Red Cross urges Kenya to declare Tana River a disaster zone

Alphonce Gari in AllAfrica.com via the Star (Kenya): The Kenya Red Cross Society wants the county and national government to declare Tana River as a disaster zone. Secretary General Abbas Gullet said the area was faced with many tragedies including the recent bloody clashes that left about 200 people dead and displaced over 40,000 people. The recent floods have also caused havoc and displaced thousands of residents.

Addressing journalists at Gamba area after touring the Internal Displaced victims for floods in Garsen Gullet said it's time the government allocated enough resources to the region so as to help the residents.

He spoke a time when over 3,507 victims of floods from 24 villages in Tanadelta are yet to be reached after their homes were marooned.The road networks were cut off and the only means to reach them is by boat or helicopter in order to evacuate and or help them with non food items and relief food.

The Garsen, Ijara Masalani road was completely cut off and residents have to use canoes to cross over to safety zones. "This is a double tragedy, the county and central government should declare this area as a disaster zone and help the locals to recover and set up proper shelters so as to resume with their normal lives," he said....

A Tana River bridge wrecked by a 1998 flood, US Marine Corps photo