UNICEF donates relief items to flood victims in western Kenya

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) today donated life-saving drugs and other emergency relief items, including cooking utensils and mosquito nets, to those people most affected by recent floods in western Kenya, which left thousands homeless.

"UNICEF's key concern at present is to prevent avoidable deaths and illness among the many children affected in these areas," said Maniza Zaman, an official from the UN agency. "We are closely monitoring the nutritional and health status of the flood-affected children and are in the process of planning for a subsequent deployment of relief items."

The agency gave $17,500 worth of oral re-hydration salts, intravenous fluids, de-worming syrups, anti-cholera drugs, mosquito nets and cooking sets to benefit victims in areas classified as critical. The consignment will be immediately air lifted to the most needy areas, which have been cut-off by heavy rains that washed away parts of the only road.