•According to the ministry, their classrooms have been submerged, swept away, or sustained severe damage.
•The current data from the government shows that floods have so far claimed more than 250 lives and displaced over 250,000 people
Image: FILE
Save the Children is calling on the government to fast track reconstruction of schools affected by floods ahead of reopening.
Save the Children in a statement on Thursday wants school infrastructure including water and sanitation facilities rebuild.
The organisation further wants the government to conduct rapid needs assessment on the impact of floods on health, education, water, sanitation and hygiene, livelihoods and protection sectors.
This is after data from the Ministry of Education showed that at least 62 primary schools with an enrolment of over 15,000 learners, are not ready to open.
According to the ministry, their classrooms have been submerged, swept away, or sustained severe damage.
“The impact of the floods on children is disastrous and threatens their rights," Ag Country Director for Save the Children Kenya Mohamed Abdiladif said.
"As a child rights organisation, were cognise the importance of coordination of efforts to ensure that children’s lives and those of their families are restored to normalcy," Abdiladif added.
The current data from the government shows that floods have so far claimed more than 250 lives and displaced over 250,000 people.
There is also a health crisis concern after 34 cholera cases were reported in the Tana River area.
As a result, the risk of waterborne diseases is heightened as over 20,000 toilet blocks are either sunken or severely damaged by floods, affecting over 1.5 million learners nationwide.
Nairobi's informal settlements are the worst hit, with more than 7,000 residents displaced in Mathare.
Save the Children further raised concern that the situation is likely to lead to a rise in drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, early marriages and child labour.
This, the organisation said, is due to the weakening of protective environments.
"Children’s psychosocial wellbeing has been acutely affected by the loss of family, friends, play areas and familiar environment," Save the Children said.
The organisation has been in the forefront of complementing government and other stakeholder flood mitigation efforts.
This has been through provision of cash transfers, distribution of hygiene kits, household kits and water treatment kits.
"We are working round the clock to deliver lifesaving interventions such as cash transfers to affected households in Nairobi and Garissa counties," Abdiladif said.
He has called for support from private sector, development partners and well-wishers to scale up the response.
"We also advise parents and caregivers to exercise caution as schools re-open."