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In summary
Hassan Ali, who grows along the river, counts the losses after his onions were washed downstream.
Governor Roba has warned locals to be cautious as water levels continue to rise.
By MANASE OTSIALO
The devastating floods of the Daua River along the Kenya-Ethiopia border have left several villages in Mandera County underwater, hundreds of displaced locals and razed farms.
The most affected villages are Rhamu Dimtu, Khalicha, Yabicho, Girisa, Sala, Hareri, Darika, Gadudia and Khalalio.
Bellah residents Bulla Haji, Neboi, Shafshafey, Boystown, and Border Point One are all at risk, all located along the river.
DISPLACED FAMILIES
In the Darika village in Mandera East, 56 families were forced to leave their homes after the houses filled with water on Friday night.
“We have nowhere to go but light a fire and stay in slightly higher areas because there is flooding everywhere,” said Ali Adan, a resident.
Mandera has recorded little rain this season, but residents living along the river have been affected by the floods.
“We are always in this situation whenever it rains a lot in Ethiopia, where this river comes from, and our pleas for the county government to tap and tap the water have fallen on deaf ears,” said Mr. Adam.
ONION FARM
Hassan Ali, who grows along the river, counts the losses after his onions were washed downstream.
“I have lost at least Sh600,000 in this situation after my onions were washed away by the floods,” he said.
Harun Siad, another farmer, said his water pumping system on his 30-acre farm was razed.
“I have lost my crops, farm machines, including water pump generators, all valued at Sh1.5 million,” he said.
On Thursday, Governor Ali Roba expressed concern about the threats posed by flooding in the county due to heavy rains in neighboring Ethiopia.
“We have reports of massive flooding of the Daua River being experienced upstream of the Ethiopian highlands, which is the source of the river, and as far as the city of Mandera,” said the governor.
WATER SOURCES
The floods, he noted, had submerged the main sources of water that serve residents of the municipality of Mandera.
Suftu’s intake, he said, was completely submerged, as was Neboi, whose three wells have collapsed.
Damage to the water infrastructure has left the only private well, Haji Kerrow, to serve the populated municipality of Mandera. But Roba said emergency water crews are working 24 hours to restore supply to residents.
EMERGENCY TEAM
He warned the locals to be cautious as the water levels continue to rise.
According to the governor, a county government emergency surveillance team is on standby to evacuate flood-threatened residents from Rhamu Dimtu to Border Point One. But by Friday, the team had not yet reached the affected areas.
The river grown so far has claimed the lives of four teenagers along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
Khalalio MCA Abdinoor Dakane Rafat called for humanitarian aid for the affected families.
“The situation is getting out of hand as water levels continue to rise. More people will be displaced and I ask supporters to come forward and offer assistance, ”he said.
