El Nino Triggered Floods in East Africa: The Struggle of Refugees and Thousands of Displaced People

East Africa is struggling with floods caused by heavy rains triggered by the El Nino event. This natural disaster is affecting thousands of refugees and displaced people, plunging them into a difficult struggle for survival. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and local governments are working hard to address the crisis in the region.

Dimensions and Impacts of the Disaster

At a press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Olga Sarrado Mur described the situation in East Africa as urgent. She highlighted the refugees affected in Kenya, Burundi and Tanzania and called for more support from the international community.

In Kenya’s Dadaab region, camps housing more than 380,000 refugees have displaced nearly 20,000 people. Most are refugees from neighboring Somalia, fleeing severe drought. Many refugees are now temporarily sheltering in six damaged schools or staying with relatives in other parts of the camp.

In Burundi, some 32,000 refugees have been directly affected by the floods. In the capital Bujumbura, refugees have been forced to relocate several times due to rising water levels and are facing rising living costs and disrupted education opportunities.

In Tanzania, more than 200,000 people living in the Nyarugusu and Nduta refugee camps have been affected by flash floods. With shelters destroyed and critical infrastructure damaged, UNHCR and local partners have stepped up rehabilitation efforts in affected areas.

Relief Efforts and International Support

UNHCR, in collaboration with local authorities and partners, continues to deliver essential assistance to refugees and affected local communities. In Kenya, tarpaulins, mosquito nets and other essential relief items are being distributed, with special attention to the elderly and disabled. Families are also being helped to relocate to safer places.

In Burundi, as part of the government-led response, UNHCR is providing shelter kits and cash assistance to refugees. In particular, former refugees who have returned to their country of origin are prioritized for this assistance.

In Tanzania, UNHCR is working with local partners to rehabilitate flood-damaged refugee shelters. In Somalia, critical protection assistance and essential supplies are being provided to internally displaced families.

Climate Change and Future Outlook

The impacts of climate change are making living conditions increasingly difficult, particularly in fragile regions such as East Africa and the Horn of Africa. UNHCR is strengthening the need to build the resilience of refugees, displaced communities and their hosts through the Climate Resilience Fund, launched in April 2024.

In the process, it is highlighting gaps in preparedness and early action for climate-related shocks. Unless funds reach the forcibly displaced and their host communities, they will face the risk of further displacement.

Conclusion
Floods in East Africa are once again focusing the international community’s attention on the devastating effects of climate change. Developing sustainable solutions for refugees and displaced communities has become a global priority. The efforts of UNHCR and its local partners are critical to overcoming this crisis.