Delivery of Emergency Supplies Supports Flood Response in Kenya: IOM and UPS Foundation Partnership
UPS trucks depart from Nairobi on their way to deliver relief kits to families affected by floods. Photo: IOM Kenya, 2024.
Heavy rains in early and mid 2024 in Kenya resulted in devastating floods that displaced more than 400,000 people, washing away homes and livelihoods. Major infrastructure including roads and bridges were also severely damaged. Nearly 5,000 livestock deaths were reported, and close to 30,000 acres of farmland destroyed. Many of the affected families had just come through droughts; the floods were yet another weather-related disaster testing their resilience and survival.
“Water levels have never been this high. Now we have no houses, no toilets, and no food. Important legal documents, such as our identification cards, title deeds and academic certificates have all been washed away,” said Mohamud Omar, Community Leader and Chairman of Bula Kamor Area, Garissa, one of the communities worst affected by floods that devastated several areas of Kenya.
“The recent floods swept away my crops, livestock, and uprooted my home,” said John Olang, a small-scale farmer from Homa Bay County, standing in his recently re-planted field. Photo: IOM/Moses Otunga, 2024.
Preparation for relief kit distributions
Following needs assessments and coordination with national and county government authorities, heavily affected areas were identified for urgent humanitarian response. In addition to central Kenya, these included the counties of Mandera and Garissa in the eastern region; Kilifi and Tana River on the coastal region, and Homa Bay in the far western region.
In line with wider response plans, as part of comprehensive recovery support efforts, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kenya prepared thousands of non-food item kits for distribution. The relief kits included items tailored for flood response: tarpaulins to support emergency shelters, bar soaps, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, solar lamps, buckets, jerry cans, sleeping mats, blankets, and ‘lessos’ – swathes of patterned fabric.
USA for IOM, IOM’s non-profit partner in the United States, accepted the offer of in-kind transportation and logistics support from the UPS Foundation to deliver emergency supplies to thousands of families affected by flooding in Kenya.
Counties of distribution of IOM relief kits delivered by UPS Foundation in response to 2024 floods in Kenya.>
Logistical challenges
With more than 3.8 metric tons of relief supplies in the capital of Nairobi due for distribution, logistics would be daunting, with destinations between 400 km and 900 km away, across flood-affected areas, where severe damage to roads and bridges affected traffic routes. The distance between the distribution sites in some counties were also far apart and designating a central point for the beneficiaries was a challenge.
Through the UPS Foundation donation and their partner G4S, 17 trucks traversed more than 3,000 kilometers in total, reaching five counties. The distributions delivered relief kits to 4,200 families, for a total of 25,201 lives impacted (12,348 male and 12,853 female). The distributions were carried out in collaboration with implementing partners Kenya Red Cross and World Vision Kenya.
Overall, IOM Kenya’s flood response in 2024 in collaboration with partners reached 100,000 individuals. Distributions were carried out in coordination with local authorities, to support the most affected households. These included women headed households, and those who had lost their livelihoods.
“It was raining heavily; the rain and flood soaked our beds. We are afraid for our children, we have nowhere to take them. It rained again yesterday. We have no place to put our belongings, so we sleep on wet ground. I am grateful today for this distribution. Thank you, it was sincerely needed,” said Nadia, a mother from Tana River.
Distribution of relief kits to individuals heavily affected by the floods in Homa Bay, Kenya. Photo: IOM/ Moses Otunga, 2024.
Collaborative efforts
The UPS Foundation joined IOM in Nairobi for the departure of several trucks.
“We flagged off the trucks, heading to Tana River; other trucks will soon go to other counties, in partnership with IOM, to deliver relief items to those who are affected by the floods. Now while the floods have left the headlines, sometimes we forget that the people who have been affected are still experiencing the same impact on their lives,” said Caroline Kiunga, Global Humanitarian Relief Director, UPS Foundation.
“Today we are dispatching another round of shipments to flood affected families. We are delighted to partner with the UPS Foundation in IOM’s response to the ongoing floods in Kenya,” said Sharif Faisal, Head of Programs at IOM Kenya. “This partnership with the UPS Foundation is part of our approach to increase partnership with all stakeholders, including the private sector.”
IOM Kenya and the UPS Foundation flag off trucks for the delivery of relief kits to flood-affected communities. Photo: IOM Kenya, 2024.
“The devastating floods in Kenya remind us of the urgent need for swift, coordinated action to support affected families. USA for IOM is honored to partner with the UPS Foundation in this critical humanitarian response, leveraging their logistical expertise to ensure that essential relief supplies reach communities in need,” said Luciano Arroio, CEO a.i. of USA for IOM. “This collaboration embodies the power of partnerships in addressing the complex challenges posed by climate-related disaster.”
