Horn of Africa - Floods
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Regional Team: ECA
Disaster Declared: Multiple
Brief Description: Unusually heavy rainfall in October and November 2006 caused widespread flooding across the Horn of Africa, with areas in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia sustaining the most serious damage. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the flooding affected up to 1.8 million people in the region and resulted in population displacements, loss of life and livelihoods, and increased incidence of disease. A major consequence of the flooding has been increased mosquito populations, which are natural carriers of the Rift Valley fever (RVF) virus. In December 2006, the Government of Kenya reported an RVF outbreak in eastern Garissa District, and the virus has since spread to other areas of Kenya and into Somalia.
The U.S. Government (USG) is addressing emergency needs of flood-affected populations in the Horn of Africa with relief commodities and services positioned in the region as a result of the USG's robust response to the drought that affected many of the same populations. In FY 2007, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance has provided more than $4 million to meet the needs of flood-affected populations, including support for emergency airlifts to affected populations inaccessible via road. Through ongoing programs throughout the Horn, USAID's Office of Food for Peace has met food needs in flood-affected areas, while the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration has ensured services are provided to refugees affected by the floods.
FY2007
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