Garissa deputy commissioner urges IDPs to return home as floodwaters subside

Garissa County Deputy Commissioner Solomon Chesut on Saturday advised internally displaced persons (IDPs) camping in Garissa Township to prepare to return to their residential homes.

Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebration at Garissa Primary playground, Deputy Commissioner Chesut encouraged those displaced from areas where floodwaters have receded and their compounds have dried up to leave the congested IDP camps and relocate back to their homes.

"We understand the challenges of camp life, and it was circumstances that forced the locals affected by the floods to seek safety and assistance in the camps. Now that the floods have subsided, we expect people to go back to their residential homes," he said.

He assured that the government would continue supporting those affected with relief food and other aid while they are at their own homes.

Chesut noted that over 300 families had already received cash relief support of Sh10,000 from donor partners to help them relocate as they await further assistance.

He also said that the government's efforts to deliver relief food to the River Tana flood victims camping at 13 IDP camps in Garissa were initially hindered by the impassable Kona Punda section along the Garissa-Nairobi highway.

However, the road has since been repaired, and relief food from the national government has arrived. All affected families will receive food support, whether in the camps or at their residential homes for those who return from today.

He commended the IDPs for complying with the government order to vacate school compounds during the reopening of schools.

Aden Bile, chairperson of the Garissa County Member of Disability Groups, highlighted that several organisations had registered the affected IDPs for support but had yet to extend help.

Aden, whose home in Bula Punda was submerged, called on the Deputy County Commissioner and his officials to follow up, as the affected members of the community were desperately in need of support to rebuild their livelihoods and damaged houses.

He noted that the 300 families benefiting from the cash transfer were few compared to the 4,760 families displaced by the floods in Garissa Township.

The North Eastern Chairman for the Kenya Red Cross, Abdinur Hussein, urged the public and well-wishers to continue supporting the affected families with food and non-food items.

He mentioned that recently, Garissa religious leaders mobilised the public to extend help to the affected families, resulting in at least 350 families receiving food and non-food items.