Horn of Africa Update | News
February 1, 2012
We will continue drought relief in northern Kenya through mid year 2012, as assessments project that the situation will remain in “crisis” determination at least until then.
Two containers for the drought intervention will load on February 13th and 14th and will hold 541,738 servings of fortified rice meals and approximately 64,000 servings of Manna Pack Potato-W, the special product for malnourished children. The meals will be used for our ongoing drought relief in Turkana plus we hope to start new ECED (Every Child Every Day) centers in Turkana and northeast Kenya.
Turkana is the largest province in Kenya (77,000 km square) and has a population of
500,000. Statistics confirm that 74% of the people live in "absolute poverty" (survive on less than $1 USD per day), and 1 out of 4 children die before their 5th birthday. Unacceptably, 4 of 10 persons are malnourished - the second highest Global Acute Malnutrition in the Horn of Africa right now.
The entire region has only 5 hospitals, 8 clinics, 60 dispensaries, and the doctor/patient ratio is 1:75,000 (and you thought it was bad in Canada!). The average distance to health facility is 50km.
Food insecurity is on
e of the major contributing factors to lack of education, as 2 out of 3 school age children do not go to school. And, of the children that do go to elementary school, 2 out of 3 don't continue through the 6th grade.
As the situation in the Horn of Africa remains critical, Feed the Hungry is committed to continue to support the efforts of feeding body, soul, and spirit in Jesus’ Name. Your ongoing support makes it possible!
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