More Kenyans are quickly drifting into starvation as the ravaging drought worsens in Laikipia, Tana River and Tharaka Nithi counties which have now progressed into the alarm phase.
The National Drought Management Authority says the situation is worsening across 20 of the 23 arid and semi-arid counties.
“The drought situation in Laikipia, Tana River, and Tharaka Nithi counties has progressed to the alarm phase. The three counties have joined Isiolo, Mandera, Garissa, Turkana, Wajir, Samburu, and Marsabit, bringing the number of counties in the alarm phase to 10,” NDMA said in its early warning bulletin.
The number of those in need of humanitarian assistance is projected to increase to 4.35 million by October from the current 4.1 million people.
The drought bulletin attributed the continued drought to the failure of four consecutive seasons with the forecast for the October-November-December short rains seasons predicting the likely of fifth season under performing.
The Kenyan Meteorological department weather outlook for the short rains season indicated that poor rains are expected in October and November.
“The October-November-December 2022 short rains is expected to be poorly distributed, both in time and space. This is mainly during the onset month of October and the peak month of November. The OND 2022 short rains season constitutes an important rainfall season in Kenya particularly in the Central and South-eastern regions of the country,” said MET.
This comes even as the World Health Organization (WHO) Foundation appealed for Sh22.5 billion for health emergency to drought affected people in the Horn of Africa.
WHO Foundation chief executive officer Anil Soni said the funds will be used for nutrition care, essential medicines, prevention and control of infectious diseases and vaccinations.
He said more than 60 million people are facing extreme food shortages and malnutrition caused by drought, conflict and rising international food prices.
“Urgent support is needed to prevent loss of life from hunger and disease. Money raised will fund life-saving emergency nutrition care, essential medicines, prevention and control of infectious diseases, vaccinations, and increase the capacity of health workers,” Soni said.
“WHO is responding to the resulting health crises to ensure people can access health services, to get treatment for severe malnutrition and protect them from disease. The WHO Foundation urges anyone who can, to donate to the Health Emergency Appeal, to ensure WHO can continue their important work delivering vital healthcare operations to prevent starvation and disease and save lives,” he said.
NDMA drought bulletin indicated that 10 counties namely; Isiolo, Mandera, Samburu, Kajiado, Tharaka Nithi, Turkana, Wajir, Laikipia, Tana River and Marsabit are under alarm drought phase.
“Embu, Garissa, Kitui, Makueni, Meru, Narok, Nyeri, Taita Taveta, Kwale and Kilifi are in alert drought phase, while the remaining three counties including Baringo, West Pokot and Lamu are in normal drought phase,” the authority said.
It further revealed that worsening household food security situation has resulted in acute malnutrition rates across the counties.
Over 942,000 cases of children aged 6-59 months are acutely malnourished and 134,000 cases of pregnant or lactating women who are acutely malnourished are in need of treatment.
The authority has recommended for the provision of food assistance and scaling up of cash transfers targeting households which are currently food insecure as a result of the prevailing drought stress.
It further called for provision of livestock feeds and supplements, treatment and vaccination against emerging livestock diseases, water trucking interventions as well as rehabilitation and maintenance of water facilities.
NDMA has also recommended provisions for severe acute malnutrition - Ready to Use Therapeutic Food, and supplies for moderate acute malnutrition - Ready to Use Supplementary Food.
This is in addition to provision of food to subsidise school fees in boarding secondary schools, coordination of peace and security activities in conflict prone counties, and support to County Steering Groups to effectively coordinate drought response activities.
