Communities in East Africa are still reeling from years of drought

Eighty percent of my job is spent working closely with local communities in Turkana. After five consecutive failed rainy seasons, the drought has impacted the lives of thousands of people in the area. That is mainly through loss of livestock, which is the basic livelihood base, leaving communities in need of humanitarian support, especially children and women. 

While the men drive their livestock elsewhere in search of pasture and water during periods of drought, children, women and the elderly remain at home without access to basic services, such as food and water. In this region, milk is a necessity or a basic food item. For children, it is particularly important for growth and development. But without livestock, there is no milk and people fall into malnutrition.

The county has experienced erratic rainfall, which has not been enough to ensure an improvement in milk production. That is because livestock have endured such a long period of drought and the last rainfall has been insufficient for them to recover.

Concern supports families who are most vulnerable to meet essential food needs through cash assistance. We also ensure that communities have access to safe clean water. Turkana is the worst affected area with water scarcity. Concern rehabilitates and upgrades faulty boreholes to provide water for domestic and livestock use. We are also working to improve the quality of water by analysing samples and adding chlorine. 

With the current long rains, there is an expectation that people’s livelihoods will improve. When you look around, the physical landscape - vegetation cover, pasture and grazing land - is gradually changing. To the south, you can see the vegetation is recovering. But that doesn't equate to an improvement in people’s situation in terms of food availability. It does not equate to improved milk availability. People are still in need of vital support, especially the provision of food. Communities continue to be food insecure. Some families are still going to bed on an empty stomach.

I am committed to Concern’s mission to work towards eliminating extreme poverty. That means no lack of resources or time will thwart our efforts. What I am doing today is working to ensure that these communities will one day be able to support themselves, with access to food and clean water and with healthy livestock – all without Concern’s assistance. That is my dream. I know it is not a one-day achievement.