IMF chief urges generous response to drought crisis

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Rodrigo de Rato, has expressed concern over the humanitarian consequences of the prevailing food shortages in Kenya and urged the international community to donate generously to alleviate human suffering and mitigate the drought's impact on the country's economy. The food situation, particularly among pastoralists in drought-affected areas of Kenya, continues to deteriorate, with available food and non-food resources falling short of growing demands, according to humanitarian agencies. Pre-famine conditions were already evident in Mandera, Wajir and Garissa districts in the northeastern region, and Marsabit in the north, said the USAID-funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS Net) in its March update on Kenya. "I urge the international donor community to respond generously and pro-actively in addressing the food needs of Kenya's people. It will be critical to respond in a timely manner to avoid the human tragedies and adverse economic consequences that have all too often been associated with droughts in the past," de Rato said in a statement issued after he met with Kenya's finance minister Amos Kimunya in Washington, DC, on Monday. He said their discussion focused on food security, governance and on issues related to the completion of the second review under Kenya's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility arrangement with the IMF. "The IMF could increase its financial support, if needed, to meet a drought-related balance-of-payments need," de Rato said. Kimunya briefed de Rato on measures the Kenyan government had taken to combat corruption, a concern that recently caused the IMF to delay the disbursement of part of a loan to the Kenyan government. "We agreed on the desirability of continuing to take further actions to strengthen governance framework," de Rato said. "I noted that the fund was closely cooperating with the World Bank and the authorities in this area, and that continued implementation of a pro-active and clear governance agenda would unlock increased financial support by the donor community." An estimated 11 million people in eastern Africa are at risk of starvation due to the drought.