Floodwaters also forced schools to close and damaged health care facilities. The drought is reported to be the worst in 60 years. Citing United Nations sources, the Panafrican News Agency reported on February 19 that 80,000 children in Kenya are facing death from starvation and disease, noting the prolonged drought as the cause. When children are malnourished, they become more vulnerable to contracting illnesses and are much less likely to recover from them. Malaria has become more prevalent in drought-hit areas the rains have led to an increase in mosquitoes that carry malaria.
Malaria is one of the biggest killers of children on the African continent.
One of the hardest hit areas is the Turkana district, located in northwestern Kenya. An estimated 250,000 Turkana residents are struggling to find food and water. Drought is also having a devastating impact on school children. Lack of rain has translated into poor crop harvests and a loss of cattle, resulting in lower family incomes that is preventing parents and guardians from meeting the cost of a child's education. The UN estimates that major relief assistance will be needed in Kenya until at least mid-2001.