ASIA/TAIWAN - Tons of rice from Taiwan to cope with the severe famine that continues to plague Kenya

Taipei (Agenzia Fides) - According to the Taipei office of the American charity organization World Vision, Taiwan donated 4,300 tons of rice to the people of Kenya and thereby contribute to the fight against the famine that afflicts the country. The donation will help 200 000 people who are in desperate need of food due to a severe drought. The rice will be sent to the Kenyan counties of Wajir and East Pokot, the beneficiaries will have a monthly ration of 9 kg as well as beans, oil and other dietary supplements provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations. The first 300 tons of rice will be delivered in January, the rest after two months. The situation is very serious: the latest report of the emergency relief program says that more than 13 million people in the Horn of Africa have suffered the worst drought to hit the region in 60 years. Crop yields have fallen sharply and food prices have skyrocketed in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania. The prolonged drought has fueled the famine for 3.5 million Kenyans and the situation has worsened with the wave of refugees who have arrived from neighboring Somalia, ravaged by war. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 22/12/2011)