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UPDATE 4
Images and text provided by Jim Strzok, SJ (based in Nairobi). Click any image to view it larger, in a new window

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Eastern Africa, “the Horn of Africa” has been experiencing one of the greatest droughts in 60 years. In Somalia and Eastern to Central Provinces of Kenya, there has been little or no rain for three years. 

I traveled to northeast Kenya, to Garissa, Wajir, Moyale in mid-September with a group called The Camillian Task Force,  to survey the needs of the area.

What I saw and experienced was heart-rending. Along an 800km journey from Nairobi, moving northeast, one moves from green highlands to red semi-desert, which looks something like the desert southwest of the US.

However, as we traveled northeast along the Kenya route, it looks worse. Few trees have leaves. Three years of drought, grazing goats and camels have stripped most of the trees completely. Carcasses of cows, camels and goats are found along the edges of the water [ponds] because there is no water. During the dry seasons the pastoralists dig down into the [ponds] looking for traces of water. These days they dig until they find bedrock. There simply is no water left in the ground or in the river beds. So, goats and camels and wild animals eat leaves. When there are no more leaves, they eat the succulent bark of the trees. This is all there is to eat.
 
In some areas there is water to be found; it can be reached by digging shallow wells to a depth of about thirty feet. However, the water is sometimes too salty to drink. Animals and people gather around water holes, or bore-holes that give potable water. But the numbers of people and animals stress the capacity of the holes to the limit.

We have met families moving through the desert with their carts and donkeys towards these water holes, but often too late. Children were sick, animals too tired to move. A donkey falls down and won’t move, even if beaten, until it either gets the strength to get up, or it dies. It is hard to look at that.

The Kenyan government tries to deliver fresh water to a 50km distance around some water wells by using tankers. Water is delivered into large, four-thousand liter plastic water tanks which are fitted with a tap. However the tanks are often damaged beyond repair when people, desperate for water, turn the tanks on end to get the last drops.  
 
There is an ongoing effort to meet some of these needs through many Non-Government-Organizations. Kenyan churches, especially the Catholic Church, are located in these areas and have the infrastructure to assist, so are doing great relief work.

The Catholic International Commmunity where I say mass has sent over $4,000 aid to the Dioceses of Lodwar and Garissa. JRS and a special fund in our Eastern African Province are doing significant work. Kenya Corporations, private citizens, churches, and groups like Rotary International are assisting the international groups.

I was happy to see that the US Jesuit Conference set up immediate and long-range projects (details below).

Thanks for what you can do to help. The needs are great and will be for quite some time.
 
I am attaching some images you can publish with this report made on the September trip.    God bless.
 - Jim Strzok, SJ

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UPDATE 3
According to JRS, this seasonal drought became a regional humanitarian crisis affecting 12 million people due to three underlying causes:
    • Climate induced drought
    • Instability with lack of infrastructure in Somalia, especially south-central Somalia controlled by the al-Shabab militant group
    • Regional food inflation which devastates already vulnerable populations

It’s not too late to help. The Jesuits remain committed to providing short- and long-term aid to those in the greatest need. For more information, see below.

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UPDATE 2
JRS Eastern Africa Director, Fr. Frido Pflueger, SJ, has returned from a visit to the Dollo Ado refugee camps in south-east Ethiopia. In a recent interview he describes his impressions of the situation on the ground and explains how JRS will become involved. To read this short interview, click here

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UPDATE 1
The Jesuit Refugee Service is working diligently to address the hunger crisis in East
ern Africa. A JRS team recently visited camps receiving Somali refuges in southeast Ethiopia. To read a PDF of their report detailing conditions and challenges, please click: August 17, 2011, JRS Situation Report, Ethiopia

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Originally posted: August 12, 2011

The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) pray for all those suffering from drought, hunger, displacement, and famine in the Horn of Africa. According to the UN, more than 12 million people are in need of emergency assistance, primarily in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. The most devastating famine to hit the region since the 1950s has not yet reached its peak, leaving many wondering how best to help.

The Jesuits are responding to this humanitarian crisis in two ways: immediate food assistance and long-term projects. We are grateful for your prayers and financial support; for more information about how you can help, please see below:

Immediate Food Assistance:

Working in collaboration with religious congregations and dioceses, the Eastern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus has established a Famine Relief Project to provide food relief to a targeted group of the most vulnerable persons in some of the worst hit areas of northern Kenya. The Chicago-Detroit Province, which is twinned with Eastern Africa, is receiving funds to support this project. To make an online contribution by credit card, please click here to visit our website, or call (800) 922-5327. To contact our Advancement staff, click here.

Checks can also be made payable to The Jesuits with “Famine Relief Project” written on the memo line and mailed to:

Chicago-Detroit Province Jesuits
Re: Famine Relief Project
2050 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614

Long Term Projects:

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in East Africa has been assisting refugees from Somalia for many years and is preparing to help increased flows of traumatized famine survivors. The long-term commitment of JRS includes psychosocial projects and education services. To support JRS/USA efforts, please click here to visit our website, or call (800) 922-5327. Please clearly note “East Africa Drought” in the comment box. To contact our Advancement staff, click here.

Checks can also be made out to The Jesuits with “East Africa Drought” written on the memo line and mailed to:

Chicago-Detroit Province Jesuits
Re: East Africa Drought
2050 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60614

We remain in solidarity with the people of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti through this very difficult time. Please check back for more information and ways to help.

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