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Hunger

Kenya moves to deal with drought crisis

A man scavenges on a carcass at Acher's Post in Samburu on June 11, 2009.The Sh24 billion emergency plan to deal with food, water and energy crises is to be launched in Kenya even as effects of the crises continue to be reported in various parts of the country. PHOTO/ JOSEPH KANYI

The 24 billion (shillings) emergency plan to deal with food, water and energy crises is to be launched in Kenya even as effects of the crises continue to be reported in various parts of the country.

The launch, by Kenya's President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, will take place on Monday in Marsabit, one of the areas hardest hit by drought and famine.

Addressing Parliament on Wednesday on how the government was responding to the food and water crisis, Mr Odinga said that some of the steps to be taken include distribution of relief food to the hungry, improving irrigation and sinking boreholes.

Money to finance the activities will be raised from the budgets of relevant ministries with an additional 3 billion (shillings) from the main Budget.

Mr Odinga also asked the international community to help. “These challenges are immense. The government implores all members of Parliament and fellow citizens to join us in this cause. I also appeal to the international community to enhance its assistance.”

About 70 to 90 per cent of livestock, he said, were out of their normal grazing zones, scavenging for pastures in other places, including game parks and urban areas. Some 130,000 head of cattle have died.

The national maize harvest, the PM said, was expected to drop to 20 million bags, compared to an annual consumption of 33 million.

“The power supply situation is equally grim. Hydro-power generation has already been cut by 46 per cent and our total capacity has been reduced to about 900MW. This falls short of the peak demand by 200MW. We had no choice, but to introduce power rationing.”

Mr Odinga also said that the government was still considering writing off loans owed to Agricultural Finance Corporation by farmers.

He said about 7.5 million people were in need of food aid in rural areas while 3.5 million suffered a similar fate in urban areas.

The PM named Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo, Mwingi and Kitui districts as among the worst affected areas.

Others are Tana River, Turkana, Laikipia, Mandera, Wajir and Garissa.

(Article written By NJERI RUGENE Posted Wednesday, August 12 2009 at 19:58 on www.nation.co.ke)

World Hunger Exceeds One Billion

little girl being fed at an ACF site

The number of hungry people in the world has passed the one billion mark for the first time ever, according to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. This means that one in six people go to bed desperately hungry every night.

The combination of the global financial downturn and high food prices has resulted in a dramatic increase in the total number of people worldwide who currently suffer from acute and chronic malnutrition. The economic crisis has had a particularly devastating effect on the poor. Their declining wages and reduced economic opportunities make purchasing food increasingly difficult, especially in developing countries where the cost of food remains stubbornly high. A United Nations study found that by the end of 2008, staple foods still cost on average 24 percent more than two years earlier.

These latest figures from the UN underscore the urgency of the global hunger crisis. But since the increase in the world’s hungry population is not a result of limited international food supplies, cost-effective solutions and preventive strategies exist that can save lives.

Action Against Hunger is working every day to save the lives of malnourished children and provide families with access to safe drinking water and sustainable solutions to hunger.