Residents turn to charcoal burning for survival

By Paul Gitau

Thousands of hungry residents in Malindi have turned to charcoal burning to survive, a Kenya Red Cross official has said.

Local Red Cross Coordinator Elinba Mapenzi said destruction of trees in the nearby Arabuko Sokoke Forest, a protected area with rare species of trees and birds, is massive.

Mrs Mapenzi said a survey by the drought-steering committee in the district showed that 120,000 people face severe food shortage.

The World Food Programme is feeding 20,000 people, while the others to depend on the Government.

For the past three months, she said, the Government has not provided food to the affected residents.

The most affected areas are Marafa, Malanga, Chakama, Adu and Lango Baya. She appealed to well-wishers to help.

Malindi DC Arthur Mugira earlier said the district has not received food from the Government in the past three months and it depended on well-wishers.

He said the district expected a 2,000-bag consignment of food from the Government. Once it arrives at the Kilifi National Cereals and Produce Board depot, it would be distributed at the most affected areas.

Contracting diseases

"We ordered the food, but there is no maize at the Kilifi depot," the DC said, adding that he expects food recently imported by the Government to be directed to the district.

Meanwhile, Kilifi Kenya Red Cross Society has appealed for food and medicine to save the lives of 35 family members.

The relatives have been living in the cold for the past three weeks after a court ordered their houses demolished.

The branch chairman, Mr Dickson Mae, said the children risk contracting diseases for sleeping in the cold.

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