Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - The food shortage persists in semiarid regions of Kenya, where millions are threatened by the consequences of another famine. The alarm was raised by Famine Early Warning Systems Network FEWS NET, a world wide network for drought control.
According to FEWS NET, despite rains in April this year, food security is not guaranteed especially with regard to the conditions of nomad subsistence shepherds.
“While key pastoral environmental indicators, including the availability of water, pasture and browse, have improved, pastoral food security remains precarious,” says the FEWS NET report, “Rates of malnutrition are unacceptably high in Moyale, Samburu, Turkana, Mandera and Marsabit districts.” Acute malnutrition rates range from 18 percent in Moyale to 30 percent in Marsabit District, well above the World Health Organization's emergency threshold of 15 percent.Poor nutrition has been compounded by an upsurge of diarrhoea in Mandera, Marsabit, Garissa, Wajir, Isiolo and Samburu districts, and measles in Wajir and Mandera districts, said FEWS NET.
During the severe drought November-March, there were substantial losses of livestock, eroding the productive asset base of pastoralists. Most drought-affected households are forced to rely on relief food. “Recovery for drought affected households will require substantial rebuilding of herds, a process likely to take several good seasons, which have become increasingly rare.” FEWS NET said.
In Eastern Kenya, Peter Mbogo of the Catholic Church-run Kamurugu Agricultural Initiative Project said famine is worsening in the arid Mbeere District. “Food relief is still being distributed in the four divisions, and the Catholic Church in collaboration with the World Food Program is feeding 70,382 persons through the emergency operation program,” he told CISA.
Also the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit is working with humanitarian agencies to distribute relief supplies and the diocese of Kitui, where 186,000 people rely on food aid. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/7/2006 righe 38 parole 421)
