On April 29, the Old Kijabe dam, situated in the Mai Mahiu area of the Great Rift Valley region, burst due to heavy rainfall. At least 50 people have been killed, over 27,000 acres of agricultural land has been destroyed, and more than 4,000 livestock have perished.
Islamic Relief is working to provide cash assistance to over 6,000 flood-affected families as well as access to clean water through borehole rehabilitation across four counties including Tana River, Garissa, Wajir, and Mandera.
The threat of famine looms over countries across East Africa including Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia as conflict and climate-induced drought have left nearly 23 million people without food. Over 9.5 million livestock, a main source of food and livelihood for farming communities across the region, have perished. The struggle to find food and water has forced hundreds of thousands of people across the region to migrate in order to survive, further escalating the crisis. The impact of the war in Ukraine is also a particular cause for concern as food prices continue to soar, and 90% of the wheat, a staple in the region’s diet, comes from either Russia or Ukraine.
Islamic Relief is on the ground across Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia focusing on interventions similar to those in 2011 including food security and access to clean water and sanitation. Through efforts like financial assistance programs; provision of water and hygiene kits; and construction of sanitary facilities, it is our hope to bring dignity to our brothers and sisters across East Africa and let them know they have not been forgotten. Thanks to our supporters, we’re able to help make it possible.
Islamic Relief has been in Kenya since 1993. Since then, our focus has been on long-term development assistance to help pull vulnerable communities out of the cycle of poverty.
A few of our interventions include: