(Security): Kenya in Trouble as Drought worsens amid Insufficient Rain

 

A drought in northern Kenya is worsening, despite the country receiving sporadic rainfall in November, which weather forecasters say will not be sufficient. Chris Ngetich, a climate scientist from the Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD), in a statement noted that “in most parts of the country, we're likely to receive depressed rainfall, and increased probabilities (of such rainfall) are likely over the eastern and northern sectors.”

KMD has said that during October, November and December, most areas are likely to see a generally poor distribution of rain but noted that despite the lack of sufficient rainfall, isolated storms capable of causing flash floods are possible.

In northern Kenya, locals have taken to digging for drinking and cooking water underground in dangerous sand pits that they dig in dry riverbeds.

The United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, released a statement Tuesday with other humanitarian aid partners calling for $472.6 million in aid in 2023 to respond to the drought to help 4.3 million drought-affected people.

“In pastoral areas, herders have already lost 2.5 million livestock as a result of the drought. Early projections indicate the possibility of a sixth consecutive poor rainy season from March to May 2023,” the UN warned.

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday appealed for help to aid drought-ravaged communities across Kenya as he received wheat aid for drought victims from Ukraine.

Despite the war with Russia, Ukraine donated 25,000 metric tons of wheat to Kenya on Tuesday. Gachagua said the wheat will be distributed to counties severely affected by the ongoing drought. He further noted that, their resources cannot be sufficient to address the challenges of climate change. Therefore, the government is appealing for assistance to address the resource gap in implementing drought interventions to minimize losses and catastrophic farming yields.

According to the UN, at least 4.35 million people in Kenya go to bed hungry, and approximately 5 million people do not have enough water for drinking, cooking or cleaning due to the drought.

Communities in the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, are bracing for the worst drought in decades as they prepare for a fifth consecutive dry season. Across the three countries, over 36 million people are affected and this is dire.

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