Horn of Africa Disaster Response 08/11-01/12

Kenya’s drought has been declared a national disaster.

Ten million livestock have died, crops have failed and its now 35 kms or more to the nearest water for people in the worst affected counties. Water sources remain unprotected and easily contaminated.

AMURT is currently setting up supplemental feeding for several thousand at-risk people (children under five, pregnant and lactating women and the elderly) in Samburu East District in the northern part of the country. Our recent community assessment (9 Aug.) identified further needs for water, sanitation and mobile clinics. We intend to develop with the community programs for remote food and water distribution, emergency bore holes, water source protection, child friendly spaces, mobile clinics and long-term capacity building through water harvesting, consumers’ cooperatives and a model farming project.