[Alarming malnutrition rates in counties as government is urged to take quick action.] (newsverge.com)More than 70,000 children in the country are severely malnourished and at risk of dying unless urgent aid is made immediately available.
According to a report by aid organisations and county governments, the children affected by drought-related hunger in the arid and semi-arid regions (ASAL) are at risk of dying.
Mr Patrick Mweki, the Action Against Hunger director for Kenya and Somalia has urged the government to take up action saying that nutrition situation continues to deteriorate.
Mweki said that thousands of children and families have been left vulnerable by the drought that hit most parts on the ASAL regions.
“The situation is likely to worsen as we enter the lean and short rains season. We urge the new national and county governments to act now to prevent children from dying,” he said.
The warning comes as results from joint nutrition assessments conducted by the County Departments of Health, Unicef and nine aid organisations working on the ground, including Save the Children.
The assessments revealed alarmingly high, severe, acute malnutrition rates in East Pokot at 5.8 per cent, 5.2 per cent in Mandera, 3.8 per cent in Samburu and 3.2 per cent in West Pokot.
Other regions affected include Garissa, Wajir, West Pokot, Marsabit, Baringo and Laikipia Counties.
“In Turkana South, an unprecedented 12 per cent of children under five now suffer from severe acute malnutrition. These counties have also witnessed extreme deterioration in nutrition and food security,” the survey said.
Save the Children’s Interim country director, Mr Francis Woods called on the national and local governments dealing with drought response to prioritise critical funds and support, including food programmes to be provided to the needy families.
“The drought has left tens of thousands of children and families including the most vulnerable under five, pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in a life-threatening situation,” said Mr Woods.