Assisting Foodinsecure Children in Kenya
Since January 2008, food-prices in Kenya have risen with more than 50%. This has lead many people to drastically reduce their daily diets.
- "The situation in the arid districts of Turkana (Northwestern Kenya) has especially deteriorated, making the situation more difficult than before" says Dirk Jan Groot, Director of Dorcas Aid International. "School-attendance is low due to that many children stay at home to help in the search for food. This is why Dorcas supports distribution of food in 2 primary schools and 3 nursery schools: so that the children will not go hungry - and so that they can continue learning."
Dorcas Aid International, together with its local partner, the Diocese of Lodwar, will support 400 children, ages 3-8, with daily meals from July 2008 at least until the end of June 2009. The children receive meals of maize, beans, rice, sugar, fat, salt and posho (a cornmeal product generally made from maize flour and water which varies in consistency from porridge to dough-like substance). The local community in the target areas will play an active part in the implementation of the project.
Lack of education, poor health system, droughts and poverty are also factors that contribute to the food-insecurity in addition to the elevated food-prices.
Skyrocketing Food Prices
There have been a number of demonstrations worldwide against the skyrocketing food-prices. May 31, the Kenyan police dispersed hundreds of demonstrators in Nairobi, Kenya's capital who were protesting against the high cost of staple foods and calling for subsidies. Over 56 % of Kenyans are living below poverty line (living on less than 1USD per day per person). The challenge facing Kenya today is to reduce escalating poverty levels and achieve sustained economic growth for healthy national development. The Kenya National Human Development Report for 2006 shows huge disparities between Kenya's poorest and richest regions and households. The report notes that the 10% of the richest households control more than 42% of the incomes, while the poorest 10% command a paltry 0.76% of the income. The majority poor have no access to health care, water and proper nutrition (UNDP Report 2006).
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