Death toll from floods in Kenya rises Human rights group says government response lacking : NPR

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Death toll from floods in Kenya rises Human rights group says government response lacking : NPR

A man swims from a flooded church compound after the Tana River burst its banks following heavy rain at Mororo, border between the Tana River and Garissa district, northeastern Kenya, April 28. Heavy rains fell in many areas Kenya has left dozens dead and displaced tens of thousands, according to the United Nations.

Andre Kasuku/AP

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Andre Kasuku/AP

A man swims from a flooded church complex after the Tana River burst its banks following heavy rains in Mororo, border between the Tana River and Garissa district, northeastern Kenya, April 28. Heavy rains fell in many areas. Different areas of Kenya have left dozens dead and displaced tens of thousands, according to the United Nations.

Andre Kasuku/AP

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused Kenyan authorities of failing to respond adequately to ongoing floods that have killed more than 170 people since the start of the rainy season.

The New York-based human rights group said the government “has a human rights obligation to prevent foreseeable harm from climate change and extreme weather events and to protect people during disasters.” disaster occurs”.

The Kenya Meteorological Department sent an early warning before the rainy season began, but President William Ruto only established a response committee on April 24. At that time, nearly 100 people died because of the flood.

Kenya, along with other parts of East Africa, has been overwhelmed by floods. More than 150,000 people were displaced and living in dozens of camps.

Human rights groups say the government has failed to learn lessons from last year’s rainy season, which left hundreds of people dead.

A lodge is seen in the flooded Maasai Mara National Reserve, leaving dozens of tourists stranded in Narok County, Kenya on Wednesday. Kenya, along with other parts of East Africa, has been overwhelmed by floods.

Bobby Neptune/AP

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Bobby Neptune/AP

The meteorological agency had warned that the country would experience increased rainfall due to El Niño until early this year, but Ruto said in October that the country was spared the effects of this weather pattern.

At the time, the government announced that at least 10 billion Kenyan shillings ($75 million) would be allocated to prepare a nationwide response. It is unclear how the money is being used and critics have accused the government of embezzlement.

Children flee from floodwaters that devastated Mororo, border between the Tana River and Garissa district, northeastern Kenya, April 28.

Andre Kasuku/AP

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Andre Kasuku/AP

Children flee from floodwaters that devastated Mororo, border between the Tana River and Garissa district, northeastern Kenya, April 28.

Andre Kasuku/AP

People affected by ongoing flooding in Mai Mahiu, in the west of the country, have accused the government of responding slowly. At least 45 people died after river waters rose and destroyed homes, with more than 80 people missing since Monday. The debris has not yet been cleared to recover any buried bodies.

On Tuesday, the government directed people living in flood-prone areas to move or evacuate as more rain was predicted across the country through May.