- Up to 20% of Kenya's annual rice production has been wiped out by a fungus, raising concerns of food insecurity in a country that has been embroiled in deadly political unrest.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs(OCHA), 5,600 hectares of rice in Kenya's Central Province have been destroyed by fungus.
Tensions caused by food insecurity became deadly after four internally displaced persons were killed in the Rift Valley when they attempted to go back to their farms.
In the last few months, prices of rice and wheat have soared 75% and 120% respectively globally, creating a food crisis throughout the world. This led to protests in many countries in Africa.
Concerned that food insecurity might cause further tensions in the East African country, OCHA appealed for a further US $150 million for Kenya to help over half a million Kenyans victims of the deadly political unrest sparked off by a dispute over last December's presidential polls.
"This comes amid a humanitarian situation which remains very worrying in Kenya," Elisabeth Byrs, Spokeswoman of the OCHA told a news briefing.
In its efforts to help farmers struggling with price hikes, Kenya's Agriculture Ministry has ordered fertilizers to be sold at less than half the current market rate.
Meanwhile, 67 Kenyans have so far died of cholera this year. And according to the World Health Organisation, nearly 1,300 cases of the virulent water-bone diseases have been reported since January. More than half of the cases have been reported in western Nyanza province.
Officials of WHO and Kenyan Health Ministry have been combating the outbreak by supplying chlorine to treat water supplies, among others.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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