Update on Horn of Africa drought, as famine worsens

In September 2011, the UN declared famine in a new area of Somalia, and warned that up to 0.75 million people could die. Tens of thousands have already lost their lives.

NEW Food relief a lifeline for children in Kenya

Horn of Africa appeal update - October 2011 (PDF)

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Pastor thanks supporters for help already received

In an interview in late August, Pastor Musa of our regional partner Mchungaji Kundi Moja (MKM) shared his deep appreciation for your support and prayers for families affected by the drought in Kenya and famine in neighbouring Somalia.

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Somalis queue for food aid

Pastor Musa is so thankful for how you have helped his ministry reach people at risk of starvation, including the Muslim communities where MKM has been serving for more than 20 years.

View slideshow with more photos of relief distribution.

With the drought worsening, what are conditions like now in Kenya?

Many Somali people at risk of starvation are crossing in desperation from Somalia into Kenya in search of food and water - only to find the drought situation in eastern Kenya itself is deteriorating.

“On a recent visit to one town, our relief team reported the visible effects of the drought," Pastor Musa described. "Everywhere there were dead animals on the side of the road and plants and trees without a single green leaf. The water table is dropping and they are on the verge of disaster if the water dries up.

"It is only a matter of time before this area will look like Somalia. Unless we take action now to get more water to the people, many more lives will be lost.

“This town, with a population of nearly 50,000, is littered with wells, yet at the moment only a few still reach the water table," continued Pastor Musa. "The chief of a nearby village showed us a well that cannot be used because animals have gotten sick and died after drinking water from it. This may be from contamination or because of an increased salt content as the amount of water decreases."

The death of his more than 800 cows has left Ahmed, 55, a devastated man. In just two months, his entire herd was swept away by drought as he watched helplessly. Ahmed is among the hundreds of former livestock owners now roaming the streets after fleeing their villages.

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'The drought is getting worse by the day and it is becoming a great concern for the government,’ said one local administrator. ‘We are doing everything at our disposal and we urge the international community and well wishers to step in and help starving families,’ he said. He added that the last dam holding water in the district 'is expected to dry up this week.'

In every place they have distributed food, Pastor Musa has seen more people show up desperate for food than their team had anticipated. MKM is working with community leaders to assess needs and is collecting relief supplies for another major distribution of food.

Please continue to pray for God to meet the needs of the people and for Pastor Musa and his team as they minister in this very difficult situation.

In addition to the provision of emergency food aid, MKM is also looking to improve existing wells - digging them deeper and installing pumps where necessary - and to dig new wells. They need £1,900 for each well. Any gift, large or small, towards MKM’s work would be a great blessing to those affected by the drought.