11 April, 2001, 04:45 GMT 05:45 UK

Millions of Kenyans face starvation

Farmers are reeling from a series of crop failures More than four million people in Kenya are facing starvation from years of drought, according to a joint statement by more than 40 aid agencies.

They said the international community had responded inadequately to a series of appeals for food, and urged government and donors to support the Kenyan government and the United Nations World Food Programme.

The aid agencies said that despite recent rain in some parts of the country, food shortages in Kenya's north and east remained acute and supplies could run out later this month in some areas.

They say Kenyan farmers have never recovered from a series of crop failures.

Hundreds of thousands of livestock have died, depriving rural communities of their only sources of livelihood.

'Worst drought'

The agencies said donors had responded well to similar appeals last year and urged them not to fall victim to aid fatigue.

Very few pledges have been made so far to a February appeal for $89m by the Kenyan Government and the UN World Food Programme, the statement said.

"This has been the worst drought that Kenya has faced in living memory," Emma Naylor, humanitarian programme coordinator for Oxfam Great Britain said.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 2001