East Africa to experience heavy rains through May

Saturday, April 13, 2013

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Heavy rains have displaced thousands of people and destroyed infrastructure across East Africa, the UN's IRIN news agency reported Thursday (April 11th).

Flooding has killed about 32 people and displaced 18,633 others in Kenya, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS). The number of displaced could reach 30,000 before the rainy season ends in May, said KRCS Communications Manager Nelly Mukula.

"We expected floods in areas like Nairobi, Central, Coastal and Western Kenya, and we have already put aside food and non-food items for potential victims," said Andrew Mondoh, permanent secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Special Programmes.

Western parts of Tanzania and Kenya are expected to receive normal to above normal amounts of rainfall through May, according to a report released this week by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network. Djibouti, Somalia and the eastern areas of Tanzania and Kenya are expected to have lower than average rainfall.

In Somalia, the Shabelle River burst its banks in several locations after heavy rains in early April. Affected areas include Hurway, Eji and Maadheere, all in Middle Shabelle, according to a flood update from the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.

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