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U.N., Kenya appeal for aid as drought decimates livestock

Jeevan Vasagar

Failure of rains puts 3.5 million at risk of starvation

Nairobi: The United Nations and the Kenyan Government on Wednesday made a joint appeal for food aid worth more than $220 million to fight starvation in the country's arid north-east region, where the worst drought in 22 years has decimated livestock.

Nomadic herders who depend on cattle and camels for their livelihoods have been brought to the brink of disaster by the failure of five successive rainy seasons. In the worst-affected districts, about a third of people are already receiving food aid, but according to the U.N.'s world food programme, aid efforts need to double during the coming weeks to meet the needs of 3.5 million people.

The areas hit hardest are in northern, north-eastern and eastern Kenya. The crisis has hit despite a surplus harvest in western Kenya. Those in stricken areas cannot afford to buy food from other regions, where farmers are more likely to export their food to neighbouring countries. Tesema Negash, country director of the World Food Programme in Kenya said: ``To save lives in the weeks and months ahead it is essential that both cash and contributions of food are made today.''

Malnutrition levels among the under-fives in the worst-affected areas are reported to be as high as 30 per cent, double the level required to declare an emergency. Gezhegn Kebede, head of Oxfam in Kenya, said: ``When malnutrition rates reach these levels, unless there is swift intervention, growing numbers of people will become severely malnourished and the mortality rate will rapidly accelerate. We can still stop this turning into a full-blown crisis, but only if donor Governments respond quickly and generously.''

Humanitarian crisis

Failure to quickly fund the aid effort could lead to the worst humanitarian crisis since Kenya gained independence from Britain in 1963, Oxfam said.

Drought has also affected southern Somalia and Ethiopia, making it difficult for herdsmen to move their livestock in search of water and grazing. Another poor rainy season is forecast between March and June this year, raising the prospect of a worsening crisis in the next few months. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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