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Nairobi/Cologne. About 20 million people in the Horn of Africa are meanwhile dependent on food aid as a severe drought spread over the region. In Kenya, around one third of the population is suffering from hunger and diseases related to malnutrition and lack of potable water. Malteser International now starts relief measures in the districts of Marsabit, Samburu and Isiolo in the most severely affected north of the country with a population of 365,000 people.
In cooperation with the local dioceses Malteser International will provide six health centres, two hospitals and one hospital dispensary with drugs and medical consumables for the treatment of malaria, diarrhoea and bacterial infections. Additionally, 7,500 mosquito nets will be distributed.
Dr. Georg Nothelle, head of the Malteser International Africa department, reports: "The persistent shortage of water and the bad water quality have significantly reduced livestock and thus the only income possibility of the nomad population. This contributes to increased undernourishment and susceptibility for infectious diseases."
"Humidity, cool temperatures and destruction of infrastructures caused by the now occurring flooding will result in a rising number of malaria and pneumonia infections. As there is rarely potable water available, hygiene conditions are deteriorating - this is why water purification tablets are also distributed.", Nothelle explains.
Malteser International provides further relief for 19,000 people through supplementary food consisting of oil, beans and maize - especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant and breast-feeding women, children under five and the elderly. About 1,500 pregnant women and 2,680 children will receive milk powder and food supplements.
The emergency aid for drought victims is mainly funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. In order to provide further relief, Malteser International is in urgent need of financial support.
- Join our network of relief and donate:
Donation Account 2020122;
Pax-Bank Köln, von-Werth-Str. 25-27, D-50670 Köln, Germany,
Sort Code: 370 60 193; IBAN : DE93 3706 0193 0002 0201 22; BIC: GENODED1PAX
Reference : "Kenya"
Or online at www.malteser-spenden.de or http://www.maltarelief.org
Attention editors: Dr. Georg Nothelle is available for interviews (Contact: +49-(0)221/9822-155).
Malteser International has been working in Kenya since 2001. The organisation runs a comprehensive health project in the slums of Nairobi with a focus on the fight against tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
Malteser International is the worldwide relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. The organisation provides aid in about 200 projects in more than 20 countries without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of its work. For further information: www.malteser-international.org and www.orderofmalta.org
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
The remains of Northside bridge (bottom) and a destroyed footbridge (top) are seen in Workington during flooding, in Cumbria, northern England, November 20, 2009. A policeman was feared dead in Britain ...
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