Official: Plans are ongoing to relocate IDPs from schools

North Eastern regional commissioner John Otieno on Saturday said that plans were underway to relocate all IDPs currently being hosted in school compounds in readiness for schools re-opening on Monday.

Otieno said that following a meeting with relevant government departments and the Kenya Red Cross alternative camps were identified where the IDPs will be relocated.

He spoke after touring Hyuga Girls Primary School one of the institutions hosting IDPs to assess the flood situation.

Otieno who was accompanied by his security team, the Kenya Red Cross, and education and county officials said that the exercise will be conducted smoothly calling for cooperation from the IDPs.

According to the Kenya Red Cross, 13,770 IDPs are being hosted in five institutions within the Garissa Township constituency.

This is after the Tana River burst its banks.

The schools are Hyuga Girls, Young Muslim High School, Jaribu Primary, Kazuko Primary School and NEP Technical College.

Garissa has the largest number of IDPs, totalling 21,597 across 11 camps.

Otieno said the IDPs at Hyuga Girls have agreed to vacate the institutions and those at Kasuku and Jaribu will be visited by government officials to ask the IDPs to be relocated.

“We have over 400 households camping in four learning institutions. We have come here to assess the situation and inform the IDPs of alternative sites they will reallocated to," he said.

"This is an exercise that will start immediately. I am happy that they have heeded our call to vacate the institution to allow for learning to resume on Monday." 

He said some classrooms are also flooded.

"We shall ensure come Monday we have alternative shelters for our learners to start schooling. The Kenya Red Cross will provide tents, non-food items and government and agencies will provide relief food," he added.

Fowzia Farah who spoke on behalf of fellow IDPs camping at Hyuga Girls said they have no objection to relocating to alternative sites but urged the government to ensure the provision of necessary relief items and food.

"We have no problem moving out as long as we are provided with basic items. This a natural disaster that we have control over," she added.

The re-opening of schools on Monday has however been viewed as premature, especially for Garissa where five learning institutions are occupied by the IDPs.

Environmentalist Abdikadir Aden said it is not realistic to open the schools on Monday. 

"Many learners are in IDP camps with their parents. These children are traumatized and will not concentrate during class hours," he said.

"We are urging the government to extend the re-opening of schools by another week until the floods subside and IDPs go back to their home."