Drought-stricken Kenya benefits from Turkish food aid

By Magdalene Mukami and Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI (AA) – Turkey's aid agency distributed vital foodstuffs to thousands of starving people in northern Kenya's Turkana region.

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) on Saturday distributed the foodstuffs in Kapus village, one of the most affected regions by drought.

Turkey is mobilizing its national resources to help fight the drought in East Africa affecting 11 million people, said Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Deniz Eke, who handed over the aid to the thousands of people gathered at Kapus village.

“We are extending a helping hand in the most affected areas in Kenya. In Turkey, there is an appeal and the Turkish people are donating to assist the drought situation in Africa. We are also raising awareness in international forums about the severe situation here. The food that we have given today will save the lives of thousands facing starvation.”

The trip through the harsh northern Kenya terrain proved to be tough even for the 28-ton truck --loaded with foodstuffs meant for 585 households-- as it got stuck in the sand for more than an hour.

On arrival at the village, thousands of people rushed to the aid while holding the bones of their animals which had died due to lack of pasture.

People in Turkana region are nomadic pastoralists who are among 3.7 million Kenyans facing starvation.

John Lomouch, a resident of Kapus, told Anadolu Agency that the food came at an opportune time when they had nothing to put on their tables, and he thanked the Turkish government and the Turkish people for their generosity.

Also speaking to Anadolu Agency, Ahmet Guc, TIKA’s deputy program coordinator said, ''TIKA hopes that the food rations will sustain the families till the rains come. We witnessed the challenges that the Turkana people are facing caused by the adverse climatic conditions.”

He added that livestock had perished and now the lives of the people are in danger.

Kenya declared the three-year drought as a national disaster in February.