This archive report was first published on 28 September 2021.
Kenya: Children in Drought-Hit Areas Face Greater Risk of Malnutrition - Report ¶
Published on September 28, 2021
According to a new study by Save the Children, children from disadvantaged communities in Kenya are at a higher risk of waterborne diseases, hunger, and malnutrition due to the ongoing drought.
The study, which was released in August, reveals that at least 652,960 children across the country are acutely malnourished and dependent on food from aid agencies and health services to survive.
Save the Children's CEO, Inger Ashing, noted that recurring drought is ruining the source of livelihood for several pastoralist families in Northern Kenya who rely on livestock and its products.
"My baby weighed just 6.3 kilograms equivalent to the weight of a five-month-old baby," Halima, a pastoralist from Wajir County, was quoted as saying in the report. "If the drought persists, then our livelihood is completely affected and we are afraid for our children's lives. We can barely afford to have two meals in a day."
Save the Children has appealed to the National and county governments to activate the disaster management framework and quickly release funds to help mitigate the crisis.
"Action on climate change is not only a moral obligation but also a legal one for governments to act in the best interests of children," Save the Children's Country Director, Yvonne Arunga, said.
