Updated 27 September 2011

As Muslims around the world celebrated Eid Ul Fitr with festivity, people in Eastern Africa continued to suffer in silence.  This is due to the worst drought the area has witnessed in 60 years. This has had a domino effect on prices of basic necessities such as food.   The malnutrition rates in the country have risen drastically; the people mainly affected are the children. Families struggle to provide a basic meal and sometimes wonder where their next meal will come from. It is expected that this situation will continue until December 2011.

Magarini, a quiet town 50 kms of Malindi (situated on the Coastal Strip in Kenya) has been one of the worst affected areas of drought; the people who reside in this area are mostly farmers.  Due to short rains, erratic and poorly distributed long rains have resulted in poor or no farm produce at all.  Last year this area was flooded and the farms were destroyed thus resulting in failure of food crops.  This area has being facing harsh conditions for almost three years now.  The communities have no access to fresh water or well water, they have to travel long distances to places where wells are sunk to receive briny water which is used for both domestic and drinking purposes.  The main occupation of the people in this area is subsistence farming, cash cropping and small scale fishing.

Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya managed to liaise with local councilor and the Chief who arranged for the distribution of maize flour to the locals residing in that area. People attended the distribution in large numbers, men women and children to receive the relief aid.  Over 3700 individuals have benefited from this Relief Distribution carried out by the Mission. The distribution was done in conjunction with Kenya Red Cross, Mombasa and Malindi Branches. 

    

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