More Aid Needed For East Africa Drought

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is rapidly expanding its current drought response to meet a vastly increased need for food and other aid in the Horn of Africa after two failed rainy seasons in the past 12 months. Ten million people are now at risk. 

With partners and grant funding, CRWRC expects to distribute a total of more than $4 million in aid to 100,000 desperate people through December 2011.

“CRWRC’s existing drought response targets 3,500 households in central Kenya,” said Jacqueline Koster, disaster response manager in eastern Africa.

These families already receive a monthly ration of maize and split peas. But, CRWRC is now scaling up this response to include 10,000 additional households in surrounding regions.

“In total,” said Koster, “CRWRC food aid in this response will reach 13,500 households, or nearly 100,000 drought-stricken Kenyans, to see them through the end of the year.” Koster says that the food supplies will be complemented by water, livestock, and rehabilitation programs.

CRWRC has been responding to chronic drought and famine in east-central and coastal Kenya for a decade. In northeastern Africa, Kenya now has the highest number of people in need of humanitarian assistance, 3.5 million, according to a U.N. snapshot of the crisis issued last month.  

Funded in part by gifts matched four-to-one by the Canadian government through the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and by other donations, CRWRC’s increased aid in Kenya will increase people’s probability for survival through the short rainy season in October and November until the next harvest in January.

“Sufficient rain this fall would reduce and stabilize food prices, increase food availability, and restore the grazing land of herding communities across the Horn of Africa,” says Wayne de Jong, CRWRC’s director for disaster response and rehabilitation.

De Jong says that the area’s vulnerable poor have suffered most from hunger and deprivation, and their ability to cope has deteriorated over time. “This year may be the worst yet,” he says. With some areas of Kenya receiving only 10 percent of the rainfall expected after a year—or several—of failed harvests, the situation is even more dire. 

In addition to food aid, and food-for-work projects such as water catchments, tree planting, and growing grass to feed livestock, a CRWRC disaster risk reduction specialist is working within projects help communities assess their resources and develop preparedness strategies that will reduce the impact of the environmental conditions.

CRWRC director Andrew Ryskamp says that the organization is “responding to the urgent needs of people in Kenya with food and by helping them recognize their own potential for successfully combating chronic drought conditions in the future.

“As we move into this new phase of drought response in Kenya, we ask for your financial support and prayers for those who are suffering.”

CRWRC is seeking financial donations to help fund the $4 million drought response in Kenya that includes distributing food, water, and livestock feed, and recovery-rehabilitation programs. “The need for financial support is significant,” de Jong says. “The crisis is so large; we hope and pray that people will be generous.” The cost of helping a Kenyan family survive the next six months is $400.

Those wishing to make a financial donation to CRWRC for drought relief in East Africa can give online at www.crwrc.org/donate, or call in their credit card gift to 1-800-55-CRWRC.

Checks designated, “CRWRC East Africa Drought Response,” can be mailed to CRWRC, 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560-0600.

Members of the press wishing to interview Wayne de Jong, CRWRC director of disaster response and rehabilitation, call 905-515-1720. To speak with CRWRC US director, Andrew Ryskamp, call cell 616-498-0816.

For more information about CRWRC, East Africa drought response, or to arrange an interview, call media contact Beth DeGraff, at cell 616-648-7821.

For more information about CRWRC’s ministry in international community development, disaster response, and justice education, go towww.crwrc.org.

CRWRC is the relief, development and disaster response agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.