16 October 2008
Nairobi — As the World Food Day was being marked on Wednesday, multiple alarms were raised with regard to an impending famine later in the year.
The Government, on its part said an estimated 1.4 million people are faced with starvation if the short rains "fail or do not begin at the right time."
The warning comes after the Food and Agriculture Organisation warned of widespread hunger in the region due to climate change and the pressure on food due to bio-fuels.
The famine could last into mid next year.
Addressing a late news conference in his office, Special Programmes Permanent Secretary Ali Mohammed said the situation had not reached the "emergency stage."
... this is a normal situation experienced at this time of the year in arid and semi-arid areas," Mr Mohammed said.
The situation, the PS said, had reached "acute and livelihood crisis" in 17 districts mainly in Ukambani and in the Northern Frontier districts.
"Turkana, Mandera and Marsabit are worst affected," he said, "and are in dire need of emergency support."
Other districts likely to be affected by famine include: Laikipia, Ijara, taita Taveta, Kitui, Mwingi, Makueni, Mbeere, Malindi, Kilifi, Kwale and Tana River.
The warning comes weeks after the release of a report on the Drought Early Warning System which predicted increased cases of hunger.
"...the drought situation has worsened and food security situation has deteriorated ...as a result of the poor long rains this year," the PS said.
He added: "These problems have been compounded by the high food prices, livestock diseases and the escalating conflicts mainly over scarce grazing and water resources."
On Thursday, reports from Mandera, one of the areas likely to feel the effects of the hunger, said four people had been killed due to inter-clan fighting. On Wednesday, Mandera town was ravaged with floods triggered calls for an emergency supply of food aid, drugs and non-food items.
The PS disclosed that a team from the ministry was already on the ground to assess the situation.
Besides, the PS assured those affected that the Government had set aside enough funds to prevent acute starvation.
"[We] recognise that the underlying problem of food insecurity is widespread chronic poverty and subsequent vulnerability," he said.
Mr Mohammed said that the situation was "under control and being monitored closely with a view of scaling up intervention measures."
Currently, a joint operation being run by the Government and the World Food Programme have set aside Sh9 billion to distribute food to the affected people until March next year.
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