As communities in northern Kenya face a devastating drought, Islamic Relief Kenya has launched the Wajir Emergency Response Support Project (WERP) to support hard-hit households in Wajir County.

The three-month emergency intervention, set to run from February, will provide food assistance and water trucking to over 5000 people affected by the prolonged dry spell.

Wajir County continues to reel from failed rainy seasons, with water sources drying up, livestock deaths increasing and food insecurity worsening among pastoral communities.

The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has classified the situation as alarming, warning that the effects of the drought are stretching household coping capacities to the limit.

Abdihakim Abdi, an official from NDMA, said many families have lost their main source of livelihood, leaving them exposed to hunger and disease.

“Livestock losses are high, water pans have dried up and access to food is severely constrained. Humanitarian support is now critical to prevent further suffering,” Abdihakim Abdi said.

Islamic Relief Kenya Country Director Hassan Abdille described the drought as more than a climate crisis, saying it has become a daily struggle for survival for thousands of families.

“For over two decades, Islamic Relief Kenya has stood with communities in northern and coastal Kenya through recurring droughts. This response reflects our continued commitment to protect lives, restore dignity and strengthen resilience,” Abdille said.

The WERP project will be implemented in collaboration with local authorities and community structures to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable, including women, children and the elderly.

The intervention is timely as hunger levels rise and families are forced to walk long distances in search of food and water, increasing their vulnerability.

Stakeholders say the project will provide a critical lifeline as affected communities await the next rainy season and longer-term recovery and resilience programmes.