The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has expressed concern about the growing humanitarian needs following months of droughts in parts of Kenya.
According to the IRC, about 2.1 million Kenyans will face acute food insecurity in the next 6 months due to poor rainfall and low crop production.
At the beginning of September, President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought a national disaster following a national rainfall report.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, the IRC detailed the magnitude of the challenge and called for urgent remedial actions to save lives. Mohammed El Montassir Hussein, IRC Kenya Country Director, likened the current drought to the great famine experienced in the East African Nation exactly a decade ago.
“This drought is reminiscent of the great famine of 2011 – we are very concerned about the growing humanitarian needs as people move out of the hometowns in search of places closer to water sources. Livestock are dying and men, women and children are going hungry and thirsty. Across the eastern and southern parts of the country, the rains received were as little as 51% of what is expected”.
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein
Major areas
According to the IRC Kenya Country Director, counties such as Lamu Turkana, Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Wajir, Garissa, Tana River, Kilifi and Taita Taveta received amounts;that were as little as 26% of normal rainfall. He grieved that Turkana and Garissa are both refugee-hosting counties which put the already vulnerable refugee;population at further risk, given planned closure of the camps in May 2022.
“Many people living in these areas rely heavily on crops as a source;of nutrition and livelihoods, and the droughts have resulted in below-average crop production. Household stocks are up to 66% below average for all crops. And this is worse in the coastal region. High food prices coupled with declining livestock prices have impacted negatively on households’ ability to buy basic necessities. Earlier than normal migration of up to 60% of livestock mainly in search of pasture;and water has intensified insecurity and conflict as well as high risk of livestock diseases”.
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein
Link to climate change
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein stated that climate change is the main driver of the erratic and recurring droughts. He also noted that climate change is partly responsible for the recent locust;outbreaks in East Africa, causing widespread food insecurity.
“Climate change also contributes to poor health outcomes. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are likely to exacerbate the spread of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. Lack of access to clean water will lead to higher incidence of diarrhea, a major cause of death;for children under 5. Coupled with the destruction of fragile ecosystems, the changing climate has a profound impact on the occurrence of viruses like COVID-19 that emerge from animals”.
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein
As such, he warned that “we must prepare for future climate emergencies, with communities given financial support and decision-making power”. Luckily, he highlighted that Local leaders, smallholder farmers and livestock herders already have the knowledge and experience necessary to confront this crisis. He averred that moving forward, the solution to the climate challenges must include women.
“Future response to climate change must also be feminist, recognizing the unique and disproportionate ways women are impacted. As farmers, carers or activists, women (and women-led organizations) are central to food security and effective climate change mitigation”.
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein
Need for a secure aid budget
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein further indicated that a secure aid budget and risk-informed financing that can be quickly deployed, is critical to mitigating the impact of future shocks. The budget, he said, should be fulfilled in line with the internationally endorsed target of 0.7 percent of Gross National Income (GNI).
“Investing now to tackle hunger and food insecurity resulting from climate shocks will save time, money and lives in the long run. We are in urgent need of funding to be able to meet basic;humanitarian needs and mitigate the impact of future shocks”.
Mohammed El Montassir Hussein
The IRC has been working in Kenya since 1992, providing health care, women’s protection, legal rights, economic;recovery & development and nutrition services to hundreds of thousands of refugees and their host communities. It also works with the Kenyan government to support health, nutrition and conflict resolution programs.
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