Over two million Kenyans at risk of hunger due to severe drought

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Drought Conditions Worsen Malnutrition and Water Shortages in Kenya

The United Nations reports that over 2 million Kenyans are facing hunger due to severe drought, with northeastern cattle-raising communities particularly affected. Images of starving livestock near the Somali border have highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change in the region.

Shortened rainy seasons have led to increased exposure to drought conditions, and animals are often the first casualties. The current livestock deaths echo a crisis that occurred from 2020 to 2023, when millions of animals perished across Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia.

The Horn of Africa has experienced four consecutive failed wet seasons, with the latest October-December period ranking among the driest ever recorded. Eastern Kenya’s drought conditions are among the worst since 1981, according to UN health officials.

Ten counties in Kenya have reported drought conditions, including Mandera County near the Somalia border, which has reached “alarm” status due to severe water shortages and livestock deaths. Neighboring countries, such as Tanzania and Uganda, are also facing similar challenges.

The World Health Organization reports comparable conditions across Somalia, with 70% of those in Baidoa camps surviving on one meal or less per day. Islamic Relief’s assessment in southern Somalia revealed “shocking food shortages” among families fleeing the region’s worsening drought.

Experts attribute these conditions largely to climate change, citing rising temperatures and more destructive tropical storms as contributing factors. The warming of the Indian Ocean has also led to longer and more severe droughts, devastating communities reliant on rain-fed agriculture.

Source: Al Jazeera