Take the long view on famine threat

Cabinet revisits the food insecurity crisis just as humanitarian aid agencies report the drought is getting worse in arid and semi-arid areas. Pastoralists, the urban poor and farmers in marginal areas (those on the country’s less productive land) are bearing the worst of it.

A humanitarian crisis is looming in the North, North-East and South–Eastern regions among locals and refugees from the neighbouring countries. With the next harvest season, beginning in one month, practically written off as failed, importation of maize shall be a significant part of the emergency response. This makes it vital that weaknesses in procurement, transportation, production and distribution are addressed in tomorrow’s meeting.