Uganda Red Cross Society’s Post

"Between 2013 and 2022, more than 100,000 people in Africa died or were declared missing because of disasters, and an additional 131 million people were affected" said UNDRR head Kamal Kishore speaking at the Early Warnings for All Multi-Stakeholder Forum for Africa in Windhoek Namibia today. "Many of these deaths could have been averted through better early warning and early action: countries with effective multi-hazard early warning systems have disaster death rates that are six times lower than countries without." To achieve the #EarlyWarningsForAll goal of 100% coverage by 2027 we need collaborative and holistic solutions. Learn more ➡️ https://ow.ly/eznW50TPU9I #AfRP9

According to government, Kenya has lost close to 103 people due to flooding across the country. This is so sad. Even as different agencies are undertaking mitigation processes of needs assessments, rescue efforts and distributing aid, we are advised to take precautions in the wake of these ongoing heavy rains. #climatechange #ClimateAction

Kshs 7 billion…………………. The amount of money needed to rehabilitate persons displaced by the floods. Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer Show on Tuesday Kenya Red Cross Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Idris stated that Kshs 7 bn will be needed to rehabilitate 47,000 households displaced by the flood. I want to breakdown what kshs 1 billion can do – 1)      Kshs 1bn can build 10 kilometeers of roads 2)      Kshs 1bn can build 20 schools 3)      Kshs 1bn can build 50 dispensaries Imagine the impact of that can be made on Kenyan lives with Kshs 7 billion.

In the wake of the devastating floods that have claimed lives and shattered communities, Kenya must confront its failure to protect its citizens. It's a wake-up call for the government to prioritize preventive measures and invest in infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters. To those affected, we extend our deepest apologies for the loss and suffering. Let's demand accountability, demand better services, and demand action to ensure that tragedies like this never happen again. #KenyaFloods #PreventiveMeasuresNow #AccountabilityMatters

In the past weeks, Myanmar has been faced with continuous waves of flooding starting from northern Myanmar, extending then southwards towards the central and lower parts of the country. Other ongoing situations exacerbated the humanitarian needs in certain affected areas but Myanmar Red Cross Society remain responding in a safe and coordinated way. Throughout the evolution of events, MRCS continue mobilising immediate lifesaving needs and services such as administration of first aid, and provision of food and water, along with core services such as the provision of hygiene and sanitation kits and key messages, while supporting governments efforts as auxiliary, for safe evacuations of vulnerable and affected communities. Findings from the MRCS's selected branch-level Damage Assessment and Needs Assessment (DANA) and the assessment reports from local authorities have identified the ongoing immediate needs of drinking water, food, hygiene items, kitchen sets, weather-appropriate clothes, and healthcare services. With the humanitarian needs remaining high in parts of Myanmar due to this Orange level emergency, the IFRC-DREF has just released CHF 825,215 towards MRCS’ lifesaving flood relief and early recovery efforts. The overall objective of this emergency operation is to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of 15,000 people affected by floods in Kayin, Bago (East & West), Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Mon and Tanintharyi states / regions through the provision essential household items, multi-purpose cash grants, and actions in WASH and health. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - IFRC #Myanmar #MyanmarRedCrossSociety #IFRC #DREF #IFRC_DREF

A tragic incident occurred at Kigogwa Town - Uganda, (22nd Oct) where a fuel tanker overturned and caught fire, resulting in injuries, fatalities, and significant property damage. This heartbreaking event highlights the importance of civic education (among other control measures) in promoting fire safety awareness. Such education can equip the public with essential knowledge to prevent similar tragedies, respond effectively in emergencies, and understand the dangers associated with fuel spills and fires. Condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives, and we wish a swift recovery to the injured. IT CAN BE DONE! #FireSafety #EmergencyPreparedness #PublicSafety #RiskManagement #IncidentResponse #CivicEducation

Civic education plays a crucial role in empowering communities with knowledge on fire safety and emergency preparedness, which can save lives and reduce the severity of incidents like the recent tanker accident. Educating the public on recognizing risks, knowing evacuation, and safely managing fuel or fire hazards helps prevent accidents and enables quicker, safer responses. Together, let’s advocate for widespread civic education on safety to build resilient and informed communities. #ItCanBeDone #FireSafety #Uganda #SafetyFirst

The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has raised serious concerns over the escalating floods in Nigeria, which are worsening the nation’s food security crisis. These floods, affecting 29 states, have displaced around 200,000 people, impacted over 2.5 million, and caused significant destruction to farmland. With nearly 31.8 million Nigerians already at risk of acute food insecurity, the loss of agricultural land is expected to deepen poverty and hunger in vulnerable communities. #FBNQuestResearch

Castor Vali, in support of the Private Sector Flood Response Initiative led by Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and its social arm, the KEPSA Foundation, recently contributed to aid efforts for flood-displaced households in Nairobi. Nairobi is currently experiencing the highest human impact of the floods in Kenya, with a significant death toll of more than 30 people and almost 17,000 households displaced. Last weekend, KEPSA distributed essential supplies to Nairobi's most severely affected areas, aiming to assist 1,000 households. Plans are underway to extend aid efforts to reach around 10,000 households across various counties grappling with flood-induced displacement in the following weeks. #FloodRelief #KEPSAFoundation #DisasterResponse #NairobiFloods #CommunitySupport #HumanitarianAid #DisasterReliefEfforts #SupportingCommunities #KEPSAInitiative

In #Somalia, the anticipated La Niña and accompanying drought conditions are expected to worsen food insecurity, water scarcity, and disease outbreaks, threatening lives and livelihoods. The most affected areas are likely to be central and southern Somalia, as well as Puntland. Rural pastoral and agro-pastoral communities face a heightened risk of severe food insecurity due to reduced water access, low crop yields, and limited income. In response, Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya has allocated $5 million from the United Nations OCHA-managed Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for the anticipated drought in Somalia. This CERF allocation will support 132,500 people, focusing on protection, food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene. This will complement a $5 million #AnticipatoryAction allocation from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund, building on the anticipatory action elements of the Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for 2024. Together, we #InvestInHumanity.