PRESS RELEASE : UK Increases Support for UNICEF Flood Relief Efforts [May 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 6 May 2024.

British High Commission announces £850,000 funding uplift to support flood relief efforts in Kenya.

• The funding will enable flood relief efforts by UNICEF across Kenya with a focus on the most affected counties including Nairobi, Tana River, Garissa, Lamu, Busia, Migori and Homabay.
• Flood relief will include the provision of cash assistance, WASH, health and nutrition services through integrated outreaches to displaced families.

The British High Commission Nairobi has announced an emergency funding uplift of over KES 140 million to support flood relief efforts in Kenya.

In the wake of devastating flooding across the country, the funding will go to UNICEF for emergency humanitarian relief to those most impacted by the extreme weather. The funding will enable the provision of cash assistance to approximately 6,900 households in the most affected counties. UNICEF will also provide urgently needed health, nutrition and sanitation services through integrated outreaches which includes the provision of safe water for drinking, temporary sanitation facilities, and hygiene kits to families displaced by the floods. UNICEF will also step-up its cholera prevention interventions to ensure the health and well-being of those affected are maintained and help prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases.

Shaheen Nilofer, UNICEF Kenya Representative, said:

“When emergencies hit, children are the most affected and they are our first priority. Through the support of the British High Commission, we will be able to provide emergency cash transfers and other essential services to the most affected families to help them cope with the effects of the heavy rains and flooding. We are grateful for the strong support of our donors as we work with the government and other partners in the flood response.”

Speaking about the emergency uplift, British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan, said:

The situation facing many Kenyans as a result of recent extreme weather and flooding is heart-breaking.

This urgent funding from the UK will help alleviate the suffering of those displaced and impacted by the crisis. We stand with Kenya in this emergency and continue to work closely with UNICEF, the Government of Kenya and other partners to do what we can to support the response.

In recent months, UK support to Kenya has already enabled much-needed cash assistance to 1,800 families in Tana River County, as well as healthcare and sanitation services.

Notes to Editors

• You can follow UK activity in Kenya on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@UKinKenya) and at www.gov.uk/world/kenya/news
• In addition to the £850,000 uplift for the flood response, the UK has contributed £3.4 million to UNICEF in the past year to support humanitarian relief efforts, bringing its total contribution to £4.3 million.