Act Now to Prevent Famine in Kenya & Somaliland

The Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst drought in 40 years, so we are reopening this appeal. Consecutive years of low rainfall has culminated in the most severe drought to hit many communities across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia.

Health Poverty Action has been working with communities in these countries for years and now, as thousands of people's lives are threatened, we turn to you.

Failures of crops are leading to severe food shortages and surges in prices, with many children acutely malnourished. Death of livestock is destroying people's livelihoods and food sources.

The poorest are forced to use unsafe water sources, leading to increasing incidences of life-threatening waterborne diseases like cholera. Millions of people will be impacted by this drought without support.

Health Poverty Action works alongside communities to provide the support that is needed over many years. We stand alongside communities long after disaster strikes. We strengthen healthcare systems within countries and work with the people who need the most support.

Health Poverty Action has worked in East Africa since 1992. We have built strong long-term relationships with communities and are prepared to support them both now and in the future.

Please contribute whatever you can to this appeal. Large or small, your contribution is immensely appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

Tadesse Kassaye

Head of Programmes - Africa

Links:

• Health Poverty Action website

In the aftermath of the drought, Health Poverty Action has continued to work with remote communities in Kenya to build resilience to environmental crises and ensure that the most vulnerable families can secure nutritious foods.

In Mandera County, we were able to establish 10 nutrition gardens, managed by groups from the local communities. We trained the group members on how best to utilise scarce water supplies to grow food, whether establishing river bank gardens, utilising waste water from hand washing, or planting vegetables in sacks.

They grow a range of nutritious vegetables in the gardens, including fast-growing iron-rich crops such as spinach and kale, providing a source of food for their families and vulnerable community members. Surplus vegetables can be sold at local markets at a subsidised price, providing income for growers and a cheaper source of food for other local families.

Households with malnourished children, pregnant and lactating mothers are referred to their nearest nutrition garden by community-based reproductive health agents. This has proven to be a particularly effective way to counter malnutrition and iron deficiency in these remote communities.

Your contributions, and support from donors like you, help marginalised communities to deal with the effects of droughts and other environmental disasters, while addressing the social and economic factors that make people vulnerable.

You can find out about our latest appeals and other ways that you can help to improve people’s health here.

Links:

• Health Poverty Action Website