By Emmanuel Igunza and Brian Inganga | AP
Tuesday November 28, 2023

NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government on Monday urged people living in flood-prone areas to relocate to higher ground as heavy rains and flash floods continued to wreak havoc across East Africa.

At least 76 people have died and 40,000 displaced from their homes since the rains began pounding the country in October. President William Ruto convened an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday and said 38 of Kenya’s 47 counties had been affected by floods and mudslides made worse by the El Niño phenomenon.

State House spokesperson Hussein Mohammed also noted “disease outbreaks, destruction of infrastructure and property as well as prolonged power outages” across Kenya and the region.

The worst affected areas are the coastal cities of Mombasa and Malindi and the northern Kenya region which borders Somalia, also hit hard by flooding.

In Kenya’s Garissa town, thousands of people have been displaced after their homes were swept away.

“All roads are destroyed. I don’t even know where people will go,” Garissa resident Joel Ngui told The Associated Press.

Many roads and bridges have been washed away or partially destroyed, making it difficult to reach people marooned by flood waters.

Residents living by the Tana River, Kenya’s largest, have been left homeless and hungry after it burst its banks.

Marian Ware, a widow and mother of five, escaped with her children after her home was carried away. She constructed a makeshift shelter on higher ground.

“I had no one to help me, my husband died a long time ago,” she said. “I was struggling to get my children to safety. When I went back, everything was gone.”

Ruto on Sunday activated a National Disaster Operation Center but fell short of declaring the floods a national emergency. His spokesperson, Hussein, said that could change “if things get out of hand, if things get worse.”

Kenya’s meteorological department has warned that the heavy rains will continue into the new year.

In Somalia, the death toll from the deluge stood at 96 on Monday. In Ethiopia, 44 people had been killed.

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Inganga reported from Bangale, Kenya.

Kampala November 28, 2023 {HMC} – The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia’s Public Information Unit has concluded a capacity building workshop and field visit in Kampala, Uganda, with officials from Somalia’s Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Twelve officials from the Ministry benefitted from the workshop, which included field visits and interactions with Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and the Nation Media Group.

A Communications Expert at ATMIS, Gifty Bingley, underscored the importance of such capacity-building initiatives facilitated by the AU mission. She highlighted the necessity of enhancing the skills of policymakers and government communicators within the Ministry. “These training opportunities are crucial in enabling these professionals to effectively communicate government initiatives and successes, as well as understanding the complexities of media support,” she remarked.

The Charge d’Affaires of the Somalia Embassy in Uganda, Ambassador Abdilatif Mohamoud Ali at the closing ceremony emphasised the importance of responsible media in state-building, highlighting its role in empowering communities with relevant information. He also expressed his gratitude to ATMIS for its efforts to stabilise Somalia.

An Advisor with the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mohamed Shir, described the field visits as enlightening particularly regarding the structure and operations of public and private media.

Representing the participants, Abdushakur Ali Ahmed from the Ministry, thanked ATMIS and expressed optimism that the officials would integrate the valuable insights learnt into their work.

ATMIS Public Information unit engages in a dynamic partnership with the Ministry of Information, Tourism, and Culture, focusing on strengthening communication and capacity-building initiatives. This collaboration forms part of the broader strategy to support the Federal Government of Somalia.

Kismayo, November 28, 2023 {HMC}– To enhance the protection of women’s rights, the Jubaland state administration supported by the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), on Saturday launched the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence pledging to eliminate violence against women and girls in the region.

Organised by the ATMIS Civilian Sector Coordinating Team in conjunction with the local administration,the event held in the Jubaland State capital, Kismayo, brought together various women’s rights advocacy groups.

“As a ministry, we are committed to eliminating Gender Based Violence and protect women’s human rights. We have been effective in reducing the number of cases of violations, and our public awareness campaigns have had a substantial impact,” said Adar Ismail Jurati, the Jubaland State Minister of Women and Family Affairs.

Citing a young lady who suffered trauma as a result of a forced early marriage, Adar affirmed her ministry’s commitment to support the protection of women and girls in the region.

“We are also raising awareness about early marriages and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and I would like to advise fathers not to force their daughters into early marriages before they are psychologically and physically ready,” she advised. The launch also marked the culmination of a series of sensitization and capacity building workshops by the ATMIS Human Rights and Gender Protection (HRPG) Division targeting Jubaland State administration officials,Somali security forces (SSF), civil society organisations and community leaders.

This year’s theme, “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” is part of ATMIS’ commitment to efforts to end violence against women and girls.

Experts and representatives from civil society organisations working on issues impacting women and girls, as well as members of the public who attended the launch, engaged in discussions aimed at raising awareness about human rights violations.

Idris Hassan Mohamud, the Director General of the Jubaland Ministry of Women and Family Affairs, emphasized the shared responsibility to protect vulnerable groups.

“The aim of the 16 Days of Activism is to remind us that it is our obligation to uphold the Human Rights Act, with a particular focus on defending the rights of our women and girls,” said Mohamud.