West Pokot landslide: Doctors airlifted as 10,000 displaced

Medical personnel were airlifted to inaccessible areas following the West Pokot landslide that has left over 40 people dead and 10,000 displaced.

According to the Governor John Lonyangapuo, two doctors were airlifted to Muino and Tamkal at around 3:48pm on Monday to attend to survivors.

“The over 15 camps housing the displaced persons are inaccessible through road after most sections of Kapenguria-Lodwar Highway and feeder roads were cut off,” he said.

The governor noted that a second batch of health workers would be airlifted later adding that a common ward had been set up at the county’s referral hospital for survivors of the West Pokot landslide.

He revealed that over 10, 000 people were affected and are sheltering in 15 camps within Parua (Batei Ward), Muino (Weiwei Ward) and Nyarkulian (Tapach Ward).

According to him, the number of people displaced is growing as they leave their homes for safer grounds following the ongoing heavy rains.

They had earlier received a team of 40 health specialists (doctors, clinical officers, nurses, counselors, nutritionists and pharmacists) from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital led by Dr Simiyu Taabu.

He noted that the county Emergency and Disaster team is on the ground to coordinate rescue operation but appealed for additional help.

“There is an urgent need for an upscale of humanitarian assistance…We have never experienced a disaster of such a massive magnitude.”

On Monday, Deputy President William Ruto visited survivors of the landslides at Kapenguria County Referral Hospital before heading to Muino.

He accompanied the Governor and other leaders to assess the situation.

The DP assured residents that the Government is mobilizing resources to help the victims of the West Pokot landslide.

“The Government will support all the affected families,” the Deputy President said adding that an extra helicopter would be dispatched to help in terms of logistics.

Additional report from DPPS