Isiolo and Marsabit, northern Kenya
Food and medical aid for 73.000 people
In East Africa, the almost complete lack of rain throughout the entire last year has led to the region's worst drought in several decades. By now, 12 million people are in urgent need of food and water – more than half a million of them are children.
In the northern Kenyan districts of Isiolo and Marsabit, Malteser International, in cooperation with the districts’ dioceses, is providing food and medication to about 73,000 people. Around 480 mothers as well as health workers receive trainings in how to properly care for malnourished children and how to avoid malnutrition even with very little food available – thus helping avoid the diseases associated with the lack of proper nutrition.
Following the immediate emergency relief, Malteser International already plans a long-term commitment in the region. The organisation has already helped the people in the Marsabit diocese during previous droughts and has been active in Kenya for ten years.
- In northeast Kenya, mothers learn how to prevent malnutrition, even in times of food scarcity.
- This family from the village of Segel has also received rice, oil and beans from Malteser International.
- A malnourished child is examined at a health care unit in northern Kenya which is supported by Malteser International.
In northern Kenya, a rural, barren region where most of the population lives from cattle herding, the pastures have dried up, the animals have died, and people have no more money to buy food. In the districts of Isiolo and Marsabit, the drought victims need nutritious food and medication to survive. Their bodies are weakened and thus more susceptible to diseases. One in every three children in the region is already suffering from severe malnutrition. It will take many months, if not years, until the people and the animals have recovered from the drought.
- Emergency relief through food and medication
- Long-term commitment in the area of disaster risk reduction in order to better prepare the population for future catastrophes
- Monthly distribution of staple food items such as rice, beans, maize, cooking oil and salt.
- Distribution of a monthly ration of Unimix – a vitamin- and protein-enriched nutritional supplement – to children under five years of age, pregnant women, the elderly and people with special needs
- Support of the region’s health care units with medical supplies and medicines against diseases such as diarrhoea, worm and bacterial infections
- Mosquito nets for 3,000 families
- Trainings for about 480 mothers as well as health workers in how to properly care for malnourished children and how to avoid malnutrition and the diseases associated with it.
| Project data | |
| Duration: | since November 2011 |
| Financing: | Germany's Relief Coalition (Aktion Deutschland Hilft), Federal Foreign Office (Germany), Nachbar in Not (Austria), Sternstunden e.V., Malteser International |
| Partner: | Dioceses of Isiolo and Marsabit |
| Contact | |
| Malteser: | Katja Horstmann |
| info(at)malteser-international.org | |
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