Families in Tana River Struggle to Rebuild as Floods Leave Villages Submerged
By Lucas Odhiambo
TANA RIVER COUNTY, January 4, 2024
Severe flooding triggered by the ongoing El Niño rains has left widespread destruction and displacement across Bandi village in Tana River County, uprooting hundreds of families and leaving homesteads completely submerged under muddy waters.
Among those affected is 16-year-old Jilo Gorogosi, who recently completed his primary school education. Standing on a cliff overlooking what was once his home, Jilo recalls the terrifying night in November when rising waters forced his family to flee without warning.
My family and I used to live in that hut, he says, pointing to a structure barely visible beneath the murky water. We heard families screaming that the river had broken its banks. We had to leave immediately.
Night Escape Through Rising Waters
Jilo, his mother, and two younger siblings—aged eight and four—walked for more than an hour through darkness, floodwater, and debris in search of higher ground. Overwhelmed and frightened, they relied on the guidance and reassurance of their mother.
Their escape took a dangerous turn when local elders rescued them using a home-made wooden boat already overcrowded with other fleeing families. Designed to carry six people, the small vessel held 12 passengers, rocking violently as they made their way toward Vumbe village.
With water levels remaining high for days, the displaced families struggled to access food, clean water, and medical attention.
Hundreds Relocated to Bandi IDP Camp
A response team from the Kenya Red Cross Society eventually located the stranded residents and escorted them to the UNICEF-supported Bandi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp.
The camp now hosts 234 households, including Jilo’s family, who have spent more than three weeks living in temporary shelters.
At the camp, we get some little food and drinking water, and at least we are safe, Jilo says. Mobile health teams conduct regular medical checkups, providing treatment and nutritional support.
UNICEF, Government Step Up Emergency Support
UNICEF, working with county and national authorities, has intensified humanitarian assistance in affected areas. Support includes:
mosquito nets
temporary tents
jerricans, buckets, and water treatment supplies
dry food items
medical services
hygiene kits for adolescents
outreach health clinics
treatment for malnourished children
The organisation is also preparing cash assistance for the most vulnerable families, made possible through donations from partners including UKAid, USAID, EU Humanitarian Aid, and governments of Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Ireland, and Catalonia.
A Young Survivor’s Hope for the Future
Despite the uncertainty, Jilo remains hopeful that his family will eventually rebuild their life once the floodwaters recede.
He dreams of joining Form One this year but worries about how the disaster will affect his schooling.
He says the experience has changed him:
I always wanted to be a pilot, but now I think I want to be a humanitarian worker. I want to help save people from disasters like this.