Food situation in northwest critical

Kenya’s State Minister in the Office of the President Shariff Nassir on Friday confirmed that the food situation in the Turkana district of northwestern Kenya is critical, the Kenya Television Network (KTN) reported. He said from his assessment of the situation, he could not rule out the possibility of deaths having occurred in remote parts of the district due to lack of food. Nassir said the district will now receive 7,000 bags of maize monthly. He appealed to members of the Turkana community not to flee to neighbouring countries, saying that the government “will seek long-term solutions” to food problems in the arid and semi-arid districts. Humanitarian agencies say some 250,000 people are faced with starvation in the district. WFP said it was still waiting for official communication from the Kenyan government.