Halima plays with her daughter outside their newly found home

By Kowthar Abdi and Marion Kwambai

Save the Children in Kenya is implementing an Anticipatory Action (AA) project as part of the wider Evidence Base Anticipatory Action in Wajir and Garissa Counties. The project seeks to use robust empirical data and a strong monitoring, evaluation and learning to enhance evidence-based planning for early action.

The 36-month project targeting five livelihood zones in the two counties intends to achieve changes on both disaster and crisis response systems and communities’ vulnerability and resilience to adverse effects of climate change.

To protect the lives, rights and dignity of children now and in the future, there needs to be a fundamental shift in our ways of working. AA offers a platform to address humanitarian crises in a proactive rather than reactive way ultimately saving lives and livelihoods. The model facilitates dynamic thinking about risk, improves linkages across humanitarian, development and peacebuilding sectors.

According to flood assessment reports done by County Government’s and partners, heavy rains was recorded in many parts of the counties following the onset of the short rains that started on the first week of November which led to flash floods.

In Garissa County, 19,218 households, which is approximately 115,308 people, were affected by the floods while 7,278households were displaced from their homes and had to seek temporary shelter in Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) Camps. Garissa Township Ward was the most affected with seven IDP camps hosting 4,372 households.

Halima resides in Bula Kamor village within Garissa Township sub-county, situated along the banks of the River Tana, an area prone to flooding. Her narrative is one of adversity, illustrating the harsh realities faced by communities in the area. As a mother of six, reliant solely on the sale of livestock milk for sustenance and income, Halima's struggles paint a bleak picture.

"We were having supper, around 8:10 PM, when we heard noises outside. Investigating, we discovered water advancing towards our home. In no time, my house was submerged in mud and water, washing away nearly all our belongings – mattresses, blankets, shoes, and clothes for the children. With our surroundings inundated and roads impassable, our priority became survival.

Halima's previous house destroyed by the floods.

We salvaged what we could, wading through sewage-infested waters, and evacuated to higher ground under the cover of night. Carrying my two young children and elderly, disabled parents on my back, we trudged through the inaccessible roads. Exhausted and drained, the journey to safety was arduous. However, with assistance from Save the Children, we found a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos."

Save the Children's intervention proved invaluable. Halima received Kes. 69,000 in aid, which she utilized to procure essential items such as mattresses, food, shoes, clothes, and mosquito nets for her children. Additionally, she secured accommodation in a two-bedroom dwelling at a safer elevation, allocating remaining funds for the repair of her flood-damaged home and toilet. The relief extended by Save the Children not only ensured immediate relief but also facilitated long-term recovery, instilling a sense of stability and security for Halima and her family.

Forecast-Based Action (FBA) and Anticipatory Action (AA) serve as proactive strategies to mitigate the impact of crises. By leveraging predictive data and pre-positioned resources, organizations like Save the Children aim to safeguard vulnerable communities, preserving lives, livelihoods, and dignity. Cash assistance forms a pivotal component of these efforts, empowering affected families to address their most pressing needs and fostering resilience in the face of climatic adversities.

In Garissa County, Save the Children's unconditional cash transfers have provided a lifeline for 356 households, aiding in bolstering food security and alleviating the underlying causes of malnutrition. Leveraging mobile money platforms for efficient delivery, this initiative underscores the organization's commitment to responding swiftly and effectively respond to emergent challenges, ensuring that no family is left behind in times of crisis.