• "Flood tragedy unspeakably affected Masalani, Ijara, Sangailu and Hulugho Wards displacing over 3000 families."
• He also said that over 10,000 livestock have either been swept by the floods, stuck in mud or dead.
Image: ABDI ALI/Facebook
Ijara MP Abdi Ali is now calling on the government and humanitarian organisations to assist his constituents following the El Nino rains that have largely affected the ASAL regions.
According to the legislator, the rains have had most parts of his constituency submerged in water and inaccessible. Ijara is in Garissa county.
Abdi said this has also seen over 3000 families displaced, with most families now starving because no economic activity is ongoing.
He also said that over 10,000 livestock have either been swept by the floods, stuck in mud or died.
"Continuous heavy downpours flash flood submerged almost all parts of Ijara constituency rendering it completely cut-off and inaccessible by land.
"Flood tragedy unspeakably affected Masalani, Ijara, Sangailu and Hulugho Wards displacing over 3000 families, destroying good of unknown value and claiming lives of over 10,000 domestics animals particularly sheep, goats and cattle which are stuck on mud, swept away by flood or just died because of the heavy rains," Abdi said.
The Ijara MP calls on humanitarian organisations and the National and County governments to intervene.
He added that his office is already overstretched beyond its ability in trying to help his people, promising that he will do all that is within his ability to cushion his people.
"Unfortunately, travel and trade are paralyzed and almost all families are starving to death. I call upon all humanitarian Organizations, both County and National Governments for a swift response to save lives. My office has already stretched beyond its capacity and I myself will continue to cushion my people against the flood."
His remarks come after Wajir leaders called on the National Government to release emergency funds to help address the devastating effects of the ongoing El Nino rains.
Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi noted that more than 10,000 people were affected by the floods.
“In our efforts, as county government, we attempted to use helicopters to relocate those trapped by rising waters to safer areas. However, the intensity of the rainfall and the soil's inability to absorb it have overwhelmed us. Unless we get more logistical support, we fear more lives will be lost,” he said.
According to the Red Cross, the El Nino rains are now affecting 33 counties, up from the initial 19.
The rains have caused havoc in more than 19 Counties in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) and non-ASAL areas where residents are staring at risk of disease outbreaks as the raging floods maroon several homes.
The counties include Mombasa, Garissa, Tana River, Makueni, Marsabit, Kilifi, Kwale, Meru, Isiolo, Turkana, Samburu, Wajir, Homa Bay and Busia.