Kenya (MNN) — More than four million people in Kenya now face starvation due to drought. That’s a drastic rise from 3.5 million at the end of May. Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia face the worst drought conditions in 40 years.
Raphael Leshore works with World Concern in Samburu, Kenya. “Right now, we are very affected by the drought that has gone for a very long time, around eight years,” he says.
Listen to the full conversation on World Concern’s podcast, “The End of the Road.”
Drought heightens desperation
More than 200,000 people in Samburu County, Kenya, are in dire need of food assistance. Many wells have dried up and thousands of animals (70% of the herds) have died. The average distance people are walking to get water is 10.2 kilometers.
(Photo, caption courtesy of World Concern)
Six counties in Kenya, including Samburu, are in “emergency” status, meaning they’re one step short of famine. “Samburu has never gone to this extent of drought, almost two years without rain,” Leshore says.
In this part of Kenya, people live and die by the animals they raise. Livestock like cattle and sheep become food for the family. They’re also sold to pay for things like grain, school fees, or household supplies. One million animals died from the drought so far.
In Samburu, “around 70 percent of livestock have already died; 30 percent are emaciated,” Leshore says.
World Concern and its local partners help families survive the drought. Believers make Christ’s love tangible as they help people build rainwater collection systems, or teach them to grow kitchen gardens. More about that here.
“You know, God can surprise you [at] any time,” Leshore says.
“We still hope we will have rain.”
Connect with World Concern here to send help. A matching fund triples every gift.
Pray for abundant rain in Kenya’s drought-affected areas. Pray Kenyans will find comfort in the Lord’s mercy and love despite increasingly difficult circumstances.
Header and story images courtesy of World Concern.
