The devastating drought that has swept across Kenya, the worst in more than a decade, has left over 4 million Kenyans in urgent need of food assistance. The drought has already killed crops, cattle and children across the countryside and sent malnutrition rates soaring.  In response to this, Malawi will export 80,000 tons of its surplus maize to the hard-hit country. 

Since the Malawian government instituted a fertilizer and seed subsidy program in 2005, Malawi has achieved a maize surplus for four consecutive years. Malawi’s Secretary for Agriculture, Andrew Daudi, has said that the exports will in no way affect local food supplies. Malawi will receive approximately $24 million from selling its surplus crop. 

World Food Program executive director Josette Sheeran said that despite worsening hunger, a shortage of donations would soon force the agency to cut monthly ration sizes to millions of hungry Kenyans in need of urgent food assistance. 

“The funding shortfall is so severe that we will have to start reducing the size of rations early next month - the hardship people are facing is going from bad to worse.” 

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