Tragedy struck eastern Kenya when a boat capsized on the Tana River, causing the disappearance of many passengers. In a race against time, volunteers and residents mobilized late Sunday night to find the missing. The Tana River, the longest in the country, had overflowed its banks, leading to the tragic accident.
Authorities suspended search and rescue operations overnight, leaving the suspense hanging until the search resumed in daylight. The survivors, housed at the Buratana medical center in Garissa County, were torn between gratitude for being saved and anger at the authorities.
Some survivors openly expressed their frustration, pointing the finger at the management of the authorities. “Every month, you increase taxes, taxes, more taxes, but where do these collected funds go? Why don’t you take care of your people? How many people have survived today? Only 25 of us were rescued. Where are the others ? Why did they die? Because of government negligence,” Abubakar said.
Weeks of torrential rains and floods have already claimed the lives of 70 people in Kenya. Faced with this crisis, the government announced the mobilization of 4 billion Kenyan shillings (approximately 29 million dollars) for emergency relief operations. Furthermore, the reopening of schools has been postponed until May 6 in order to guarantee the safety of students.
This tragedy raises many questions about the preparation and capacity of the authorities to deal with natural disasters. The vulnerability of populations to bad weather calls for deeper reflection on adaptation to climate change and on the measures to take to protect citizens in the event of a disaster.
The solidarity and mobilization of volunteers and residents in these difficult times demonstrate the importance of unity in the face of adversity. It is essential to learn lessons from this tragedy to strengthen the resilience of communities and take effective measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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