing station was established to improve hand hygiene.
Donations of food and non-food items
Response at Dunga
Dunga badly affected due to the back flow of the lake. Many houses submerged by water and people had to find alternative accommodation. Our first support to families who had relocated to Nanga Primary School. About 17 families were camping there after their houses were flooded. When schools opened they relocated. We twice supported Compassionate Center for Families, who had opened up a home for crisis accommodation and hosted 40 families. SWAP brought food, blankets, hand washing stations, water treatment and sanitary pads. Another support was given to Chiela women, a group of fish mongers operating from Dunga Beach. These women were badly affected since their usual fish frying and selling place was under water and the boat ride business was down because of frequent rains. We gave them some food items, soap and water treatment.
Response at Ahero
Ahero town was totally submerged in water after river Nyando burst its banks. It affected the SWAP model center, the Hospital and many houses. Two of our staff also live in Ahero and had to be evacuated. We selected 50 families and invited them to the SWAP Model Centre. They received clothes, food items, soap and water treatment. The families really appreciated because nobody had included them in the flood response.
Other Support
Following the flooding of the SWAP Model center a pump and was destroyed and had to be replaced to continue serving the communities around with safe drinking water. We further invested a bit more in liquid soap making since hand hygiene was essential to promote hygiene and prevent disease outbreaks.
Donations to the Crisis Accommodation Centre
Water vendors collecting safe drinking water
On behalf of SWAPKenya.nl foundation, thank you very much for all your generous donations!