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Stories from the Horn of Africa
The line-up for famine-relief packs
27 October 2011
Our partners in Kenya, Sheepfold Ministries, have been working ceaselessly to bring famine-relief to people in drought and famine-affected areas in North East Kenya and the Somali border.
We were recently updated by Francis Omondi, Director of Sheepfold Ministries and the Anglican Archbishop of Kenya's righthand 'aid and development' leader, on the kind of work they are doing and the people they have been helping.
These are their stories, narrated by Francis.
Hanna, Garissa
Hanna is a mother of three. She sells timber to earn a living, and is very committed to service here at St. Peter's Anglican church in Garissa. She says, "Being a vendor of timber in Garissa, lately I have had very bad business. People are not buying wood and therefore we cannot get means to support our families. This has been made worse by the drought."
Hanna was one of those identified by her leaders for the help and rations that we have been giving. During the distribution for September given on the 4th of October she was one of the 40 people gathered waiting for distribution. We were meant to have been there at 4.30 pm, they were all waiting already. But due to logistics issues and delay in other points of distributions we never got there til 630 pm… and they were still waiting.
Since darkness was falling fast we made a decision to postpone the distribution and have them get food the next day. Hanna and the people felt this was not a good decision, and were determined to get food. They walked 2 km from the church and insisted that they must be given food.
Hanna pleaded: "I was counting on this ration. I have nothing to feed my children with today and the whole day we have had nothing! Please allow us to be given something to take home.”
I was so moved by this plea that we gave out food right there, in the dark. They were very organised and one by one we gave out rations till 8 pm.
“How could I have faced my children without the food?” Hanna was able to rejoice as she went home, "I truly thank God for all who have given to make us survive in these very hard times!"
Wanja, Tana River
Wanja a child of 5 has become a regular at the feeding centre we established during this drought in Tana River. She got to the Redeemed Church compound at 7 am on this day. Pastor Matolo asks: “Why did you come so early today?”
“Yesterday we had nothing for dinner, Mum is away and so I have to get something this morning." For Wanja this was the first meal for the day and she had to wait for 3 more hours when it was served.
At this place we serve children with Unimix porridge which has very high nutritional value. Everyday they are served with it to their fill, normally at the church compound.
Wanja's case is not the only one - parents in Mororo have a huge challenge of getting jobs and some have resorted to brewing illicit brew to get money for food. This time around there is great challenge even in raising money to support their families.
