The U.S. government, through USAID is providing Sh 600 million to treat about 50,000 malnourished children under five years of age in the coming months.
A dispatch from the US embassy stated, “UNICEF and the World Food Program (WFP) each received Sh300 million to procure and distribute specialized products made in Kenya for the treatment of acute malnutrition in children.”
With a second consecutive season of below-average rainfall, Kenya is facing a deteriorating drought situation and reduced food access for households in 21 of the 23 arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) counties.
Approximately 1.6 million people in Kenya are in urgent need of food assistance as at June 2019, according to the National Drought Management Authority and the Kenya Food Security Steering Group.
This is a 128 percent increase from the food-insecure population in mid-2018.
In response to deteriorating conditions, USAID partners are also working to provide affected populations with food, cash support, water, sanitation, hygiene services, and livestock assistance to help protect livelihoods.
Beyond food and nutrition assistance, USAID and its partners also work to meet other emergency needs when disaster strikes in Kenya, including emergency health services, safe drinking water, hygiene kits, and other relief items to help people facing manmade or natural disasters.
USAID continues to work with the Government of Kenya and humanitarian partners to ensure a sustained commitment to early action and preparedness interventions to mitigate the effects of drought.
By Peter Gitonga
