USAID donate Sh16billion as relief to drought stricken areas
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced that it will donate Sh16billion as additional food assistance to Kenyans affected by the severe drought in the country.
Through a statement, USAID said that the announcement comes following a visit to the country by US First Lady Jill Biden.
USAID said that it will provide emergency food items such as sorghum, maize, yellow split peas and vegetable oil for families living in areas where local markets are not functioning.
Additionally, in areas where markets are functioning, partners will provide cash-based assistance for families to purchase food staples, which will, in turn, support local economies.
“Today’s announcement of more than $126 million in food assistance will allow USAID partners to meet urgent needs for approximately 1.3 million people across Kenya,” read the statement by USAID.
USAID announced that it will also support programs to prevent and treat child malnutrition, as more than 970,000 children aged five and younger are acutely malnourished across the country.
USAID lauded the strong partnership of the Kenyan government and county administrations, and committed to continuing to invest in the country’s economic recovery and growth.
According to USAID, the ongoing drought leaves more than four million people in the grips of a dire hunger crisis, with the number expected to rise to over five million by June.
It committed to provide more funding to meet expected humanitarian needs through 2023.
