Drought and Starvation Grip Turkana Amid Aid Cuts

In Turkana, Kenya, a severe drought compounded by aid cuts has left many struggling to survive. 76-year-old Echakan Amaja relies on foraged fruit and limited food rations, while enduring the loss of livestock to raiders. The crisis is worsening across the Horn of Africa, affecting millions.

In Kenya's Turkana region, a devastating drought has returned, exacerbated by aid cuts that have forced agencies to downscale their operations, leading to widespread starvation. Residents like 76-year-old Echakan Amaja find themselves struggling to survive on scarce resources.

Amaja, a widowed grandmother, now shoulders the responsibility of feeding her large family after a cattle raid left her destitute. The theft of cattle by bandits has forced all her grandchildren to return home, intensifying the family's struggles amidst meager aid and foraged food.

The escalating drought crisis stretches beyond Kenya, impacting the entire Horn of Africa. Many families endure severe hardship as aid agencies warn of increasing competition for dwindling resources and the potential for violence. Meanwhile, wildlife and sorrows grow as waterholes and pastures dry up.