The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Wednesday it is launching an emergency preliminary appeal for 5.1 million U.S. dollars to support the Kenya Red Cross Society in its response to major flooding affecting several parts of the countries since last month, Xinhua reported. A statement from the IFRC said a total of 300,000 people will be supported over the next six months. "For more than four weeks now the Kenya Red Cross volunteers and staff have been working relentlessly to limit the combined impact of health and safety risks caused by floods and ethnic violence. This additional support will ensure that their effort is not in vain," said Dennis Johnson, IFRC's Deputy Head of Zone in Nairobi. Kenya is experiencing heavy rains that have led to flooding in many parts of the country and triggered landslides that are hampering access to some places. Some entire communities have been displaced. The worst hit areas are Mandera, Garissa, Wajir, Budalangi and Tana River districts. At least 12 people have died, most of them school children. Flood waters in Wajir town submerged over 6,000 shallow wells and bucket latrines. More than 71,000 people are affected and at risk of a cholera outbreak.
