“Many Kenyans – facing a fifth consecutive season of failed or poor rains –
are already living on the edge and unless donors respond immediately, we fear
for the worst.”
– United Nations World Food Program Country Director Tesema Negash
Burbank, CA (February 20, 2006) – Another severe food crisis has befallen the
people of Africa, this time, affecting several countries in eastern and
southern Africa. In Kenya and Malawi alone, over 8 million people are facing
starvation unless they receive immediate food assistance.
Islamic Relief, an international relief and development organization working in
35 countries across the world, has been working in Africa since its inception,
and is establishing emergency food, water, and nutrition projects in Kenya
and Malawi.
Inadequate rainfall in 2005 resulted in the total failure of crops in many places
in Kenya. Now, over 3.5 million people, including over 500,000 children, are
facing starvation.
Islamic Relief is focusing its efforts in the northeastern Mandera district of
Kenya, where it will provide 13.5 million liters of clean drinking water to 10
fixed distribution centers in Mandera over the course of 3 months. Islamic
Relief aims to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with severe
malnutrition through the provision of quality care and nutritious food, and
follow up of moderately malnourished children and lactating mothers at the
community level. Ten supplementary feeding centers and one therapeutic
feeding center will be established in Mandera.
“The situation in Mandera is very desperate. Small children are already dying
from starvation. There is urgent need for water and food – the basics which
make the difference between life and death.”
– Mohammed Adan, Islamic Relief Kenya
In Malawi, the United Nations Children’s Fund estimates 4.9 million people are
in need of immediate food assistance.
The humanitarian situation in Malawi remains very serious due to a deadly
combination of chronic poverty, bad weather conditions, poor harvest, high
prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and an outbreak of cholera.
The current crisis is due primarily to years of successive droughts. Although
Malawi has one of the largest lakes in all of Africa, irrigation methods are
limited and changing climates and delayed rains have decimated the largely
agrarian economy.
Islamic Relief’s emergency projects in Malawi includes distribution of food and
clean water. In addition, Islamic Relief staff will be distributing seeds for
planting vegetation to address the long-term needs of the victims of the
famine.
Islamic Relief has allocated an initial budget of $250,000 and is targeting $1.2
million to provide emergency assistance for the starving populations in Kenya
and Malawi. Islamic Relief has previously assisted the people of Malawi during
the 2002 food crisis, and has a full-time office in Mandera, in northeastern
Kenya.
Islamic Relief staff in Kenya and Malawi will continue to monitor the situation
on the ground, and respond to the needs of the victims.