9/5/2003
UN Refugee Agency ‘Very Worried’ Over Sanitation In Flood-Hit Kenyan Camps

Although flood waters have begun receding in the Dadaab refugee camp complex in north-eastern Kenya, where more than 3,000 refugees have been left homeless, the United Nations refugee agency said this week it remained “very worried” about sanitation and the possible spread of water-borne diseases.

Large sections of the two most affected camps – Ifo and Dagahaley, which together host more than 80,000 refugees, mainly from Somalia. – are still under water, impeding access within and around them, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said.

“Pit latrines have collapsed while some are overflowing,” UNHCR declared. “There is stagnant water everywhere. Our health partner at the camp, MSF-Belgium (the non-governmental organization, Médecins Sans Frontières), is prepared to handle an increased number of consultations for various illnesses.”

UNHCR airlifted some 12,000 litres of much-needed fuel from Garissa, the northeastern provincial capital, as parts of the road linking Garissa and Dadaab remained impassable. The airlifted fuel supplies will cover the camps' needs for the next six to eight days for vehicles as well as to power generators in offices, hospitals and clinics and to run water pumps throughout the three-camp complex of 130,000.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) donated life-saving drugs and other emergency relief items, including cooking utensils and mosquito nets.

"UNICEF's key concern at present is to prevent avoidable deaths and illness among the many children affected in these areas," said Maniza Zaman, an official from the UN agency. "We are closely monitoring the nutritional and health status of the flood-affected children and are in the process of planning for a subsequent deployment of relief items."

The agency gave $17,500 worth of oral re-hydration salts, intravenous fluids, de-worming syrups, anti-cholera drugs, mosquito nets and cooking sets to benefit victims in areas classified as critical. The consignment will be immediately air lifted to the most needy areas, which have been cut-off by heavy rains that washed away parts of the only road.