The European Union Supports over 12,500 People Affected by devastating floods
The EU funding will bolster the efforts of the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) in delivering much-needed relief, including food aid, emergency shelter, clean water, healthcare, and sanitation support to over 12,500 flood victims. The operation also emphasises protection, gender inclusion, community engagement and accountability. Additionally, the KRCS has activated its flood response plan to strengthen preparedness and response efforts for future emergencies.
Kenya Red Cross 2026
The emergency response project will run for four months, ending in July 2026. The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The onset of the 2026 March–May (MAM) long rains triggered widespread flooding across 28 counties in Kenya. The most affected counties included Migori, Kisumu, Siaya, Busia, Kajiado, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Homa Bay, Makueni, Turkana, and Nairobi. The capital, Nairobi, was among the hardest hit. The floods submerged farms, contaminated water supplies, caused extensive damage to homes and infrastructure, and led to widespread displacement across the city and other parts of the country.
Background
The EU together with its Member States is the world's leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity towards people in need around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and human-made crises. Through its European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the EU helps millions of victims of conflicts and disasters every year. Headquartered in Brussels and with a global network of field offices, the EU assists the most vulnerable people, based on humanitarian needs.
The European Union is signatory to a €12 million humanitarian delegation agreement with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Federation's Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF). Funds from the DREF are mainly allocated to “small-scale” disasters – those that do not give rise to a formal international appeal.
The Disaster Response Emergency Fund was established in 1979 and is supported by contributions from donors. Each time a National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society needs immediate financial support to respond to a disaster, it can request funds from DREF. For small-scale disasters, the IFRC allocates grants from the Fund, which can then be replenished by the donors. The delegation agreement between the IFRC and ECHO enables the latter to replenish the DREF for agreed operations (that fit within its humanitarian mandate) up to a total of €12 million.