Kenya is suffering from "the worst
drought in living memory". For the fourth successive season the rains
have failed, and the greatest impact is being felt in the remote and traditionally
arid areas of the North.
The population of Marsabit district,
one of the affected areas, are mainly pastoralist and therefore rely heavily
on livestock for income and food. The herds have been badly hit by the
drought, and have left to find pasture - many animals have already died.
The situation has had a devastating effect on the population.
A nutritional survey done by MEDAIR in June showed that 43 % of the children are suffering from malnutrition! If nothing is done quickly, it is possible that many of those children will die. WFP is already distributing food maize to the adult population but young children can not digest this food. MEDAIR will therefore distribute high-energy food to 7 thousand young children and other vulnerable people in two remote districts of Marsabit. This is backed up by more intensive feeding sites for very malnourished children in order to nurse them back to health.