And also as predicted, the prolonged three-year dry spell which preceded these downpours created horrible conditions for the areas now in flood. There was little vegetation left to hold things together, and massive erosion is occurring in certain areas.
The hardest hit ironically are areas in Kenya’s north where it normally doesn’t rain at all. Turkana and the far northern frontier is a mess. There aren’t tourist game parks in these areas.
The hardest hit areas in Tanzania are just west of the big city of Dar-es-Salaam, in and around the large metropolis of Morogoro. This is right on the central Tanzania tourist circuit.
Kenya has confirmed 21 dead from flooding, and Tanzania has confirmed 9. Kenya further said that as many as 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
The Kenyan Red Cross says that an additional 70,000 people are at risk of losing their homes if the rain doesn’t stop. In Kenya it should have stopped a month ago. Previously the Red Cross had claimed that 3.8 million people in Kenya were seriously effected by the drought which preceded the rains.
Kenyan officials also confirmed that 17 bridges have been washed away and 29 roads damaged by flash flooding.
Hi Jim,
Good blog.
However, this is very sad news about the flooding. Are the governments of the countries responding to the critical needs of the people?
How is this affecting tourism for the coming year?
Kenya’s Minister in charge is Prof. Saitoti, former president of the Univ. of Nairobi and former Vice-President under the dictator, Daniel arap Moi. His ministry is also in charge of “homeland security”, so he has a big portfolio currently congested with the threats from Somalia. Nevertheless, he’s promised Ksh. 38 million (about $500,000) in direct aid to around 6000 families in the Rift and Central provinces.
However, this is dwarfed by the Red Cross, which is continuing a massive relief effort started during the drought. The Red Cross claims to be trying to aid more than 3.5 million Kenyans right now. That sounds rather staggering.
While it might sound macabre, tourism is right now better than ever, because the “drought” is over and that is principally what effects tourism. In the developing world, tourism usually occurs removed from the human poverty and suffering of the area. Touchy issue, of course. But consider that before the 2007 political troubles, about a third of the region’s wealth came from tourism. Everyone knows this would be compromised if a day game viewing were replaced with a day in the slums.
Nevertheless it’s why I always like to start my safaris with at least a full day in Nairobi to try to gently introduce some of these issues. And I try on safari to visit places like the Nanyuki Weavers and other organizations that work on the periphery of the want and suffering.