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Deepening
Kenyan drought prompts response by Red Cross Red Crescent 6 January 2005 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies this week launched an appeal to raise Swiss francs 16.4 million (US $ 10.5 million or EUR 12.7 million) to help 329,000 people in northern Kenya hit by drought and hunger. “The failure of the short rains between October and December is a harsh blow to people in this region, which has been desperately short of water and food since 2004,” said Anitta Underlin, the head of the International Federation’s East Africa regional delegation. In a multi-pronged response, the International Federation is supporting the Kenya Red Cross Society to give emergency food aid, with special rations for children to reduce alarming rates of child malnutrition. In the short-term the International Federation will also buy cattle and goats for slaughter, thereby giving families much-needed cash, reducing pressure on sparse pasture and water supplies, and producing meat for eating. In addition, the International Federation operation will improve access to safe water and sanitation and give medical kits to 10 overstretched hospitals to reduce mortality rates. There is a critical shortage of water and food in Somalia, northern Kenya, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, but Kenya’s northern arid and semi-arid regions are particularly affected. According to Kenyan reports, 27 people have died of starvation and 8 children of malnutrition-related diseases. Up to 2.5 million people in Kenya are now at risk of hunger. Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary General Abbas Gullet said hundreds of animals had already died of thirst and starvation. “The International Federation and the Kenya Red Cross Society are mobilising resources to meet the growing need for food and water. We are working to help people cope in a dignified way with the drought. We call on the international humanitarian community to address this critical situation now,” Mr Gullet said. The operation is being coordinated with United Nations agencies and the Kenyan government, which has declared a state of emergency. The International Federation has already sent Swiss francs 427,808 (USD 326,073 or EUR 276,541) from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) for the initial phases of the Kenya Red Cross Society’s relief assistance and assessment activities. The full revised appeal for Kenya can be found on the web site. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Antony Mwangi, Kenya Red Cross public relations officer, Tel: +254721551342 Rosemarie North, press officer, Tel: +41 79 217 3386 Siân Bowen, Head, Media Service, Tel: + 41 79 217 33 88 Duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 3881 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 183 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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