Oxfam Compensates 300 Flood-Ravaged Households in Tana River County.

Over 300 households in Kenya's Tana River county have received a total of $91,264 (Ksh.14.1 million) as compensation for losses incurred during recent floods. The compensation, facilitated by Oxfam in partnership with Britam and Swiss Re, aims to alleviate the immediate challenges faced by families displaced by floods in Mororo and Madogo villages.

The floods, which ravaged the region earlier this year, destroyed homes, crops, and livestock, leaving many families in dire need of assistance. Oxfam, through its partner Arid Lands Development Focus (ALDEF), partnered with Britam to launch the Index-Based Flood Insurance (IBFI) program in Tana River in May 2023. The program provides affordable flood insurance to vulnerable communities living along the Tana River, enabling them to recover more quickly from flood disasters.

"The recent floods in Tana River caused widespread devastation, leaving many families without homes, food, and livelihoods," said John Ambutho, Oxfam's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. "This compensation, made possible through the IBFI program, will provide much-needed relief to the affected families and help them rebuild their lives."

Under the IBFI program, Oxfam pays an annual premium of Ksh.7,000 for each insured household. When predetermined flood thresholds are met, as measured by satellite data and automated water gauges, the program pays out a pre-agreed compensation amount to the insured households. In the recent case, each of the 300 insured households received Ksh.47,000.

"We are pleased to see the IBFI program working as intended to support vulnerable communities in times of need," said Britam's Group Managing Director, Tom Gitogo. "This is a testament to the power of innovative insurance solutions in building resilience and protecting livelihoods in disaster-prone areas."

The successful implementation of the IBFI program in Tana River is seen as a model for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in other parts of East Africa. Oxfam and its partners are committed to scaling up the program to reach more vulnerable communities and build their resilience to the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters.

Quotes:

• "The recent floods in Tana River caused widespread devastation, leaving many families without homes, food, and livelihoods," - John Ambutho, Oxfam's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
• "This compensation, made possible through the IBFI program, will provide much-needed relief to the affected families and help them rebuild their lives." - John Ambutho, Oxfam's Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.
• "We are pleased to see the IBFI program working as intended to support vulnerable communities in times of need," - Britam's Group Managing Director, Tom Gitogo.