AFRICA/KENYA - Adequate resources are lacking to deal equally with the pandemic as well as the severe drought

Wajir (Agenzia Fides) - Programs of recovery and resilience, food security (sustainable agriculture), supply of water, health and sanitation are among the priorities that the Camillian Disaster Service (CADIS) Kenya, International Foundation of the Camillians (see Fides, 8/8/2016), is about to promote in response to the emergency looming in Wajir West, northeastern part of Kenya where a severe drought has left heavy consequences for livestock and agriculture. According to what was sent to Fides, after a rapid assessment of needs, shortcomings such as food, livelihoods (agro-pastoral), water and health were identified. Drought has hit vulnerable populations, causing food insecurity and malnutrition. To address this criticality, the CADIS Kenya program aims to reduce the incidence of malnutrition by 50% through the distribution of food to 4,000 families, improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries by 50% through the distribution of food for livestock and mobile clinic.
The situation in the country has worsened, said Fr. Francis Maina, MI, CADIS Kenya Coordinator, "in the last two years, in Wajir, one of the arid and semi-arid regions (ASALS), where it has not rained, with a consequent serious impact on the livelihoods of the population, on agriculture, on livestock and health. Combining all this with the current effects of Covid-19 in the country, life becomes miserable, especially in this region".
The scarcity of food has led to high market demand and an escalation of prices beyond the average purchasing power of the people. The food security situation in the county is deteriorating every day due to a lack of water for human and livestock consumption.
This has contributed to massive livestock mortality, rising rates of malnutrition and health complications. Urgent action is needed to stop the situation. (AP/FM) (Agenzia Fides, 22/11/2021)

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