Starvation-related deaths reported

The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has stressed the rapidly deteriorating food situation in Kenya, noting that starvation-related deaths are now being reported. In a special report issued on Monday, the FAO said the severe drought currently affecting the country had resulted in a dire food situation "especially for pastoralists because this is the fourth consecutive rain failure in their areas". As a result the prices of the staple food, maize, are very high and continue to rise. "This is seriously hurting the poor whose access to food is increasingly being curtailed," the report said. For pastoralists, livestock losses and plummeting livestock prices combined with the rising cost of grain have led to the collapse of household economies "leading to destitution and starvation-related deaths, especially among children". "There are also reports of increasing inter-ethnic armed conflicts over scarce water and pasture resources," the report added. Even assuming the short rains arrive in October, maize stocks will probably still be depleted throughout the country. "With a national maize requirement estimated at 3.21 million tonnes, Kenya will need to import some 1.4 million tonnes until the next main harvest in September 2001," the FAO warned. Maize purchases are currently being rationed in the shops. Meanwhile, more hardship was heaped on Kenya citizens as the authorities announces strict water rationing measures in the capital Nairobi. From Tuesday, many residents will only receive water three times a week from 6 pm to 6 am, according to a schedule issued by the Nairobi City Council. This is in addition to power rationing which has been in effect since the end of May.