A Community’s Struggle for Survival

It is hard to believe that green pastures ever existed in Garbatulla. Now there is only a sandy soil strewn with animal carcasses burned by the sun. Nothing grows here now and in the memory of all the villagers, there has not been a drought like this for 60 years. Helpless farmers are watching their livestock die as there is no longer any pasture for them to feed on. In a region where livestock is the only source of income and food for so many, this is a huge crisis.

Fatuma is one of the 3.5 million Kenyans affected by the devastating drought. This morning another one of his cows died - the seventh in a matter of weeks. Today, he is left with only four animals.

"Look at our animals. How are we supposed to sell them?” says Hussein, another farmer, pulling a sickly goat along behind him. “Nobody wants to buy the animals in such bad shape. We used to sell the cattle to buy grain, oil and sugar. Now, we can buy nothing. Many people have left the region but for us, we do not know where to go. We were born here and we do not know anything else than livestock farming."

Two consecutive poor rainy seasons have resulted in one of the driest years in Garbatulla leading to crippling harvests and a sharp rise in market prices. Communities have reverted to emergency measures such as rationing the water from their wells. In some villages, families can only collect 20 litres of water per household per day – an amount far below the minimum of 15 litres per person daily recommended by the World Health Organisation to meet basic hygiene and health requirements. In view of this situation, the risk of disease outbreak is high.

Water is also rationed for animals with herds taken in turn to drink at what little water supplies remain. "I arrived here at 9 o'clock in the morning to give water to my goats and have been waiting for six hours,” said Giro Abdi. “I am now number nine in the queue. I am thirsty and I cannot even drink the water myself as it is too salty for humans."

When told that the international community was meeting this week to prepare their response to the crisis that is devastating his village, Giro Abdi replies: "Tell them that we really need help. We cannot go on like this."