How are the Kenyan government and others responding?
The Kenyan government has provided a large amount of food to the joint relief operation — more than any other contributor. At the same time, the problem is not simply a lack of food. The government of Kenya has been slow to mobilize other much-needed services such as health care. It is difficult for poor governments like that of Kenya — where more than half the population lives on less than a dollar a day — to provide a lot of resources. But the authorities could do much more to make sure that the resources they do have, and those of the international community, are used more effectively. In Somalia, there are no central authorities that can respond to the crisis. However, community groups and local partner organizations have been responding effectively with the support of agencies such as Oxfam. Isn’t it true that nomadic herding is unsustainable and the solution for these communities is to give up this antiquated lifestyle? No. Although they are currently in crisis, these areas of
