STORY: Kenya bolsters flood mitigation efforts as El Nino rains claim lives
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 10, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 11, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:39
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of floods
2. various of senior officials and humanitarian agency representatives
3. SOUNDBITE (English): RIGATHI GACHAGUA, Deputy President of Kenya
4. various of floods

STORYLINE:

Kenya has stepped up measures to mitigate the effects caused by El Nino rains, which have resulted in over 20 deaths and missing individuals, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday.

SOUNDBITE (English): RIGATHI GACHAGUA, Deputy President of Kenya
"More than 19 counties in ASAL (arid and semi-arid lands) and non-ASAL areas have been adversary affected by the continuing heavy rains.
Two, sections of roads have been cut off in counties like Wajir, Isiolo, Mandera, Marsabit, Tana river, and Garissa, among others. This has reduced access to land.
Three, families have been displaced, especially in northern Kenya and downstream in areas like Tana river.
Four, efforts are ongoing on documentation of missing persons, livestock lost and crops destroyed due to the enhanced rains. We will make this data public once it's confirmed.
Five, we face the risk of rivers breaking their banks and in this regard, we ask our people to be on the lookout."
   
The government has mobilized technical and financial resources to enhance the response to the floods, Gachagua told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. "We are working with development partners to distribute food and non-food items to tens of families affected in order to prevent escalation of the humanitarian situation."
   
The increased rainfall is a consequence of El Nino conditions in the Pacific Ocean and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The Kenya Meteorological Department confirmed that steps have been taken to address and prevent severe consequences. Aircraft have also been deployed to evacuate affected families to safer locations.
   
In recent weeks, many parts of Kenya have experienced excessive rainfall, endangering lives and livelihoods, with the risk of rivers overflowing. Gachagua said that weather projections indicate the possibility of prolonged rains into the first quarter of 2024, prompting the government to raise awareness among communities residing in low-lying and landslide-prone areas.
   
El Nino is a climate pattern that occurs every two to seven years, while the Indian Ocean Dipole is a climate pattern associated with sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)