Families displaced by the floods in Bunyala, Busia County, have expressed concern about increased promiscuity in evacuation camps.
At the same time, some couples living in the camps have complained about a lack of privacy in the shelters, which hinders them from enjoying conjugal rights with their partners.
Flooding in the county caused by torrential rains has displaced more than 600 families.
While there have been reports of sexual harassment of young girls, some couples claim they are unable to have romantic relationships because they share rooms with their adult children.
“We are going through a very devastating moment in the camps. Adult men are harassing us with sexual advances. Many of us will come out of these camps with children if nothing is done,” said one of the teenage girls in the camps.
According to Mr. James Matheri, bedroom issues have become a major problem for most couples, threatening to end marriages.
“While some married couples are facing nightmares as they perform nightly duties with their partners in the overcrowded camps, others are having extra-marital affairs with their neighbours in the camps. Very unpleasant things are happening in these camps,” said Mr Matheri.
Families from various backgrounds share classrooms with their children and neighbours, exposing minors to sexual abuse.
Godfrey Hamala, chairperson of the Bunyala sub-county flood committee, said there were concerns about the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis and gonorrhoea, as well as an outbreak of malaria and water-borne infections in the camps.
“Since the victims are mixed up and have no privacy with their spouses, some men are engaging their female neighbours in the nearest thicket and even in toilets to quench their thirst,” said Mr Hamala.
Mr Hamala blames the government for failing to control the perennial flooding in Budalang’i.
“We want permanent dykes and dams to be built along the Nzoia River to control the overflowing water. This is the only solution to our problems, but the government is reluctant to help us,” he lamented.
Poor sanitation, lack of bedding, food and clean water were reported in the camps as displaced families appealed to both the county and national governments to come to their aid.
Victims in the camps on school grounds are now worried about their next move when schools reopen for the second term next week.
They say they feel safer in the camps because they don’t have homes to return to.
