November 3, 2024
Northern Kenya Communities Rebuild Lives Amid Climate Crisis

Northern Kenya Communities Rebuild Lives Amid Climate Crisis

Northern Kenya Communities Rebuild Lives Amid Climate Crisis

In Kakuma, a refugee camp in Northern Kenya, Sabrina, a mother of three, has begun to rebuild her life after devastating floods destroyed her home and vegetable garden.

Originally from South Sudan, Sabrina is one of many in the region adapting to increasingly severe weather brought on by climate change.

“We were living peacefully when the floods hit. In the middle of the night, flash floods displaced us as the river broke its banks,” she said.

Thanks to assistance from the UNHCR, Sabrina now has a new home and has started growing vegetables again in a small garden next to it.

Her story is one of resilience in the face of a climate crisis that is upending livelihoods across Northern Kenya.

The Turkana region, where communities rely on pastoralism, has been hit hard by both drought and floods, with unpredictable weather patterns threatening the way of life for many.

Reena Ghelani, the Assistant Secretary-General and Climate Crisis Coordinator for El Niño and La Niña, recently visited the region and spoke with families struggling to cope with climate shocks.

“The people here have seen firsthand how the climate is changing.

The rainy seasons are unpredictable, and the floods are more severe.

But they are also showing incredible resilience. With the right support, they are adapting to this new reality,” she said during the visit.

One of the key initiatives helping communities in Turkana and Samburu counties adapt is the USAID Nawiri program, which is focused on rehabilitating rangelands and water systems to withstand extreme weather.

By introducing new agricultural techniques and alternative livelihoods, such as beekeeping and vegetable farming, the program aims to help families diversify their incomes and improve their resilience to future shocks.

Hellen, a mother of seven living in Northern Turkana, has witnessed firsthand the benefits of these efforts.

“The heavy rains used to wash away our water pump, leaving us without water for farming or livestock.

But through the Nawiri program, we rehabilitated the pump and made it climate-proof,” she said.

Northern Kenya Communities Rebuild Lives Amid Climate Crisis