As prolonged drought turns to famine in Kenya, Christian Children’s Fund (CCF) is expanding its emergency assistance in Kenya and is appealing for the world to turn its attention to the slowly unfolding but massive disaster that is occurring in Eastern Africa.
The most vulnerable to fall prey to famine are children, the elderly and nursing mothers, especially among pastoralists and farmers in rural areas. As food reserves disappear, 11 million people are threatened by starvation in the region. This includes 3.5 million people in Kenya alone. Five hundred thousand of those affected by the food crisis in Kenya are children.
CCF is broadening its assistance in Kenya to provide more than 66,000 of the most vulnerable children with supplemental feedings and water to counter the malnutrition that is visible everywhere.
CCF is using its Early Childhood Development centers to monitor the health status of children, mothers and the elderly in 60 communities in the Eastern Province (Marsabit, Isiolo, Tharaka, Mbere, Meru S. Mwingi, Kitui, Machakos and Makueni) and in the Rift Valley Province (Turkana, Samburu, Kajiado, Narok, Baringo, Marakuet and Keiyo). Part of that monitoring includes deworming and distribution of vitamin A supplement.
And CCF will continue to rehabilitate, construct and maintain water sources for six districts (Isiolo, Tharaka, Mbere, Samburu, Kajiado and Turkana). In addition, CCF is providing basic health and hygiene instruction to help parents avoid diseases in children whose immune systems are weakened by lack of food and water.
The drought worsened in Kenya in 2005 when the short rains failed followed by erratic and unevenly distributed long rains. This resulted in deteriorated pastures and water sources. Erratic rains now are not expected to help the situation until June when newly-planted crops can be harvested.
The first signs of famine are often the carcasses of livestock that litter the roadsides. Tens of thousands of cattle and other livestock have died in Kenya. Kenyans prize their livestock because for many pastoralists, cattle are a sole source of livelihood and major source of food. To see animals abandoned or dead is a sure sign that a drought has worsened and famine is following on its heels.
Now, the obvious signs of malnutrition in children can be seen in all drought-affected communities. As a result of inadequate protein, children are showing the signs of
Kwashiorkor: bloated belly, swelling of the joints, hair thinning and discolored along with stunted growth.
“The famine does not seem to be getting the world’s attention perhaps because of the other major emergencies that have occurred during the past year. Yet this food crisis is affecting millions,” said CCF Emergency Director Christie Scott. “Because of so many other tragedies—the war in Iraq, the earthquake in Pakistan, the tsunami in Asia and Katrina’s devastation here at home—this major disaster is being overlooked. The world needs to react quickly or the result will be horrendous,” Scott added.
“The Government of Kenya declared an emergency in January, and has asked for the world’s help. Yet most people are unaware of what is happening. We have just a little time to react before the situation reaches unthinkable proportions,” Scott said.
CCF has been working in Kenya since 1960 where it assists approximately 1.4 million children and family members.
Christian Children's Fund (CCF) is a global force for children, helping the world's poorest and most vulnerable survive and thrive in order to reach their full potential. Celebrating 68 years, CCF is one of the world's oldest and most respected international child development organizations. CCF works in 33 countries, assisting more than 10.5 million children and family members worldwide, regardless of race, creed or origin.
