Seasonal flooding affects 240,000 in East Africa

NAIROBI - The UN humanitarian agency says more than 240,000 people in East Africa have been displaced by localized flooding which has also destroyed infrastructure across the region.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in its bulletin published on Tuesday received in Nairobi that the flooding is as a result of the ongoing July-September rains.

"The regional climate outlook for the September-December rainfall season indicates an increased likelihood of above to normal rainfall over much of the Greater Horn of Africa," OCHA said.

According to humanitarian agency, some 131,000 people have been affected by flash floods in Afar and Amhara regions of Ethiopia while over 100,000 people have been affected in Sudan's Darfur, Gedaref, Kassala and Blue Nile States.

"Heavy rains continue to hamper delivery of vital humanitarian aid to refugee camps in the border areas of South Sudan," the relief agency said.

In Kenya, OCHA said, 5,000 people have been displaced by a landslide in Baringo county, where a section of the road was destroyed, cutting-off relief response to the area.

More than 70 people were killed and over 100,000 others displaced in Kenya's flash floods that ravaged several parts of Kenya between April and June.

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) said then that more than 280,000 were affected by the flooding in different parts of Kenya as a result of heavy rains.

Widespread destruction of property and infrastructure has also resulted, as well as disruption of key activities such as farming and education.

The Kenya Meteorological Department says flooding mainly resulted from several rivers bursting their banks, while landslides have resulted from saturation of soils. May typically marks the end of the "Long Rains" season over most parts of the country except the western highlands, parts of central Rift Valley and the coastal strip.

According to OCHA, El Nino conditions are expected to develop from September, leading to above normal October-December rainfall in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, northern Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

"Enhanced rainfall is expected to replenish water sources and regenerate pasture, but excess rainwater in the main growing areas may also lead to significant pre and post-harvest losses and flash flooding," OCHA said.

The UN agency said drier conditions are expected in Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, southern Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.