CRISIS LOOMS AT MCF
River dries, crops die from prolonged drought in Kenya
July 22, 2009
It is with great sadness that we bring you some urgent news. Earlier this year, the drought in Kenya was declared a National Disaster. The drought is hitting MCF hard and after witnessing the devastation, we must share the shocking reality with you:
The mighty Thika River which supplies MCF’s irrigation water has dried up, leaving only three stagnant pools of water; and Jacob’s Well, which supplies clean drinking and cooking water to MCF is running dangerously low. In a couple days the river water will be contaminated and unfit for the children’s bathing and laundry. MCF is currently using one of the pools to water their crops but if it doesn’t rain within 5 days, MCF will be forced to stop irrigation and watch their crops die. This would be devastating, as MCF's farms supply a large portion of MCF's operating revenue, they help employ half the community and they help feed the MCF children and the families of the women who work in the fields.
The villagers around MCF depend on the water from Thika for their own drinking and irrigation and within a few weeks the water will be gone, their crops will wither and die, and they will be left with no food, no water, and nothing to sell in the market.
This morning, Charles let us know that Kenya's Prime Minister is scheduled to address the Members of Parliament this afternoon in response to questions on how he is tackling the escalating crisis in the areas of food and water scarcity and electricity, as crops have failed in many parts of the country and rivers have dried up, making power generation dwindle. There are confirmed reports that several people have died of hunger in parts of Kenya’s Eastern and North Eastern Provinces – where MCF Yatta and Ndalani are located – an issue that the PM is scheduled to clarify. We cannot wait for the PM to respond, we need to act now.
A severe drought like this is hard for us Canadians to comprehend, but it is a serious reality in Kenya.
MCF has been doing the best they can with the resources they have, but the drought is taking its toll and we realized that once we got back to Canada we had to share this urgent need with you and ask you to stand with us to take action as a community. There are a several ways we can help MCF:
Pray for Rain
While at MCF, all the children in Ndalani gathered down at the river bed to pray for rain. We must join with them as co-labourers before the Lord, interceding on behalf of the children and communities in Kenya who are facing dehydration and starvation. Pray for the protection and health of the children and villagers and strength for Charles & Esther as they confront the crisis that looms before them over the next couple weeks.
Help Provide Food & Water
There is a way MCF can access clean water, but they need our help. MCF needs to drill a minimum of 3 boreholes to provide clean irrigation water and drinking water for the children, staff and communities in and surrounding MCF’s Yatta & Ndalani homes. Each borehole costs $25,500. While the wells are being drilled, MCF requires a special government-approved truck and tanker to transport drinking water from Yatta to the children at Ndalani. A used truck will cost $38,000, and will continue to be utilized long after the drought is over. A small price to pay to save and sustain thousands of lives.
We thank those who have already generously contributed to the Yatta Pipeline Project to pump water from the Thika River to MCF’s Yatta home and want you to know that there is no expectation to give again. The pipeline project is vitally important to the Water Sustainability program which, once completed, will carry MCF through future droughts. Our priority right now is to provide food and water for MCF as soon as possible.
MCF also desperately needs food relief to feed the MCF children and the people from the surrounding communities.
Everyone's crops are dying and food prices have tripled in the last year. Rain isn’t expected until December, and even if it comes, crops will need another 3 months to grow. MCF needs food support until sometime next year to make sure no one goes hungry. This picture shows the corn harvest three years ago compared with the corn crops struggling to survive today. Once MCF stops irrigation, these crops will die.
If you can support this urgent need, please call us at: (905) 235-2886 or send a cheque to MCFCF at P.O. Box 93014, 1111 Davis Dr., Newmarket, ON. L3Y 8K3 (please write ‘Drought Relief’ in the subject line), or donate online now through CanadaHelps. Your support will help MCF survive this immediate crisis and support their efforts to achieve long-term sustainability and avoid future crises.
Watch the Video
Take a couple minutes to watch a powerful video featuring the drought on YouTube or through our MCFCF group on Facebook. We encouarge you to share this video with your friends and family - the need is big and we need a big response.
We thank you again for your compassionate hearts and faithful support of MCF and the children of Kenya. Your generosity is saving lives.