As we wrap up the week and floods continue in parts of East Africa, here are the top stories from Africa. In Kenya, approximately 2 million people are in urgent need of food aid due to devastating floods.
Rwanda issues a flood warning for residents near rivers amidst heavy rains, emphasizing precautionary measures. Tourists are evacuated from Kenya’s Maasai Mara reserve as flooding and heavy rains persist.
Back in Kenya, the death toll from floods rises to 179, highlighting the severity of the situation. Meanwhile, Malawian leader calls for aid amid the challenges of drought and floods.
Finally, heavy rains and flooding in Tanzania lead to over 155 deaths, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Check out all the top stories below:
KENYA FLOODS DEATH TOLL RISES TO 179
“Floods have led to the unfortunate loss of 10 lives within the past 24 hours, raising the national flood-related death toll to 179 deaths. 20 more people have been reported missing putting it at 90, as 125 Kenyans have been injured,” Mwaura said.
According to the statement, 164 adults and 15 children have died, with 20 people reported missing and 125 injured.
Additionally, Mwaura mentioned that 1,127 households have been displaced, bringing the total number of displaced Kenyans to 31,341, with 195,011 individuals affected in total.
TOURISTS EVACUATED FROM KNYA’S MAASAI MARA RESERVE AMID FLOODING AND HEAVY RAINS
On Wednesday, tourists were airlifted from Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve due to flooding in over a dozen hotels, lodges, and camps caused by heavy rains across the country.
Tourist accommodation facilities were submerged when a river in Maasai Mara overflowed early Wednesday, a popular destination for the annual wildebeest migration.
More than 90 people were rescued by the Kenya Red Cross, while the Narok County government deployed two helicopters for evacuations in the vast conservation area.
KENYAN FLOODS: 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN NEED OF FOOD AID
On Tuesday, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) stated that approximately two million Kenyans urgently require food aid due to heavy rains causing widespread displacement and destruction across the country.
Beginning Monday afternoon, Kenya’s Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki has mandated the inspection of all public and private dams and water reservoirs within 24 hours to prevent future incidents, with the ministry planning to make recommendations for evacuations and resettlement following the inspection.
The Kenya National Highways Authority issued a warning about heavy traffic and debris, while flooding affects the wider East African region.
RWANDA ISSUES FLOOD WARNING FOR RESIDENTS NEAR RIVERS AMID HEAVY RAINS
Rwanda’s Water Resources Agency has warned that heavy rainfall could cause rivers to overflow, potentially flooding nearby communities.
The Rwanda Water Resources Board advised evacuation for residents in flood-prone areas following the Rwanda Meteorology Agency’s heavy rain forecast for early May.
“Residents living around these rivers should evacuate the risk zones and avoid the river banks during heavy rains,” the statement said.
As per the Ministry in charge, heavy rains in various parts of Rwanda over the last 10 days have claimed the lives of 10 people.
MALAWIAN LEADER CALLS FOR AID AMID DROUGHT AND FLOODS
On March 23, 2024, Chakwera declared a state of disaster in 23 out of the country’s 28 districts.
As a follow-up to that, he mentioned that $21.6 million of the total required amount has been mobilized, leaving a substantial funding gap.
Per the president, the funds are needed to increase food production, enhance national food reserves, and meet the urgent needs of the affected population from April 2024 to March 2025.
HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODING IN TANZANIA LEAD TO OVER 155 DEATHS
“The heavy El Nino rains, accompanied by strong winds, floods and landslides in various parts of the country, have caused significant damage,” Majaliwa told parliament.
The prime minister has urged residents in low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground and called upon local governments to ensure aid reaches those displaced from their homes, noting that over 51,000 households have been affected to some extent.
The prime minister further highlighted that “environmental degradation” played a significant role in the destruction, attributing it to factors such as deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, and unregulated livestock grazing.
ZIMBABWE TO IMPORT 1 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN TO EASE SHORTAGES AFTER A DROUGHT
Following Zimbabwe’s recent declaration of a drought disaster, the country requires importing approximately 1.1 million tons of grain to support food-insecure individuals until March next year, as stated by a government minister on Tuesday.
During a media briefing after a cabinet meeting, Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere reported that Zimbabwe has a grain shortfall of 1,108,425 tons at a consumption rate of 10 kg per person per month.
He mentioned that the private sector, possessing the capability to import 1 million tons between April 2024 and March 2025, can primarily fulfill the shortfall.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced a state of disaster, stating that the country needs over 2 billion U.S. dollars to address the drought, with cereal harvests dropping to about 868,273 tons from 2.3 million tons last year.
19 CHILDREN HAVE DIED DUE TO A SUSPECTED MEASLES OUTBREAK IN NIGERIA
At least 19 children have died from a suspected measles outbreak in Nigeria’s northeastern state of Adamawa, an official said on Sunday.
Reporters were informed on Saturday by Felix Tangwami, the commissioner for health in Adamawa, that over 200 children were affected by the suspected measles outbreak in Mubi North local government area.
Tangwami stated that official reports attributed the 19 fatalities to complications from the measles outbreak, prompting the swift mobilization of medical personnel and supplies to the affected areas.
AYRA STARR ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
On Tuesday, Don Jazzy, the owner of Mavin Records, used his platform to share news about Ayra Starr’s upcoming album release.
The highly anticipated sophomore album, titled “TYIAT21,” is scheduled to debut in May 2024.
The release date for the album has not been disclosed yet.
The album cover art has been revealed.
FG CONFIRMS NEW MINIMUM WAGE WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM MAY 1, 2024
Workers in Nigeria have been assured by the Federal Government that they won’t suffer any loss during the ongoing negotiations on the National Minimum Wage by the Tripartite Committee.
The implementation of the new minimum wage is set to begin on May 1, 2024.
Addressing the May Day celebration in Abuja, Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha acknowledged the delay in finalizing the new wage. She emphasized ongoing consultations to expedite the process.
Labor unions voiced their concern that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is inadequate to meet the needs of the average Nigerian worker.
BURNA BOY SETS NEW AFRICAN RECORD FOR HIGHEST-GROSSING VENUE IN THE U.S.
Continuing to make history, Nigerian megastar Burna Boy has achieved unprecedented success, securing the title for the highest-grossing arena concert by an African artist in the United States.
According to a post by Touring Data on X, Burna Boy’s 2024 concert at the TD Garden Arena in Boston grossed $1.593 million, surpassing his previous African record set at Madison Square Garden in 2022.
.@burnaboy earns the highest-grossing arena-concert by an African artist in US history with $1.593 million at TD Garden in Boston on March 2, 2024, surpassing his own numbers at Madison Square Garden in 2022.
— Touring Data (@touringdata) April 30, 2024
As part of his ‘I Told Them’ Tour, Burna Boy sold out the 19,000-capacity TD Arena Garden in Boston, contributing to the tour’s total gross of $11,659,531 from 11 reported shows out of the 22 stops.
KENYAN GOVERNMENT REJECTS TIKTOK BAN AND SUGGESTS STRICT REGULATIONS
The Kenyan government has cautioned lawmakers against banning TikTok, suggesting instead the implementation of stricter regulations to govern the platform.
Rather than advocating for a ban on TikTok due to content concerns, Kenya’s government has advised lawmakers to opt for stricter regulatory oversight.
A Kenyan citizen’s petition to ban the Chinese-owned platform is being considered by parliament, following accusations from the interior ministry of spreading propaganda, committing fraud, and distributing sexual content.
“Rather than imposing a ban on TikTok, the ministry proposes an adoption of a co-regulation model,” the Information and Communication Ministry said in an advisory to the panel, which was shared with Reuters on Thursday.
The ministry suggested that TikTok should screen content to ensure it aligns with Kenyan laws and submit quarterly reports to the government detailing the material removed.
HIGH COURT REJECTS BID TO SPEED UP ANTI-LGBTQ LAW PASSAGE
On Monday, April 29, a Ghanaian court dismissed a legal challenge against President Nana Akufo-Addo’s stance on the anti-LGBTQ bill.
Legislators enacted LGBTQ rights legislation in February, urging President Akufo-Addo to formalize it. However, he has deferred signing the bill until the Supreme Court weighs in on its constitutionality, citing concerns raised by rights activists and potential economic repercussions.
Should the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill be approved, it would mean imprisonment for up to three years for same-sex relationships, gender-affirming procedures, or simply identifying as LGBTQ+.
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