|
Famine Fears in Kenya
Failed rains may leave up to two and a half million Kenyans dependent on food aid according to UN agency, The World Food Programme (WFP).
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that this season's rain failures could cause the number of people needing food aid in Kenya to more than double – from the current 1.1 million to 2.5 million – while appeals for funds have come up short. The lack of rainfall is likely to prompt a serious food security crisis over the first half of 2006. The experts said the October to December short rains were extremely bad in northeastern pastoral districts and rainfall in eastern marginal agricultural areas, where Excellent Development works, was erratic, patchy and 30 per cent below normal overall. Significant livestock deaths have been reported because of a lack of water, pasture and other factors, WFP said. Rain shortages are certain to impact some of the communities working with Excellent Development. “We are currently carrying out field assessments, which will be completed by the end of December, to establish exactly how many communites have severe food shortages. Those areas suffering from successive droughts who have only recently started dam building and terracing programmes are likely to be the worst affected,” said Excellent's Executive Officer, Simon Maddrell. “We are very concerned about the food shortages and also the fact that they are causing the able-bodied to leave their homes in search of food. Amongst other things, this means that farmers are unable to work on the long-term solutions including dams, terracing and tree-planting," added Simon. Excellent Development has a long-standing relationship with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), a US NGO, and have previously organised Food for Work Programmes utilising specific funding allocated to food relief. Excellent and MCC are working together to secure funding to react to the latest problems. "We are fully committed to Food for Work programmes as a means of helping to alleviate famine. Communities retain their dignity by working on the long term solutions to their problems, whilst at the same time keeping themselves and their family alive. Families are able to stay together and see the benefits of their labour both today, tomorrow and long into the future," commented Joshua Mukusya, who manages Excellent's work in East Africa. On a positive note, Simon emphasised that not all communities were badly affected. "The most encouraging news at this difficult time has been of Kangemi in Makueni District who were part of the Food for Work programme in 2004. The benefits of the dams and terracing completed during that time have come to fruition. Food and water shortages have massively decreased, leaving them less vulnerable and even able to earn money from their crops," added Simon. Semi-arid communities in Africa will always face the cyclical challenges of drought, but Kangemi shows how communities can, and do, make significant improvements through their own efforts. Related Articles:
Season of Many Hungers - 19th December 2005
news summary... |
