The Kenyan government on Monday insisted it was capable of helping some 700,000 people affected by floods despite warnings by humanitarian groups of worsening conditions across the country. Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said Nairobi would not declare the floods a "national disaster" despite calls to do so by aid agencies, including the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and Action Aid.
"We have not declared a national disaster because we do not see it necessary to declare a national disaster at this time," he told reporters.
Late last month, the Red Cross and Action Aid appealed for President Mwai Kibaki to declare the floods a national disaster, saying that would help them in their efforts to coordinate assistance and improve donor response.
On Monday, the KRCS said flooding continued in several parts of the country, notably in western, coastal and northeastern regions, further raising fears of an outbreak of waterborne disease.
The floods in Kenya have so far killed at least 51 people and affected around 723,000 others, including tens of thousands of Somali refugees, since rains started in October.
The Kenya Meteorological Department said heavy rains will continue through December, raising fears of more flooding that has already displaced around 300,000 people.
The last time Kenya declared a national disaster was at the end of last year when a scorching drought hit east Africa, putting millions at risk.
Many of those affected by the drought live in the very areas now inundated by the floods.
Floods have killed around 120 people in Somalia and 80 people in Ethiopia, bringing the death toll to at least 251 since the rains started pounding the region in three east African countries.
In addition, the flooding has destroyed stretches of road, cut off villages and refugee camps, and disrupted food distribution forcing the UN to use helicopters to drop relief supplies.
Source: Agence France-Presse
