London: Many more Kenyan children will die hungry than have been killed in recent political violence unless urgent action is taken to ensure they have enough to eat, Plan International, the leading children's NGO, warned today.
Hundreds of thousands of Kenya's poorest children are at risk of severe malnutrition because of disruption to food supplies caused by the unrest. Many moderately malnourished children living in the worst affected areas are facing acute food shortages, the destruction of farms and the loss of family livelihoods. Fuel shortages and the current absence of a political settlement mean the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better.
Plan has been quick to respond to the emergency. With the Kenyan Red Cross, it is preparing to provide emergency relief, including high energy and high protein foods, to 50,000 children and 5,600 pregnant and lactating mothers. Plan will also provide medical assistance, help reunite families separated by the violence and promote reconciliation between children and young people from different ethnic backgrounds.
Tom Miller, Plan chief executive, is available for interview about the crisis. Mr Miller has first-hand experience of Plan's work in Kenya. Requests for interviews should be made to Jon Slater, Plan press officer, contact details below.
Notes to editors: Plan International is a leading children's NGO working in 49 developing countries to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. Plan works with more than 3.5 million families each year throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America.
For queries about Plan please contact:
Jon Slater,
Plan International press officer,
Tel: +44 (0) 1483 733211
Mobile: +44 (0) 7866 581526
Email: jon.slater@plan-international.org
Web: www.plan-international.org/news/journalists/
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer (L) and U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger look at pictures of violence during a meeting with civil society members in ...
