§ John RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in the northern pastoral regions of Kenya that border Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia; and what assistance her Department is providing to alleviate poverty in the pastoral regions of Kenya. [105425]
§ Clare ShortFollowing several years of poor rains and drought the food security situation in northern Kenya remains precarious. Following recent rain in the north and north-eastern border areas, livestock and grazing conditions there are satisfactory. But the rains have not yet come to the north-west, and some livestock losses there have been reported. DFID staff in Kenya are in close touch with UN and other agencies which are closely monitoring the situation.
Since 1999 DFID has spent over £18 million on drought-related assistance to Kenya. Most of this has been targeted on the north of the country. DFID is also supporting longer term initiatives to reduce poverty in these areas, both through our core contributions to UN 660W agencies such as the World Food Programme, and by supporting NGOs, including Oxfam and EPAG, working on conflict resolution and a range of activities to help people to secure and enhance their livelihoods.