Safaricom Foundation has donated a total of KSh10 million (US$120,000) towards the rescue efforts of flood victims after the Kenya Red Cross Society appealed for funds to help rescue efforts.
Chief executive officer (CEO) Bob Collymore said the money would be used to return normality to the lives of those affected by the floods.
“Our donation here today is meant to restore the dignity of our fellow citizens whose lives have been disrupted by the floods by allowing them to farm and rebuild their livelihoods once the flood waters have subsided,” Collymore said.
The money will also be used to cater for mobile medical clinics, farm equipment and seeds for the 100,000 people who have had to leave their farms because of the floods.
Collymore challenged other organisations to support the ongoing efforts, which include long term measures such as early warning systems.
According to statistics provided by the Red Cross, Western Kenya, North Eastern and Coast are the areas most affected by the floods.
Red Cross’ Secretary General Abbas Gullet said that his organisation’s immediate priority is to offer psycho-social support, including moving people in flood prone areas to higher ground, reuniting families, providing shelter, health, nutrition, water and sanitation and enhancing general hygiene .
The Safaricom Foundation has also been at the forefront in assisting victims of ethnic clashes, having last year donated another KSh10 million to help the families displaced by clashes in the Tana Delta.
