According to a survey, almost 2 million Kenyans are in need of food assistance

The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) reported on Tuesday that over two million people in Kenya are in need of food assistance. The situation has been made worse by the continuous, severe rains, which have forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

As per the March report from the NDMA, the impacted individuals are dispersed over 23 arid and semi-arid areas nationwide.

“Acute malnutrition has also been noted across the counties with 847,932 children aged six to 59 months and 124,359 pregnant and breastfeeding mothers malnourished acutely and in need of treatment,” according to the NDMA.

The situation has gotten worse as a result of the torrential rains in April, which have destroyed roads and displaced people in desert districts.

According to Kenyan authorities, the country’s floods has caused at least 169 deaths and about 200,000 displaced people.

The NDMA has demanded unconditional cash transfers and frequent food aid, with a focus on vulnerable populations in flood-prone areas.

The United Nations World Food Program estimates that 54 million people in Eastern Africa experienced food insecurity in March. Ethiopia (15.8 million), South Sudan (5.7 million), and Sudan (17.7 million) are among the hotspot countries in the region.