East Africa Drought (Kenya) - Action Against Hunger Response 2011

(26 July 2011) 2011 is proving to be the driest year since 1951 in many parts of east Africa as a result of an increasingly severe drought. Successive seasons of failed rains combined with increasing food prices conflict and limited humanitarian access have resulted in food insecurity water shortages and acute malnutrition rates well above emergency thresholds. Between 11 and 12 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance in Djibouti Ethiopia Kenya and Somalia. With CIDA support Action Against Hunger (ACF) is treating malnutrition and improving the nutritional status of children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women in drought-affected areas of Kenya. Working through both local health facilities and outreach programmes to communities without health facilities ACF is providing therapeutic treatment of acute malnutrition to the most vulnerable members of society. To ensure longer term resilience ACF expects to provide training to local health workers and conduct nutritional sensitization campaigns amongst the target communities.