Food aid concert draws masses

2006-02-06 23:01

Nairobi - Thousands of Kenyans turned up with food donations for a weekend benefit concert in aid of millions threatened by a searing drought that had ravaged east Africa, said organisers on Monday.

They said modelled after the 1984 live aid concert for the victims of famine in Ethiopia, the four-hour, all-Kenyan event drew more than 6 000 people and donations of more than 2 000 tons of food.

Faki Liwala, one of the organisers of Sunday's extravaganza at Nairobi's Nyayo National Stadium, where more than 20 local musicians and bands played, said: "We have collected 12 trucks (of relief), each carrying 20 tons of food."

Several Kenyan firms donated trucks to transport the food to Kenya's north, where at least 40 people had died of drought-related malnutrition and associated illness since December along with thousands of livestock.

Millions 'will need food aid'

Maloba Wesonga, A local clergyman who opened the benefit with a prayer for those affected by the drought, said: "It was great to see young people come together donating their time and money and we thank God for this."

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki declared a drought national disaster on New Year's Day and the government estimated that up to four million people would need food aid to stave off famine by the end of this month.

The United Nations and other agencies put the number at 2.5 million, but were expected to raise that figure by at least one million after they presented updated needs assessment for Kenya this week.

According to the UN, more than six million people in four countries across east Africa - Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Somalia - were on the brink of starvation due to the drought.

- AFP