CAFOD Appeal Drought Response, Isiolo 2011-2012 The failure of October 2010 short rains and a then again the failure of the long rains in March / April 2011 means that food security in lowland and pastoral areas of eastern and North eastern Kenya has been severely affected. The epicentre of the drought has hit the poorest people in the region in an area straddling the borders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia where families rely heavily on livestock for survival. In this part of Kenya, over two-thirds of the population makes their living by raising goats, sheep, cattle and camels. 
When drought comes, both water and grazing for animals vanish and they sell for downward-spiralling prices resulting in deterioration of nutrition status particularly children requiring supplementation of protein rich food sources. The problem has been exacerbated by a worldwide rise in food prices. The price of grain in affected areas in Kenya is 30-80% above average. 
In many parts of Northern Kenya, up to 75 percent of their herds have already died while the remainder is either sick or dangerously underweight. The price of animals has plummeted by half while the cost of cereals has soared. Malnutrition rates stands at mean of 31%. There is reported significant number of deaths, mainly of children, pregnant women and elderly people attributed to hunger, dehydration and water waterborne diseases. 
An increase in staple food prices, particularly in far-flung areas, has worsened, according to ALRMP: 2kg of  maize in  Hurri hills, Marsabit town  has increased from 50 shillings to 150 Kshs  (1.9 USD) and milk has risen from 40 shillings (50 cents) per litre to 80 shillings (1 USD) per litre  ( January and end may respectively). 
School attendance has greatly been affected with some schools down due to lack of  water , others experiencing low attendance while others having 2 to 3 times the number of students   as pastoralists move with their families  in search of pasture.
According to the IPC classification, many large areas of Northern Kenya such as Isiolo, Marsabit, Maralal, Wajir and Turkana and Moyale has now been classified as “emergency” as of June 2011. Estimates issued by the Kenya Government and the United Nations (UN) shows over 3.5 million people are affected and in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Kenya. 
The situation is changing rapidly and is now estimated that over 4 million people will be classified as “humanitarian crisis” as early as August 2011 in Kenya alone. The next rainy season is not expected before October and December 2011 and there are already indications that poor pastoral communities in large areas of Northern Kenya are already experiencing severe food stress characterised by massive crop failure, high mortality of cattle and a steep deterioration of the livelihoods assets. In the words of many commentators, this drought is being described as the worst drought to hit East Africa in 60 years. 
The encroaching drought has resulted in reduced production of livestock products for household consumption, increased pressure on pasture, death of livestock and insecurity as pastoralists continue to move in search of pasture and others immigrate from the neighbouring Wajir, Isiolo, Samburu counties and others move to the neighbouring Ethiopia.  Resource based conflict is increasing due to competition for limited water and pasture resources.
On June 1st the Government of Kenya (GoK) declared the drought a national disaster and appealed international assistance to provide support to over 3 million Kenyans affected by the drought and acute food shortages Northern, East, Coast and parts Rift valley provinces.  CAFOD through its traditional Catholic Church partners is planning to respond to the needs of the worst affected communities in 4 most affected districts of Maralal, Marsabit, Isiolo and Kitui. The assistance is meant to ensure that the livelihoods of these communities are protected and that these communities do not suffer.
Isiolo is located in Eastern Province of Kenya and covers 25,605 km squared. The three districts covered by the diocese are hot and dry most times of the year. Rainfall is scarce and unreliable. The wet months of the year are November and April. Rain-fed crop growing is limited to parts of Kinna and Central divisions.  
This project is to respond to the current drought which has hit communities living in Isiolo. The project aims at saving lives through improvement of access to safe water, improving food security and reducing malnutrition and morbidity among targeted communities.
Through this project, the partner aims to support in the following ways:
1). Support 1750 drought stricken H/Hs gain immediate access to safe and clean water & sanitation facilities through the construction of  new water facilities such as boreholes.
3) Support 234 droughts stricken and poor and unproductive households with under 5 children who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition or with elderly (0ver 70s) or H/Hs with PLWH receive non conditional cash grants that aim to help them access sufficient dietary intake for a period of 6 months.
4) Support 5 clinics run by the Church partners are supported with the provision of essential drugs and supplies and provide free provide basic outpatient services for a period of six months to poor drought stricken families/ individuals.
5) Support to the Diocese of Isiolo with HR, Logistics  and admin support to mount operations.