Kenyan Red Cross warns of drought in the North

The Kenyan Red Cross Society (KRCS) has ordered immediate precautionary measures to protect 146,000 people from the effects of drought in Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties, Kenya's The Standard reported Tuesday (January 21st). KRCS regional manager Kennedy Mulama warned that emergency measures were necessary to protect area residents from a repeat of the 2011 drought, during which an estimated 3.75 million Kenyans were affected by food shortages. The regions received less rainfall than expected this year, and will struggle to maintain their food supplies until the upcoming short rain season, Kennedy said. "We do not envisage a repeat of what happened in 2011 if immediate prerequisite actions are taken in good time by the society, other stakeholders and the government ... by implementing the recommendations of an assessment whose report will be out by the end of the week," he said. Kennedy said the KRCS has conducted trainings in early warning sign identification to help community health workers and volunteers spot the signs of impending drought to help with prevention.