• The donation will form part of the in-kind food package that WFP to areas affected by drought.
• WFP is also treating malnutrition in mothers by providing nutritious flour for porridge and peanut-based supplement for children under five years.
Image: HAND OUT
Drought-stricken arid counties will receive Sh112.2 million vegetable oil from Russia through the World Food Programme.
The donation will form part of the in-kind food package that WFP is distributing to areas affected by drought.
WFP is treating malnutrition in mothers by providing nutritious flour for porridge and peanut-based supplements for children under five years.
“This contribution is very timely for Kenyan families grappling with acute food shortages in a country facing the prospect of a third successive failed rainy season, ” WFP’s Kenya country director Lauren Landis said.
“This year, because of the drought, we are providing support to families in our resilience programme for 10 months, instead of eight.”
Landis said WFP is supporting needy families to adopt new farming practices, nutritious and drought-resistant crops that help them to achieve a more sustainable future.
“This contribution from the Russian Federation is an important component of that package,” she said.
The National Drought Management Authority has said people living in 23 counties across the arid north, northeastern and coastal parts will be in urgent need of food aid over the next six months, after poor rains between March and May this year.
On September 8, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought a national disaster promising comprehensive drought mitigation measures.
Earlier in July, the Food and Agriculture Organization said Kenya needed Sh9.4 billion to mitigate the effects of the drought between July and November.
Speaking during the handover of the donation Russia Ambassador Dmitry Maksimychev said his country is a long-term and strategic partner of WFP and a friend of the Kenyan people.
“We are pleased that this gift from Russia will contribute to changing the lives of families by helping them through a difficult time while they work towards lasting solutions to the food security challenges in the arid and semi-arid areas,” Ambassador Maksimychev said.
In 2014 and 2019, Russia donated Kamaz trucks to support WFP’s logistics operations as part of their partnership.
Asal areas PS Micah Powon said the number of Kenyans who need immediate food assistance has risen to 2.5 million following two consecutive poor rainy seasons – the October to December 2020 rains and the March to May 2021 season.
“An estimated 368,000 people in some of the worst affected counties are in the ‘emergency’ phase of food insecurity, which is one step away from a catastrophe or famine-like conditions,” Powon said.
“WFP supports the government in many ways. Their resilience-building work is helping to change the lives of some of Kenya’s most vulnerable families. At this time, we value their ability to engage international support, such as this valued contribution from the Russian Federation.”
Landis said the support will help cushion vulnerable families, preventing further deterioration of their food accessibility and nutritional status.
“This intervention will protect more Kenyans from falling into a food and nutrition crisis in the coming months,” she said.
WFP distributes cash and food to 390,000 people across nine arid counties that are also engaged in resilience-building activities through livelihood diversification such as beekeeping, sweet potatoes and tomatoes, improved climate adaptation with the construction of water harvesting structures.
It has strengthened financial inclusion through access to micro-insurance and community savings groups.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris