World Vision Canada

Published purpose

(December 2011) Kenya is still suffering from the effects of the worst drought in sixty years, with an estimated 4.3 million people, including more than 560,000 refugees, requiring humanitarian assistance. In the worst-affected areas, in the north and east of the country, food insecurity and loss of livestock have led to high rates of acute malnutrition and the devastation of livelihoods, particularly amongst pastoralist communities. In addition, the influx of refugees fleeing conflict and famine in neighbouring Somalia has further strained the local capacity to weather the drought. With CIDA support, World Vision Canada is helping to provide life-saving health support to drought-affected people in Laisamis District, Kenya. Through both supplementary and therapeutic feeding programs, World Vision is treating an estimated 16,700 children and pregnant and lactating women who are suffering from acute malnutrition due to the drought. At the same time, through the rehabilitation of local safe water points and the dissemination of proper hygiene knowledge, this project is helping to prevent the spread of disease amongst an already vulnerable population.