Kenyan Relief: Famine Update
Last year we shared the news across our family of churches that our dear friends in Kenya were facing one of the worst droughts in around 40 years.
We opened an appeal to help provide relief to the families that Edward Buria and his teams were supporting, and it’s a joy to report that you have generously given a wonderful £37,104.97!
Thank you so much for your support that is ‘relieving the pressing needs of others’ (Titus 3:14).
November 2022: Emergency food supplies included maize meal for adults
November 2022: Children received a porridge flour enriched with vitamins and minerals
Continued drought
In the October update we communicated our plan to provide relief until March 2023 when our friends in Kenya hoped to harvest the crops planted in late 2022. It’s heartbreaking to report that many of those crops have failed due to continued drought in the area.
Edward Buria with the food supplies that are ready to be delivered to communities affected by continued drought and the resulting crop failure
As the drought continues, an estimated 4.4 million people in Kenya are relying upon emergency food relief [House of Lords Library]
Food and fuel prices are far above average and, in addition to that, increasing social unrest has made it too dangerous to travel to some of the most needy areas, limiting access for Edward and his teams to reach those who are impacted. As people are getting increasingly desperate, they are turning to banditry and cattle rustling to survive. The situation is dire - please pray.
Edward shares more of what is happening here:
As he shares in the video, the goal of the relief fund is two-fold: in the short term they want to provide emergency relief to families, but in the long-term they want to continue digging boreholes that will be a permanent solution helping these agricultural communities weather future droughts. We are pleased to hear that the communities are doing well in the areas of Kenya where we successfully funded not one, but two borehole projects!
Continuing to stand with our brothers and sisters in Kenya
In light of this news, we are keeping the appeal open until October 2023.
We understand that this is not the only pressing need in the world that you are supporting, and are deeply grateful for all that has been given up to this point - but if you and your churches do feel able to give any more support it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Follow Edward Buria’s updates on Twitter.