America donates Ksh 3.3bn to help through the ongoing drought in Northern Kenya

In a bid to calm the unpleasing situation and condition experienced by Kenyans especially those that live in the Northern parts, The United States of America has donated sh. 3.3bn to curb and address the drought situation.

Sources have up fronted Turkana, East Pokot, Mandera, Samburu and West Pokot counties as the most severely affected areas due to the ongoing drought, and the people need immediate help to be able to survive.

It is reported according to officials that, the donation from America is going to right away be used to cater for immediate people’s basic needs and services like food, sanitation and hygiene materials, water and nutrition.

“The United States of America is helping to feed the starving children and families who are suffering as a result of the prolonged drought,” explained Ambassador Robert Godec in a statement on Tuesday.

Basing on the survey as released on Monday, at least 70,000 children are severely malnourished in Kenya, and need great help.

Ambassador Robert Godec also explained that the funds will help to support Kenyan efforts to build resilience in the most vulnerable communities, improve the availability and access to water resources.

“The overall nutrition situation continues to deteriorate and has worsened in some counties especially those of Turkana and some others,” Patrick Mweki, the director of Action Against Hunger for Kenya and Somalia, was reported as saying.

The survey made, as reported from different sources, showed that in Turkana alone, severe malnutrition rates went up from 2.3 % to 8.3 %, nearly in just one year.

In April 25 2017, a report was written showing thousands of live stock that pastoralists had lost due to poor rains.

According to the records, the US government has so far donated Ksh9.5 billion this year in total, all in the name of helping out the suffering population in the Northern parts of Kenya.

The US additional funding is reported part of the USAID’s ongoing support to the Kenyan government’s drought response coordinated by the National Drought Management Authority.

Correspondent: Shamilah Namuddu