UAE pledges Ksh2B for flood relief efforts

By , K24 Digital
On Fri, 10 May, 2024 10:08 | 2 mins read
UAE Flood
President William Ruto meets the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the sidelines of COP28. PHOTO/PCS

The United Arab Emirates has pledged a donation of USD 15 million (approximately Ksh2 billion) to Kenya to help mitigate the adverse effects of the floods which have destroyed several parts of the country.

According to a statement shared by the UAE Embassy in Nairobi, the pledge comes under the order of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed AL Nahyan.

The Arabian nation further emphasized its commitment to oblige humanitarian calls at regional and international levels to rescue lives and move humanitarian efforts to the affected.

"The United Arab Emirates allocated USD 15 Million to assist victims of floods and heavy rains witnessed in the Republic of Kenya which led to the death of hundreds and displacement of thousands from their homes, destruction of infrastructure like roads bridges, health facilities,
and agricultural lands, with northern parts of Nairobi City including places mostly affected.

"Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council stated that under the wise leadership of His Highness the President, the United Arab Emirates always stands to oblige to humanitarian calls at both regional and international levels to urgently rescue lives and move humanitarian efforts assisting the weak and the affected regardless of geographical location," the statement read in parts.

Earlier, the United States had pledged Ksh130 million to the Kenya Red Cross to help in rescue efforts across communities affected by the ravaging floods.

US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman confirmed this during her visit to flood-affected areas in Mathare, Nairobi county.

"Today, the U.S. announced Ksh130 million in new assistance to support Kenya Red Cross and its work with communities affected by recent flooding. My heart goes out to all families impacted by the recent devastation," Whitman said in a statement on her X account.

In response to the aid, the Kenya Red Cross affirmed that the funds would be channelled towards humanitarian response activities.

The humanitarian agency also extended utmost gratitude to the people of America for the assistance.

"With the new funding announced by the Ambassador, the Kenya Red Cross will increase its humanitarian support to communities adversely affected by the floods. We are grateful to the American people through USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, who have provided invaluable support for temporary shelter, settlement needs, and WASH non-food items, in addition to their normal emergency programming," Kenya Red Cross said in a statement.

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