The Food Is There But No One Can Afford It

A mother and her child at the SOS Medical Center in Badbado Refugee Camp, SomaliaPhoto Courtesy of Jens Honoré

When we hear of a hunger disaster like in Kenya and Somalia, most people imagine an area with no food at all. The drought in Kenya and Somalia has spoiled the harvest in many areas, but even in some of the worst-hit districts of Somalia and Northern Kenya, the stores can still provide basic food supplies.

"We want to start giving out food for the refugees in Mogadishu and Baidoa, although we also have to think of logistics and security. Just recently, ten people were killed when a truck with food came into the Badbado camp. Where we can, we will try to contract with local stores and give out food vouchers for the needy instead,” Ahmed Mohamed, National Director of SOS Children's Villages Somalia said.

The same solution is about to be implemented in Kenya, supported by a new identification card system with personal cards for the neediest families. This ensures the food comes from local stores and SOS Children's Villages covers the cost.

"We have seen a tremendous rise in prices during the last few months. And the prices can still go up,” said Ruth Okowa, National Director of SOS Children's Villages Kenya.

A big brother watches over his little sisterPhoto Courtesy of Jens Honoré

An August update from the World Bank states that the hunger catastrophe in the Horn of Africa is not primarily due to the lack of food. The reason is also that food has become so expensive that no one can afford it. Climate change, drought, political instability and rising prices of gasoline cause the prices of food to rise, and the Horn of Africa holds the record. This is lethal for the children. Some 29,000 children in the Horn of Africa have died from hunger-related causes during the last months and at least 600,000 more are at great risk, the World Bank states.

In Somalia the price of the local corn durra has risen 240 percent. In Ethiopia maize is 86 percent more expensive now than it was a year ago, and in Kenya the price for corn has doubled.

"The situation is so bad that we can only fix the prices for two weeks, when we give out the food vouchers for the drought victims. After that period we have to make a new agreement with the stores. We need the families to get the appropriate amount of food, and if the prices go up, we cannot supply for as many persons,” Ruth Okowa said.

Long-term Work Is Also Affected

The rising prices are a challenge in the SOS Children's Villages in East Africa as well.

"The SOS Mothers get approximately $1.44 a day per child to buy food, and the mothers have to think alternatively to stay within the budget. Not to mention the families in our family support programs," Ruth Okowa said.

For SOS Children's Villages the prices pose a threat to the ongoing work, since they might make it necessary to cut down the number of beneficiaries and thus reach fewer kids.

"This is not at all a solution we want. Therefore we are trying all other ways," said Ruth Okawa.

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