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World News See other World News Articles Title: East Africa’s deadly floods are a stark reminder of the region’s poor disaster preparedness East Africa’s deadly floods are a stark reminder of the region’s poor disaster preparedness Villagers go about their business in a flooded market center in Kisumu, about 400 kilometers west of the capital Nairobi in Kenya. (EPA/Jacob Wire) Share Written by Abdi Latif Dahir @Lattif May 05, 2018quartz Africa Torrential rains have uprooted hundreds of thousands of people across East Africa in recent weeks, offsetting a humanitarian disaster that is threatening the lives of entire communities. In Kenya, floods have displaced over 260,000 people and killed 100 others in at least 15 of the country’s 47 counties, according to the United Nations office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs. The floods, which have also affected refugees in northeastern Kenya’s Dadaab camp, have damaged businesses, swept away homes and food supplies, closed more than 200 schools, destroyed community water points, and increased chances of disease outbreaks including cholera and malaria. The situation was so dire Facebook activated a safety feature this week asking users to indicate if they were safe. In Somalia, 500,000 people were affected by the floods, prompting the government to ask for international assistance, and pushing African Union peacekeepers to relocate hundreds of people to safer grounds. A man holds his shoes in his hand as he crosses a flooded street during heavy rain, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim) The flooding comes as many countries are just recovering from the devastating drought and famine that swept the Horn and East Africa region in the last two years. The drought, exacerbated by El Nino, curtailed crop production in Kenya, drove food prices higher, increased inflation, and put a strain on economic growth. It also forced over 1.3 million Somalis to leave their homes last year, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council. The current torrents show the poor planning and the lack of disaster preparedness among governments in the region. As such, countries experience a vicious cycle that alternates between droughts and floods, reacting to events instead of being proactive about attaining solutions. Displaced. (AP Photo/Andrew Kasuku) In the aftermath of rains, for instance, roads are deemed impassable, drainage systems clog, transport networks break down, and rivers burst their banks blocking any humanitarian efforts. Both climatic conditions also exacerbate hunger and poverty, especially among pastoralists, who lose their herds for lack of water during dry periods and are swept away when it pours. Poster Comment: White farmers in Africa increased food production and this helped to increase the black populations. When disasters such as flooding or drought occur it disrupts the balance of nature and the native populations suffer the most. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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