17th November, 2011
AMREF Drought Response report reveals positive results and projects yet more progress in coming months
Over the past three months numerous regions across Kenya continue to experience drought, particularly in the North and Eastern areas of the country, as many south eastern regions face serious food deficits.
Earlier in the year the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG), estimated that between 3 – 3.5 million people are affected by the drought and many are still suffering, as failed crops and increasing food prices lead to shortages in food and water supplies for people and their livestock.
As AMREF has previously reported, the country has recently welcomed the ‘short rains’ season, but flash flooding caused by in the sudden influx of water has rendered many roads inaccessible, complicating AMREF’s relief work. The tropical climate also increases the spread of waterborne diseases and the wet conditions provide an optimum habitat for mosquitos.
To combat this new challenge, AMREF’s relief work has incorporated provision of mosquito nets to help prevent a rise in malaria cases and the distribution of chlorine tablets for water purification.
Despite this AMREF’s short-term relief measures have seen great results, as rural populations begin to turn the corner. Some of AMREF’s Drought Response Team’s recent achievements and planned activities include:
- Across 7 Kenyan regions a total of 5,326 people have benefitted from the food supplements AMREF has provided.
- In Wajir 6,316 households gained received aqua tabs to purify water. A total of 18 shallow wells are in construction in Lamu, Turkana, Matinyani, Mutitu, Kajiado and Samburu Central which will benefit 5,250 people.
- 19 water storage tanks will provide clean water for over 3,800 people in the communities of Turkana, Samburu Central, Mutitu, Matinyani and Kajiado.
The AMREF UK team has been supporting drought response in the rural community of Loitokitok, situated in the South of Kenya. So far we have:
- Procured 300 bags of maize and beans and almost 3000kgs of Unimix.
- 1000 litres of vegetable oil and has been distributed.
These provisions will benefit a total of 6,124 people in Loitokitok. 77 malnourished community members including children under 5, the elderly and pregnant and lactating mothers will be enrolled in the nutrition supplementation program for a period of 3 months to bring them back to restored health.
AMREF will continue to support drought-ridden communities, helping to bring them back to health in their time of need.
But this is only one aspect of our work. AMREF will also be there once the drought is over, and we continue to fundraise for medium and longer term interventions.
Our goal is to bring lasting health change to Africa and we strive to implement sustainable solutions in order to help communities deal with climate, health and development challenges to continually improve their standard of living and health services.