MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday reported there were no Filipino casualties of the deadly floods that battered the southern part of Kenya in the past two months, which killed at least 100.
The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi said it is coordinating with members of the Filipino community under its jurisdiction to ensure that they are all safe and accounted for.
“Our kababayans in Nairobi are safe and we will continue to monitor the situation,” Ambassador Uriel Norman Garibay said.
According to local reports, heavy rains which began in March continue to affect counties in southern Kenya.
Damage to major community water systems and shallow wells have affected the counties of Garissa, Makueni, Isiolo, Tana River and Kilifi.
At present, DFA said there are 346 Filipinos in Kenya. Some are permanent migrants while the rest are temporary migrants who work for the United Nations or are professionals, skilled workers and missionaries.
Many of them are working in construction, mining, agri-business, educational institutions, and multinational companies.
Meanwhile, DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano extended condolences to the victims of the floods, shortly after arriving in Saudi Arabia for a two-day visit.
“We say our prayers for those who lost their loved ones in this very unfortunate event,” he said in a statement.
“We also pray for the speedy recovery of those who lost their homes and crops,” he added. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)
