UNICEF appeals for $8.6 m for drought emergency

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has appealed for more than US $8.6 million to fund emergency operations aimed at helping the most vulnerable people in 26 Kenyan districts affected by drought. Inadequate rainfall late last year and and erratic long rains earlier this year led to poor harvests, that left an estimated 2.3 million Kenyans in need of food aid. In some of the worst affected districts, surveys found acute malnutrition and chronic malnutrition rates as high as 35 and 45 percent. An estimated 37,130 malnourished children require targeted nutritional support, according to UNICEF. It aims to reduce and prevent malnutrition and mortality among children in the affected areas, improve reliable access to safe water, hygiene and sanitation facilities, and provide basic materials to ensure schools remained functional and served as protective environment for children. In the Northeastern province, one of the most affected areas, some 520,000 children under the age of five are to be vaccinated against measles and provided with vitamin A supplements. UNICEF's appeal will form part of a consolidated appeal that is being prepared by the sectoral coordination groups of the Kenya Food Security Group (KFSG), a multi-agency team comprising representatives from the Kenyan government, UN agencies and NGOs.