LONDON (CNS): Catholic aid agencies in Britain and the United States say as many as 3.5 million Kenyans face a severe food emergency because of several seasons of drought.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, said millions of Kenyans could starve to death unless emergency food supplies are delivered soon.
Dominic Stolarow, a CAFOD humanitarian officer who has been visiting the worst affected areas in the north eastern part of the country, said Kenya is also facing its most severe drought since 1971.
The famine and drought have been caused by consecutive poor rainy seasons.
On March 10, CAFOD welcomed a UN announcement of a multi-million dollar humanitarian crisis fund, although money was not immediately allocated for African food emergencies.
Catholic Relief Services, the US bishops’ international aid and development agency, said up to 11 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia have been affected by the lack of rain and resulting food shortage.
