Turkey lends a hand to drought-stricken Kenya
Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed on Saturday vital foodstuffs to thousands of starving people in northern Kenya's Turkana region.
"Turkey is mobilizing its national resources to help fight the drought in East Africa affecting 11 million people," said Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Deniz Eke, who handed over the aid to the thousands of people gathered at Kapus village.
The agency distributed the food in Kapus village, one of the most affected regions by the drought.
"We are extending a helping hand in the most affected areas in Kenya. In Turkey, there is an appeal and the Turkish people are donating to assist the drought situation in Africa. We are also raising awareness in international forums about the severe situation here. The food that we have given today will save the lives of thousands facing starvation."The trip through the harsh northern Kenya terrain proved to be tough even for the 28-ton truck -loaded with food meant for 585 households - as it got stuck in the sand for more than an hour.
On arrival at the village, thousands of people rushed to the aid while holding the bones of their animals which had died due to lack of pasture.
People in the Turkana region are nomadic pastoralists who are among the 3.7 million Kenyans facing starvation.
Kenya declared the three-year drought as a national disaster in February.
"Turkey is mobilizing its national resources to help fight the drought in East Africa affecting 11 million people," said Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Deniz Eke, who handed over the aid to the thousands of people gathered at Kapus village.
The agency distributed the food in Kapus village, one of the most affected regions by the drought.
"We are extending a helping hand in the most affected areas in Kenya. In Turkey, there is an appeal and the Turkish people are donating to assist the drought situation in Africa. We are also raising awareness in international forums about the severe situation here. The food that we have given today will save the lives of thousands facing starvation."The trip through the harsh northern Kenya terrain proved to be tough even for the 28-ton truck -loaded with food meant for 585 households - as it got stuck in the sand for more than an hour.
On arrival at the village, thousands of people rushed to the aid while holding the bones of their animals which had died due to lack of pasture.
People in the Turkana region are nomadic pastoralists who are among the 3.7 million Kenyans facing starvation.
Kenya declared the three-year drought as a national disaster in February.