Emergency: Major storms / hailstones

Date of Emergency: April 2005

Requesting Partner: Church World Service, Kenya

Implementing Partner: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya, Anglican Church of Kenya Ogenya Parish, other local churches and partner NGOs

Details of theEmergency: During the month of March between 16^th and 24^th 2005, areas around Lake Victoria received exceptionally heavy storms that left a long trail of destruction in the two districts in Nyanza Province and parts of Rift Valley.

The affected area has been experiencing a dry season for the last eight months. Traditionally in this area, it is always expected that with the long rains after the dry spell, the area usually suffer perennial flooding, malaria and cholera outbreak and great famine since the prices of local commodities go high beyond the resident of this area that are characterised by abject poverty, high incidences of HIV/AIDS, rising number of orphans and elderly widows entrusted with the care of orphans.

To date many people in these affected areas are homeless and spending their nights in the worst conditions. In Nyando the needs assessments has been done by the Red Cross, the Government of Kenya and DCM grass root networks of interfaith communities but so far no response has been received except in North East Nyakach where through the help of area MP Honourable Peter Odoyo received some food stuff.

As a result of the storm and also the expected long rain that has begun, there are increased water-borne opportunistic diseases and acute malaria outbreaks caused by the stagnant water. Some families have been left homeless, as the storm wrecked their homes. There is acute shortage of food in some families especially those who were already vulnerable before the storm due to drought season. The hailstone destroyed horticultural crops robbing already vulnerable families of cash income.

Proposed Assistance: To provide emergency assistance to at least 3,000 households severely affected in Karachuonyo and Nyando Districts respectively.

In this response, the ELCK in collaboration with Anglican Church of Kenya, ACK Ogenya Parish and other stakeholders will focus their attention to a total of 3000 vulnerable and marginalized community members who will be drawn from the two Districts in the affected households.

Villages in West, East and South Kanyaluo in Rachuonyo District and North East Nyakach, Wawidhi, and East Kano in Nyando District were affected. A number of Schools were also affected. Karachuonyo the storm left four primary schools destroyed: Adiedo, Mango, Omindi and Nyakango, three church buildings were brought down, 55 homes were destroyed including a number of properties. Many of the homes had their roofs blown off. In Nyakach, eight schools were destroyed, the worst affected schools were Wenwa and Ng’oma Primary Schools and four students of Thurgem Secondary School were seriously injured and were admitted in the nearby Ahero Sub Hospital after the walls of their classrooms collapsed during the storms. Shops a long Katito had their roofs blown off, telephone lines were uprooted along Ayweyo through Katito on Kisumu Kisii Road, nearby Churches were brought down.

In East Kano two deaths were reported: A house collapsed and killed Mrs Magdalina Odundo Chacha and a herd’s boy was killed as he was bringing the cattle home. Richard Odhiambo Ouma met his death and was found lying dead in the field after the heavy storm. Five permanent churches were brought down and 195 semi permanent had their roofs blown away in Achego Sub location. In these location alone 215 chickens, 32 goats, 30 sheep and 10 cows died.

In Katolo sub location two classrooms at Nyarombe Primary School collapsed, Sare Primary School also had two of its classroom destroyed and one wing of Olasi Primary School with two classes collapsed. Kenasia Health Centre, the only health facility in this region had the staff house destroyed by the storm. A number of trees were uprooted, 50 acres of farm land destroyed, the horticultural crops along river Awach of tomato farm were all destroyed by the heavy hailstone. Sare and Achego Catholic Churches, Ruwe Holy Ghost Church collapsed and the faithful are now forced to assemble under trees.

In Wawidhi location 219 houses were destroyed and three schools were destroyed. Nyachoda, Luora, and Kuth Awendo Primary Schools had their roofs blown off. In Onjiko Kochieng Primary was affected and three houses destroyed.

Proposed assistance: In collaboration with grassroots disaster committees, beneficiaries shall be mobilized through their respective churches to do the actual distribution of foodstuff and non-food materials such as Anti Malaria drugs, nets and blankets. Transportation and distribution of foodstuff to the respective targeted areas will be carried expeditiously, and based on the NGO code of conduct. Enough food to 3,000 households shall be purchased and distributed in the two districts affected for at least 2 months.

The project funds will be disbursed and monitored by Church World Service. The expenditures will be implemented by ELCK Accounts office. At the project level, a steering committee composed of all the churches involve will be doing a monthly monitoring of the project activities and their reports will be shared with all stakeholders through Church World Service who will be facilitating overall implementation of the project. The Church will provide narrative, financial progress report and final audit report. Continuous evaluation will be enforced throughout the project implementation and after 8 months of operation, a final evaluation will be conducted to determine the impact of the intervention and the way forward.

Implementation period: These funds will be utilised for 2 months to be followed with reconstruction program for the next six months.