WASHINGTON (CN) — The United States is providing $1 million to support the humanitarian response to flooding in Kenya that has killed at least 170 people and displaced more than half a million.
The U.S. Agency for International Development, an independent body that oversees tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid, announced the allocation on Thursday. The severe flooding came on the heels of one of the country’s worst droughts on record.
“The United States extends our deepest sympathy to the people of Kenya suffering from catastrophic flooding,” USAID spokesperson Jessica Jennings said in a press release. “The unprecedented nature of these back-to-back disasters highlight the impact of climate change and the need to prepare for future shocks.”
The East African country of about 53 million people has faced devastating flooding since the onset of heavy rains last month. Tens of thousands have lost livestock, farmland and homes, and more than 600,000 people have been displaced.
Kenya’s military has been evacuating hundreds of people trapped by the floodwaters as meteorologists warn heavy rains will continue into the new year, the Associated Press reported.
The money will support emergency shelter assistance and “other relief commodities,” such as hygiene kits, USAID said.
The United States is one of Kenya’s biggest international donors, providing nearly $1.03 billion in fiscal 2022.
So far in 2023, the U.S. has provided Kenya more than $226 million in humanitarian aid.
“We will continue to stand with the Kenyan people as they work to recover from these floods and remain committed to helping them prepare for future disasters,” Jennings said. “We call on other donors to join us in stepping up to provide immediate aid during this difficult time.”
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