East Africa is facing the worst drought since the 1950s. The drought has withered crops, killed cattle and led to massive increases in food prices. More than 10 million people are now facing starvation over large areas of Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and the rest of the region. Malnutrition rates have soared above the emergency threshold threatening communities in the region, leaving women and children the most vulnerable. Merlin is responding with priority given to children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating mothers.
Kenya
Merlin has been addressing the situation and since January, by providing supplementary feeding and out-patient therapeutic programs to close to three thousand children under 5 years and pregnant and lactating women. Two members of the Merlin Emergency Response Team are currently being deployed in order to assist with the scale up of operations which includes continuing to address the situation by providing supplemental feeding.
Our activities include providing integrated health and nutrition services to around 420 000 people, via 35 health facilities; and increasing an initial 36 outreach sites to 85 sites as well as increasing therapeutic nutritional centers from one to four, to help the most severely malnourished.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia faces its worst drought in a decade with more than 3 million people in need of emergency aid. Merlin is currently implementing nutrition programs in Rayitu, Sawena, Legehida, Gololcha, Ginnir and Guradamole Woredas in Bale Zone, Oromiya Region, as well as comprehensive health and nutrition programs in the Somali region. Since January, Merlin has enrolled more than 1,568 children under 5 and pregnant and lactating women into its out-patient therapeutic program in addition to 6,171 enrolled in targeted supplementary feedings. While activities have been identified, Merlin’s Emergency Response team is currently assessing the situation to determine additional areas that may need support. Across Ethiopia, Merlin is providing integrated health and nutrition services in 240 health posts, 20 health centers and 3 hospitals
In the hardest to reach communities with no access to health posts or centers, Merlin will provide care through 4 mobile health teams.
Somalia
A combination of the worst drought in 60 years and relentless violence has plunged thousands of lives at risk if food and water can not reach the most vulnerable. Currently, Merlin supports 19 static and 2 mobile health clinics in Puntland and South Central. In South Central, Merlin is providing integrated Primary Health Care and Nutrition Services to a population of 94,000 out of which 3,760 are children under the age of one year and 15,040 are children under the age of 5 years and 3,760 are pregnant women. In Puntland in the Mudug and Nugaal region, the total beneficiaries are 63,000 of which 2,520 are children under the age of one year, 10,080 children are under 5 years and 2,520 are pregnant women.
Our activities include preparing for the scale up of activities in the south by increasing the number of supported health facilities to 6 health facilities, 6 health posts and 4 outreach teams.