Weeks of heavy rain due to seasonal monsoons have led to flooding (both riverine and flash flooding), deaths and displacement in several East African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda and Somalia.
The “long rains,” as they are known, occur annually from March to May. This region is extremely susceptible to climate change, and the El Niño climate pattern has compounded this year’s rains.
Kenya and Tanzania are the countries most affected by the monsoon rains, with the situation also exacerbated by Cyclone Hidaya in early May. Years of drought, which hardened the soil, have also compounded the effects of the rains, increasing the impact of the flooding. River levels are extremely high, and rain risks continue at least through June in the coastal areas and a couple of weeks longer in the western region.
For more information about seasonal weather patterns and the impact of drought and monsoon rains, read this article from Voice of America.
(Photo: Flood damage in town of Mai Mahiu in Nakuru County, Kenya, April 29, 2024. Credit: Kipchumba Murkomen, Cabinet Secretary for Roads, Transport, and Public Works in Kenya via X)
Cyclone Hidaya hit the region on May 4, increasing rains and flooding but not causing as much damage as feared. It made landfall on Mafia Island on Tanzania’s Mafia Islands Archipelago in the Indian Ocean before quickly dissipating.
Hidaya is the strongest cyclone ever to hit Tanzania, according to Africa News. The Tanzanian Meteorological Authority (TMA) reported heavy downpours along the coast on May 4, with more than 3.5 inches of rain reported in Mtwara. This is more than twice the amount of rain that typically falls in May.
Kenya’s proximity to the equator means the country does not experience direct hits but rather may feel the effects of the winds and rain from a cyclone, typically at the strength of a tropical depression.
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What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, May 13
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Key facts
- As of May 14, 2024, more than 155 in Tanzania and 267 in Kenya were reported dead along with a handful in the other affected countries. Close to 100 people have been reported missing, and more than 200 have been injured.
- In Kenya, 43 out of 47 counties were affected, many of which were already extremely vulnerable due to impacts of other hazards, particularly years of drought.
- Though Tropical Cyclone Hidaya did not cause significant damage as feared, at least five people were reportedly killed and seven injured following the storm’s landfall.
- According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), an estimated 848,773 people were affected, including at least 350,000 people who were displaced. At least 281,000 people have been displaced in Kenya alone.
- Reduced access to water and sanitation increases the risk of diseases such as cholera. A cholera outbreak has been reported in flood-affected regions of Kenya, with the World Health Organization confirming at least 44 new cases attributed to the floods.
- UN OCHA also says that the total amount of damage and destruction is not yet known as governments and humanitarian organizations in the region are still assessing the total impact. There is an extensive impact on critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, health facilities and schools which have been flooded.
- There is a significant impact on livelihoods, with both businesses damaged and agricultural croplands and livestock destroyed.
Internal displacement and refugees
Internal and external displacement is of significant concern to UNHCR as thousands of people have been forced to move, sometimes repeatedly, due to the flooding.
In Kenya, more than 281,800 people have been displaced due to persistent heavy rain and flooding since March. In Somalia, at least 67 of the 95 verified sites for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Hirshabelle Province have been impacted by the rains, affecting 39,120 people.
A UNHCR spokesperson said that nearly 20,000 people have been displaced in the Dadaab refugee camps, many of them recent arrivals escaping the drought in Somalia. Despite the damage to facilities, at least six schools are sheltering nearly 4,000 people in the camps.
UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado Mur added that “around 32,000 refugees – nearly half of the refugee population in the country – are living in areas affected by the floods, with 500 of them requiring urgent assistance. In the capital, Bujumbura, refugee families along with many Burundians, including elderly people, have had to relocate multiple times as water levels continue to rise … Nyanza Lac commune in Makamba province, an area that has received 25,000 Burundian refugees returning home from exile in the past few years, is also badly affected.”
Additionally, she said that 200,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi living in Tanzania have also been impacted.
Infrastructure damage
Local media has reported extensive damage to thousands of homes across the region. While governments conduct assessments to determine the extent of the damage, more than 2,000 homes in Tanzania and 1,143 homes in Somalia were damaged and destroyed due to heavy rain and floods. As a result, affected families have since resorted to makeshift shelters.
More than 150,000 people are living in camps across Kenya, with many more living in schools. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, reports that rental prices have increased dramatically in Kenya, making it very difficult for people to find a place they can afford.
Kenya saw some of the worst damage to its infrastructure. As of May 10, 61 roads were damaged, and 886 businesses, 1,967 schools and 62 health facilities were affected by the floods. All four of its hydroelectric dams have been overflowing since April 29, causing flooding in Garissa, Tana River and Lamu counties, as of May 10, and risking further flooding in other nearby counties.
Meanwhile, in Somalia, three schools were reportedly damaged and 87 hectares of farmland were destroyed.
Vulnerable communities
Schools in Kenya scheduled to reopen the week of May 6 were postponed to May 13 because of the potential cyclone and ongoing needs. Additionally, some schools have been flooded, and some people have taken up residence in schools while waiting for the government to transfer them to camps. This means children have not had access to education for several weeks.
In addition to education, approximately 18% of children are at risk of malnutrition. With disasters often resulting in worse health outcomes, government authorities and humanitarian partners are concerned about the health and nutritional situation of children in parts of Kenya due to the floods.
According to the most recent UNOCHA flash update, humanitarian aid partners and government officials were conducting search and rescue operations and providing immediate life-saving assistance to affected communities. Humanitarian partners have called for the urgent scale up of multi-sectoral response to address immediate needs.
Immediate needs include shelter, food and non-food items, health care, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and other essential supplies.
Cash assistance
As with most disasters, experts recommend cash donations, which allow on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need, support economic recovery and ensure in-kind donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.
Many people lost everything in the floods. Direct cash assistance allows families to purchase items and services locally that address their multiple needs. It gives each family flexibility and choice, ensuring that support is relevant and timely. Cash assistance can also help move families faster toward rebuilding their lives.
Climate adaptation and mitigation
As with many other recent natural hazards, climate change has played a significant role in the floods. East Africa is particularly vulnerable to more intense climate risks which can have a detrimental impact on the region. Marginalized, displaced and otherwise vulnerable populations in these countries face the biggest impacts from climate change.
Funders can help address these issues by investing in preparedness, mitigation, risk reduction and climate adaptation. It is important that this funding be made available to meet the needs of the most marginalized people.
Critical infrastructure
Extensive clean-up is required for the immediate effects of the flooding. Transportation infrastructure was also affected, and roads and bridges will need repair. The government said it has been unable to put a cost to damages but that the loss of transportation infrastructure is significant.
In addition, the damage to the roads and transportation infrastructure has led to increased prices as goods must be shipped by canoes. It has challenged the ability of governments and humanitarian organizations to carry out both search and rescue and delivery of supplies.
Health care support
During natural hazard events, health care needs may increase and result in the outbreak of diseases, especially waterborne and infectious diseases. Kenya is already seeing a rise in cholera, with 44 new cases as of May 14. As heavy rain and floods have displaced thousands of people and severely affected refugees and already displaced people, humanitarian partners must ensure they can reach affected communities.
This may mean mobile clinics for those on the move or tailored services and assistance that meet the needs and priorities of affected communities. Infection prevention and control and treatment measures need to be prioritized for funding. Additionally, funders can support rebuilding WASH infrastructure and supporting access to hygiene needs to help reduce the outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
Long-term recovery
Even as emergency and immediate life-saving aid and assistance are ongoing, setting the foundation for long-term recovery can be crucial. Long-term recovery needs include long-term shelter or rebuilding of homes and community infrastructure, livelihood restoration and economic recovery.
The response to the 2022 Pakistan floods, which devastated large swaths of the country, provided key lessons that promote the need for government and communities to collectively engage in clear priorities, such as rebuilding livelihoods and buildings for long-term recovery.
Protection
After a disaster, protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring access to their basic rights are immediate priorities. Gender-based violence, including sexual assault and trafficking of vulnerable populations, and the protection and security of children are often a concern.
Rebuilding and reconstruction of homes
Where possible, rebuilding should focus on building more resilient homes and buildings, improving the quality of construction and investing in flood-resistant repair techniques.
Funders can assist by providing support to affected refugee and IDP camps, addressing temporary living situations, and rebuilding homes.
CDP has a Global Recovery Fund that provides an opportunity for donors to meet the ongoing and ever-expanding challenges presented by global crises. Select “East Africa Floods and Cyclone” from the dropdown menu.
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Philanthropic contributions
If you have questions about donating to the CDP Global Recovery Fund, need help with your disaster-giving strategy or want to share how you’re responding to this disaster, please contact development.
(Photo: Kenyan President William Ruto visited Ngeya Girls Secondary School in Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County, Kenya to survey damage and console families affected by flash flooding, April 30, 2024. Credit: William Samoei Ruto via X)
Recovery updates
If you are a responding NGO, please send updates on how you are working on recovery from this disaster to Tanya Gulliver-Garcia.
We welcome the republication of our content. Please credit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
Philanthropic and government support
The Kenyan government announced a billion shillings package ($7.5 million) to rehabilitate almost 2,000 schools affected by the floods.
The Kenya Red Cross quickly mobilized through prompt emergency responses, search and rescue missions, and the distribution of shelter kits and essential supplies. As of May 14, almost 30,000 non-food water, health and sanitation (WASH) kits were distributed and reached almost 11,500 people through health outreaches.
The Emergency Relief Coordinator allocated $3 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to scale up flood responses and the provision of immediate life-saving assistance to 150,000 people.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) approved an additional allocation of CHF 250,000 ($275,000), which is the fourth allocation for the Tanzania Floods and Landslides Emergency Appeal. The total loan for the appeal now stands at CHF 750,000 ($825,000). The IFRC and its membership are seeking CHF 4 million (about US $4.4 million) to support the Tanzania Red Cross Society to reach 75,000 people with life-saving assistance.
More ways to help
CDP has also created a list of suggestions for foundations to consider related to disaster giving. These include:
- Take the long view: Even while focusing on immediate needs, remember that it will take some time for the full range of needs to emerge. Be patient in planning for disaster funding. Recovery will take a long time and funding will be needed throughout.
- Recognize there are places private philanthropy can help that government agencies might not: Private funders have opportunities to develop innovative solutions to respond to and help prevent or mitigate future disasters that the government cannot execute.
- All funders are disaster philanthropists: Even if your organization does not work in a particular geographic area or fund immediate relief efforts, you can look for ways to tie disaster funding into your existing mission. If you focus on education, health, children or vulnerable populations, disasters present prime opportunities for funding.
- Ask the experts: If you are considering supporting an organization that is positioned to work in an affected area, do some research. CDP and InterAction can provide resources and guidance about organizations working in affected communities. The Council on Foundations provides Country Notes for countries to help foundations understand giving requirements, laws and regulations in various countries.
Fund resources
Floods
Flooding is our nation’s most common natural disaster. Regardless of whether a lake, river or ocean is actually in view, everyone is at some risk of flooding. Flash floods, tropical storms, increased urbanization and the failing of infrastructure such as dams and levees all play a part — and cause millions (sometimes billions) of dollars in damage across the U.S. each year.
Monsoon Seasons
While often thought of as long-term heavy rain over a specific area, a monsoon is actually the name for a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds. It can bring either extremely wet or extremely dry weather to an area.
Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones
Hurricanes, also called typhoons or cyclones, bring a triple threat: high winds, floods and possible tornadoes. But there’s another “triple” in play: they’re getting stronger, affecting larger stretches of coastline and more Americans are moving into hurricane-prone areas.