Promoting Inclusive Response to Food Crisis in Kenya
Julius Kamwara, 46, tends to his crop of sorghum and lentils which will likely fail in Tharaka North, Kenya, CBM/Hayduk
A devastating climate change-induced drought is affecting a major part of Kenya – one of the countries in the Horn of Africa. The global COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath had worsened the situation. Protracted regional conflict and insecurity situation, as well as the expected aggravation of food insecurity and malnutrition due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine made it difficult for the governments to overcome by themselves. International humanitarian community have underscored the situation as emergency.
So, how extreme is the situation?
Today, 23 million people in Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya are facing extreme hunger and according to Oxfam and Save the Children report 1 person could be dying of hunger every 48 seconds. This is 1800 persons a day. This crisis is of huge proportions.
In Kenya, more specifically 3.5 million people are facing starvation and the drought has been declared a national emergency. Between 80% and 90% of reservoirs and dams are drying up in Turkana, Kenya's largest and northwesternmost county. It is also one of the warmest and driest.
How about the livelihoods? Are the children at school?
The communities here can no longer survive on farming, fishing, or livestock. According to OCHA, many children in Turkana and across Kenya’s drought-affected regions are forced to drop out of school to engage in labor or survival activities to support their families. Girls walk long distances to help their mothers fetch water or sell firewood and charcoal. Boys migrate to other areas, seeking pasture for livestock. The deteriorating drought situation is perpetuating conflicts over diminishing natural resources in livestock concentration.
What is the situation of women, persons with disabilities and the marginalized groups?
The drought has exacerbated the existing vulnerabilities and social marginalization of women and persons with disabilities and has induced displacement. An ongoing TCD-WFP partnership research shows that persons with disabilities experience considerable barrierss to accessing adequate food, good nutrition, and being agents of food production; and in humanitarian crises, these barriers are amplified.
Across both Turkana and Meru counties, where the situation is extreme, people with disabilities, the elderly, widows, single parent or child-headed households are at risk. They are most likely to be seriously affected by increasing food prices and the decreasing variety and availability of food and water. Undernutrition, pre-existing conflict and other issues in both counties, is now further exacerbated by the current conditions.
Drought also places additional burdens on women in terms of their responsibilities around household food consumption, water collection, and household care responsibilities, which expose them to greater risks. Especially the caregivers of persons with disabilities had been severely hit. The drought situation has amplified the marginalization of persons with disabilities. Large-scale humanitarian assistance and livelihood support ensuring disability inclusion are urgently required to cover current needs in northern and eastern Kenya, and assistance should be sustained throughout 2022.
What CBM Ireland is doing?
We are aiming at ensuring that affected communities, including persons with disabilities and their organisations (OPDs), and poor and marginalised people have access to food assistance and safe humanitarian services.
How are we doing that?
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and has been at the forefront of emergency response in Kenya for decades. The movement has a previous history of implementing similar projects with CBM support, therefore has an understanding of inclusive humanitarian action. Having previously implemented Drought response, Flood response, and Disability mainstreaming in emergencies projects under CBM, the partner is the best placed to lead this implementation. Our local country team will work together with Red Cross Kenya to reach out the communities in need.
Our intervention:
CBM’s interventions aim to provide immediate relief to affected communities - The key Activities include Inclusive Cash Assistance, Food Distribution, Assessments and referrals for assistive devices, eye health services, and psychosocial support.
CBM Ireland received a generous support from Electric Aid to support our efforts to provide an inclusive food response for the affected communities. The support will help us to provide food baskets for those who need food immediately, and mobility devices to improve the mobility and resilience of affected communities.