Govt Urges ASAL Residents to Relocate From Flood-Prone Areas Ahead of Heavy Rains
PS Karugu said the Government had intensified hotspot mapping and community sensitisation across river basins and low-lying ASAL areas to identify areas at heightened risk of flooding.
Nairobi, Kenya - September 11 - The Kenyan government is urging residents in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) to relocate from flood-prone areas in anticipation of intense rains. Acting Principal Secretary for the State Department for ASALs and Regional Development, Caroline Karugu, emphasized the heightened vulnerability of pastoralist and agro-pastoral communities to extreme weather events.
Karugu stated that the government has ramped up hotspot mapping and community awareness across key river basins and low-lying ASAL regions to pinpoint areas most at risk of flooding. She urged inhabitants near flood-prone corridors to heed early warning signals and voluntarily move to safer zones before the onset of heavy downpours.
"Pastoralist and agro-pastoral communities bear the brunt of extreme weather events," Karugu noted. The government is focused on bolstering early warning systems and readiness measures within vulnerable communities as Kenya anticipates a surge in rainfall. Karugu stressed that proactive steps would be crucial in minimizing casualties, displacement, and property damage due to flooding.
She advised residents in at-risk zones to stay vigilant, follow official weather and disaster management notices, and collaborate with local authorities on evacuation and other preventative measures. This heightened readiness effort coincides with broader government initiatives to fortify coordination and early warning frameworks ahead of the October-December rainy season.
Officials have consistently underscored the significance of heeding early warnings rather than waiting for extreme weather conditions to materialize.
Written by urgent.news from Capital FM Kenya's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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