The Minister for Transport, Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, yesterday appealed to well-wishers to come forward and help Kyela District residents whose lives have been disrupted by floods in the wake of the ongoing rains.
He told a news conference in the city that Kyela is in a dire need of medicines that would cost about Sh22 million to treat waterborne diseases.
“We need medicines, 683 tonnes of carbohydrates, 113 tonnes of proteins and two fibre plastic boats to transport pupils to school,” said Dr Mwakyembe. He added that Kyela residents would also require 335 tents, 6790 blankets and 670 nets. “We have also requested emergency help from the Prime Minister’s Office’s disaster management department,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister was to meet Kyela well-wishers at Tamal Hotel yesterday in a bid to seek ways of raising funds to enable 1,785 people who are staying in camps to go back home.
“These people are living in camps after their houses were affected by the floods; this has affected pupils and we need to help out so that schools can reopen,” said Minister Mwakyembe.
He added that Tanroads officials are presently in Kyela to evaluate the damage, noting further that the death toll has risen to seven people.