to faster disbursement of funds from the global community to help avoid
the ongoing drought in the region.They have also tasked governments in the region to prioritise provision
of food and nutrition.The leadership of the Non-Governmental Organisations, which include
those working for development, humanitarian and faith-based
organisations, expressed profound concern regarding the forgotten
humanitarian crisis engulfing the Horn of African countries, terming it
shameful and have since asked respective individuals to enhance
rehabilitation of boreholes and increase protection of women and girls
against rising sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation and abuse.“The ongoing Climate – induced humanitarian crisis in the East and
of Africa is building to be a shameful blot in human history. We are
alarmed by the high levels of malnutrition affecting young people whose
plight is oftentimes forgotten, there is no, the rains have failed for
the last five consecutive seasons. Farmers have been unable to harvest
their crops for five consecutive seasons,” part of the statement read.
Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of the Pan African Climate
Justice Alliance (PACJA) claimed that the current trends with droughts
in the horn of Africa is genocidal and validates calls for financing
loss and damage within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
mainstream.
PACJA continue to play a role in shaping policy on matters environmental
conservation in Kenya providing long term solutions towards
environmental degradation using the Shamba systems.
“The world struggles to devise solutions with little grass root
involvement, evidence show that communities have solutions, all that
they need is financial support to action their ideas and innovations,”
Mithika observed.
Samson Orao, ActionAid Programs and Strategy Lead, together with the
other leadership of NGOs, have faulted the respective individuals for
failing to address the climate-fuelled catastrophe, which they claim are
using the situation as an opportunity to benefit individually, with
respective persons not being able to account for some of the donations
received.
Nitin Kenny Pappachen, country Director Adventist Development and Relief
Agency Kenya expressed dissatisfaction occasioned by the drought
situation despite numerous warnings blaming global leaders who he claims
have remained reluctant when it comes to honouring climate financing
pledges.
Pastoralists from the drought affected region decry delay by all levels
of governance to supply water to curtail the persistent drought that
continues to render livestock lifeless.
“Pastoralist communities have lost much of their livestock, including
camels, cattle, goats and sheep,” Maka Kassim Jubas alluded.
Mary Likama, Kajiado said there is no food and water. Women and girl
children risk their lives walking for the whole day looking for water.
“The little food available is unaffordable by majority poor. People
and livestock are dying because of lack of food,” said Likama.
The leaders have come up with recommendations and have agreed to work
towards curbing the drought situation in the drought hit regions.