The Salvation Army responds to drought in Kenya

Drought and crop failure in East Africa is causing a ‘humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions’ according to Salvation Army leader General André Cox

DROUGHT and crop failure in different parts of Africa – particularly in East Africa – is causing a ‘humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions’, according to The Salvation Army’s world leader General André Cox. The international church and charity’s response to the widespread famine is focused initially in northern Kenya, where the country’s president has declared a national disaster in 23 counties. 

In Turkana, which borders South Sudan and Ethiopia, officers from The Salvation Army’s Kenya West Territory are on the front line of serving communities where hunger, starvation and disease are currently a daily occurrence. More than 8,000 men, women and children are being provided with emergency food supplies, including maize, beans, rice and cooking oil. This will directly address the acute malnutrition being experienced in 13 separate communities. Coordination with other agencies in the region will ensure that immediate assistance will be provided to the most vulnerable residents. 

Ongoing development work undertaken by The Salvation Army in Turkana is helping to equip community members to cope with the effects of a lack of rainfall. One resilience project is teaching children at a local school how to grow drought-resistant crops, such as pawpaw, by surrounding the plants with protective, thorny species which act as a deterrent to animals.

Elsewhere, The Salvation Army’s Kenya East Territory is undertaking a school feeding programme in Kitui County. This initiative ensures that the children attending seven primary schools in the county receive at least one nutritious meal each day. 

Meanwhile, in Isiola – the worst-affected county in Kenya – The Salvation Army has just completed the drilling of a borehole. This provides immediate access to safe drinking water and also enables members of the community to use the new, reliable supply to irrigate their crops and ensure their livestock are well cared for.

A further needs assessment is being undertaken in other drought-stricken areas, to explore how The Salvation Army can best respond in cooperation with national and local authorities and other non-governmental organisations.

Reflecting on scenes from East Africa, General Cox acknowledges in his Easter message that ‘we might feel a sense of powerlessness by a pending disaster of this magnitude … yet our faith in God should drive us to more than thoughts of compassion. Perhaps we should, in this time of Lent, consider what things we can do without so that others may have something.’

Report by IHQ Communications
International Headquarters

Discover more

Adults and children sing in a family choir
Denmark and Greenland
The General

Guided by God’s compass

A festival of faith, family and forward movement in Denmark

Faith-Based Facilitation
Strategy and impact

Faith-Based Facilitation

Faith-Based Facilitation is a way of helping people think, talk, explore and respond to issues in the light of faith.

Volunteers unload supplies from a Salvation Army emergency vehicle
Emergency response
USA Southern

The Salvation Army responds to catastrophic Texas floods

Emergency Disaster Services teams are working around the clock to provide meals, drinks and emotional and spiritual care to communities in Central Texas, USA, following the devastating flooding of the Guadalupe River.

World map with countries highlighted in different colours
Strategy and impact

World Map

A downloadable map showing countries in which The Salvation Army is at work.

A group of young Salvationists in front of the exhibition 'Transforming lives for 160 years'
International Headquarters

Salvation Army celebrates 160 years; anticipates powerful future

Transforming lives and communities since 1865

Modern slavery and human trafficking

Spot the Signs

Driven by poverty, conflict, persecution – and the global demand for cheap goods, labour and sex – modern slavery and human trafficking are thriving worldwide. Yes, even in your own community.

Victims often can’t ask for help. They rely on others – on