The continued drought in Kenya has fuelled conflict with a greater number of reported deaths due to violence with food and water supplies now reaching dangerous levels.
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[...] Read the original post: Kenya Drought Worsens [...]
Update from Africa Expedition Support
For the last 2 years (4 rainy seasons) we have had exceptionally low rain fall. The country is in dire straits; with high hopes on the current rainy season (October, November).
It is halfway through the short rain season and rainfall is far below average. The dark clouds come, and then leave with only a sprinkle of rain. Tragically the loss of livestock and produce for substance farmers is exceptional, the seeds are planted and then nothing happens; resulting in many starving families turning to poaching wildlife simply to survive.
I am against poaching, particularly when it is for commercial gain; however when it is simply to put food on the table to feed a hungry family then even I must admit that it is not so bad – as long as the animals poached are plenty (zebra and antelope). The difference between Kenya and most Western countries is there are no government safety nets – if you have no money; you have no money! With an estimated 2 million Kenyans accessing food aid through the Red Cross and WFP there are plenty more unable to access or the resources of Aid agencies simply cannot stretch that far.
The Game parks have not gone unaffected; however as they are protected areas the effects are not as severe. Last month 8 Rhino’s were relocated out of Lake Nakuru National Park to Nairobi National Park due to the drought. The Masai Mara has reported Hippos and Crocs being affected by the drought as the water levels in normally all-year flowing rivers are now seasonal. Although tragic, wildlife are affected by the drought, it is also a natural way of culling huge populations. Culling is illegal in Kenya (it is seen as a fine line between culling and poaching) so in some ways where populations have grown to far outweigh the amount of food source something has to give. While animals are affected it appears to be helping the Cat population and more importantly the rarer Cats like Serval and African Wild Cat.
http://www.africaexpeditionsupport.com
The Rains have arrived, the parks have had rains, the rivers are now running, so the grass has turned green and we have a recovery happening.
That is excellent news!