Humanitarian partners have intensified emergency food assistance in Turkana County as prolonged drought continues to push families and children toward severe hunger and livelihood collapse.
Across the county, failed crops, dying livestock, and drying water sources have left many households struggling to secure daily meals, heightening the risk of malnutrition and deepening vulnerability among already fragile communities.
In response to the escalating crisis, World Vision Kenya, working in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) and in collaboration with the County Government of Turkana, has rolled out a life-saving food assistance intervention targeting the most vulnerable households.
Over the past week, food distributions have been conducted across Turkana North, Central, South, and East, using 24 food distribution centres to ensure families receive timely and dignified access to nutritious food.
The response is currently reaching 51,150 people from 8,525 households, with approximately 1,188 metric tonnes of assorted food commodities being distributed each month to cushion affected communities from worsening food insecurity.
Beyond food provision, the intervention integrates nutrition screening, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) messaging, protection services, and community accountability mechanisms, aiming to address the broader humanitarian needs created by the drought.
The operation is closely coordinated with the World Food Programme, the Government of Kenya, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), and County Steering Groups to align with national drought contingency plans and ensure harmonised targeting of support.
Humanitarian agencies warn that without sustained assistance and improved rainfall, the situation in Turkana could deteriorate further, particularly for children and vulnerable households whose coping mechanisms are already exhausted.
The ongoing joint response underscores the urgency of coordinated action to save lives, protect livelihoods, and stabilise communities facing one of the harshest drought impacts in recent years.