Report Back: Kenya Drought Emergency
14/01/2010
Early in 2009 thousands were at risk of dying of hunger and disease in Kenya. A prolonged drought had seen livestock die, crops fail and food prices rise sharply creating extreme hardship especially for those living in rural areas. ChildFund launched an appeal to help provide life-saving food and support for children in the rural town of Emali.
Thanks to the generous support of kind New Zealanders who collectively donated over $180,000 for this appeal, life-saving food and clean water was made available to some of the neediest Kenyan children and many lives were saved.
Moses’s Story
Our appeal featured Moses, a little orphan whose life hung in the balance. He was so sick and malnourished; you could count the ribs in his chest. Without food or clean water, it seemed he would certainly die.
Today, Moses has not only survived, he is a different boy. He has been receiving corn-soy blend porridge every day and he is now strong and healthy again. His family also has clean water to drink and he no longer has frequent tummy aches and diarrhoea. His future is back on track because he is going to school again. Without the constant hunger pains, he can concentrate on his lessons. “I would like to be a doctor to cure diseases like malaria and give medicine to the sick,” he says proudly.
In addition to this, we are excited to report back on some of the latest developments that show how New Zealanders’ support is helping;
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2559 children under 5 have been nutritionally assessed and given corn-soy blend porridge (CSB)
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996 pregnant and breast feeding mothers have received maize, beans and cooking oil
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64 caregivers and teachers have been trained in food handling, hygiene and sanitation to educate the community and help save more lives
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2300 insecticide treated mosquito nets were distributed to protect against life-threatening malaria
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32 Early Childhood Care and Development Centres have been supported to help provide a safe haven for children to play, sleep and eat and forget for awhile about the desperate situation many of them have lived through.
Good News!
At the end of October the longed-for rains fell in Emali! It’s hoped that this is the start of a good rainy season so that new crops can be planted and food can be grown for desperate families and their animals. In the meantime, ChildFund will continue working so that children and vulnerable families can cope in the longer term.
To everyone who supported the appeal - Thank you!
Every day of the year, ChildFund works hard to give children the basics they deserve, like nutritious food, healthcare, education and clean drinking water. This is only possible because we are supported by such generous New Zealanders. On behalf of the vulnerable children and families of Emali, thank you!
