St. Egidio appeals for aid for the Horn of Africa

East Pokot, some 300 kilometres North of Nairobi, is one of the poorest districts in Kenya. The volcanic soil is arid. Its produce is meagre at the best of times, and right now, as severe drought strickes the entire Horn of Africa, the soil is dry and the people are starving.

Some 130.000 people live in this area in conditions of dire poverty. Ninety percent of them are illiterate.

This is the first district the Rome-based Community of St. Egidio has managed to reach with emergency aid: 9 tons of maize brought to the area by a delegation from the Community in Rome and Nakuru.

The people of East Pokot gathered around the rural churches of Kositei and Chemsik where the aid was distributed to some one thousand families.

Children, men and women of all ages, many in dire conditions due to hunger and fatigue, waited patiently their turn. One sack of maize will fulfill the needs of a family for many days. When all sacks had been handed out, not a single grain of maize was left on the ground.

It is the start of a presence and the sign of vicinity on the part of the Community of St. Egidio in support of the populations struck by drought and famine. This presence will reach other Kenyan districts as well.

The Community of St. Egidio is launching an appeal to the Italian population, to food industries, to single individuals, to help step up and accellerate the emergency aid operations.

Anyone who wishes to take part can do so through a special bank account or offer a contribution online at www.santegidio.org