UN appeals for Sh16b to feed hungry Kenyans
By Nicholas.Waitathu, March 25, 2022
United Nations and other humanitarian agencies are mobilising $139.5 million (Sh15.95 billion) to feed 3.1 million Kenyans facing hunger in the country. The resources being sought under the Kenya Drought Flash Appeal programme launched in September 2021 is currently 11 per cent achieved even as the situation continues to worsen.
According to the United Kingdom-based humanitarian agency, Oxfam International, the drought situation in the Horn of Africa is worse compared to other years, likely to escalate further if the long rains fail.
Oxfam Kenya Country director John Kitui said community livelihoods in 23 Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) counties have completely collapsed with no agriculture activities taking place and farmers have equally lost livestock. The UN at the same time is further mobilising $6billion (Sh686.4billion) to feed millions people grappling with acute hunger in Ethiopia, Somalia and Southern Sudan.
“Communities in the ASAL region are facing a dire situation. The situation is worse in the sense that it is affecting three other countries -Ethiopia, Somalia and Southern Sudan,” Dr Kitui added. No communities can migrate to the other locality as the situation is the same,” he said.