|TOP|International relief agency World Vision is set to distribute food to 590,000 people in Kenya in response to the drought crisis.

With 3.5 million people in urgent need of food in 20 districts, farmers in Kenya have suffered loss of more than 50 per cent of their livelihood.

According to Mario Rodrigues, World Vision's Food Aid Manager, the food aid operation will have a total food and cash value of US $13.6 million and total 26,000 Metric Tonnes.

The emergency response will also include projects tailored towards drought mitigation, carrying out activities on development of water sources and food security. These extra projects are worth an additional US$ 2.02 million.

"We have proposals towards rehabilitation of water sources and food security. These activities are part of the mitigation exercise," said Rodrigues.

|AD|As the lead agency, World Vision has already started distributing about 3 metric tonnes worth of food in six districts to hunger stricken people in the month of March. The agency will cover the districts of Turkana, Baringo, Moyale, Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Makueni and Maragua.

In partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), the food aid emergency operation will run for six months.

The matching funds and other support for the emergency operation also comes from World Vision Support Offices in Taiwan, Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and New Zealand.

"We have been fortunate to get our structures in place. We have enough staff on the ground," said Rodrigues.

This week, Michael Kibet, the Acting District Commissioner of Turkana district lauded World Vision's efforts in assisting the communities during the devastating drought.

"World Vision is our major partner in Turkana, doing a lot on irrigation and food aid. This is important because communities have exhausted all avenues of survival," said Kibet.

Meanwhile, rains have finally started in various parts of Kenya. Although due to the sudden change of weather, emaciated livestock have died, while 3,000 people have been reported displaced in the northern part of the country.

"This is the first rains in three years. We are celebrating but livestock are dying of pneumonia," said Kibet. "This means that families that previously had any livestock will start depending on food aid."