Safaricom Donates Kshs.10 Million to Help Those Affected by Floods

3rd May 2013… The Safaricom Foundation has today donated Kshs.10 million to fund rescue efforts for flood victims following a USD 3.5 million (Kshs.292, 950,000) appeal by the Kenya Red Cross. 

Heavy rains in the last one month have resulted in 66 deaths and left more than 100,000 people homeless while exposing hundreds of others to malaria, dengue fever and other flood related risks. 

The rains which are expected to continue into June are a threat to the country's food security following reports of flooding affecting nearly 14,000 acres of arable land in key food basket areas of Rift Valley, Western Kenya and Central. Other affected areas include; Upper and Lower Eastern, Coast and North Eastern Province. 

Statistics from the Kenya Red Cross show that the Coast, Western Kenya and North Eastern province as being the most affected by the floods. 

"Our immediate priority is to offer psycho-social support which includes moving people in flood prone areas to higher ground, reuniting families, provision of shelter, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, as well as enhancing general hygiene", said KRCS Secretary General Abbas Gullet. 

"It is not easy to estimate the extent to which the economy will be affected, but we can already see the agricultural sector being put under immense strain. Infrastructure has also been destroyed. Tourism is likely to suffer because of the floods", he added. 

Speaking while making the presentation, Safaricom's Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said that the money will cater for mobile medical clinics, buy seeds and other farm equipment for the nearly 100,000 people who have so far been displaced from their farms during the rainy season. 

"Our donation here today is meant to restore the dignity of our fellow citizens whose lives have been disrupted by the floods by allowing them to farm and rebuild their livelihoods once the flood waters have subsided,"said Mr. Collymore. 

Collymore commended the government's prompt response to the floods by supporting evacuation efforts and providing food supplies to affected Kenyans. He called on other organisations to support the on-going efforts by the Kenya Red Cross to implement long term measures which include the implementation and strengthening of early warning systems. 

3rd May 2013… The Safaricom Foundation has today donated Kshs.10 million to fund rescue efforts for flood victims following a USD 3.5 million (Kshs.292, 950,000) appeal by the Kenya Red Cross. 

Heavy rains in the last one month have resulted in 66 deaths and left more than 100,000 people homeless while exposing hundreds of others to malaria, dengue fever and other flood related risks. 

The rains which are expected to continue into June are a threat to the country's food security following reports of flooding affecting nearly 14,000 acres of arable land in key food basket areas of Rift Valley, Western Kenya and Central. Other affected areas include; Upper and Lower Eastern, Coast and North Eastern Province. 

Statistics from the Kenya Red Cross show that the Coast, Western Kenya and North Eastern province as being the most affected by the floods. 

"Our immediate priority is to offer psycho-social support which includes moving people in flood prone areas to higher ground, reuniting families, provision of shelter, health, nutrition, water and sanitation, as well as enhancing general hygiene", said KRCS Secretary General Abbas Gullet. 

"It is not easy to estimate the extent to which the economy will be affected, but we can already see the agricultural sector being put under immense strain. Infrastructure has also been destroyed. Tourism is likely to suffer because of the floods", he added. 

Speaking while making the presentation, Safaricom's Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore said that the money will cater for mobile medical clinics, buy seeds and other farm equipment for the nearly 100,000 people who have so far been displaced from their farms during the rainy season. 

"Our donation here today is meant to restore the dignity of our fellow citizens whose lives have been disrupted by the floods by allowing them to farm and rebuild their livelihoods once the flood waters have subsided,"said Mr. Collymore. 

Collymore commended the government's prompt response to the floods by supporting evacuation efforts and providing food supplies to affected Kenyans. He called on other organisations to support the on-going efforts by the Kenya Red Cross to implement long term measures which include the implementation and strengthening of early warning systems.