A 40-year drought has left 3.5 million Kenyans needing urgent aid, with Turkana's water reserves nearly depleted and regional food insecurity affecting 29 million people, according to a 2022 report by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Devastating Water Scarcity in Arid Regions ¶
Kenya's Turkana County has seen 80-90% of water reservoirs, including dams, dry up, with remaining sources projected to last only one to two months, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported. This follows four consecutive failed rainy seasons starting in 2020, which have devastated crop production and livestock in arid and semi-arid lands.
Government Response and International Aid Efforts ¶
The Kenyan government declared the drought a national disaster in September 2021, allocating 2 billion shillings through the National Drought Emergency Fund. However, OCHA noted delays in aid distribution. The World Food Programme (WFP) has launched a $327 million Regional Drought Response Plan to assist 4.5 million people across the Horn of Africa, including cash grants and livestock feed programs.
Regional Food Insecurity Crisis ¶
IGAD's Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) warned that the March-May 2022 rainy season's first month was unusually dry, exacerbating conditions. Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu stated that four consecutive failed rainy seasons, combined with the Ukraine-Russia conflict and pandemic recovery challenges, have pushed 29 million people across the region to the brink of food insecurity. Somalia's southern-central areas face a catastrophic situation, with 81,000 people at risk of famine.
