Caring for God’s Earth – Helping those most affected by climate change.

Eco Church

As part of the Eco Church challenge we need to be aware of how climate change is affecting Christians in other countries. One area of the world that is suffering greatly is East Africa. An estimated 6.4 million people in the arid and semi-arid lands of northern Kenya are struggling with extreme food insecurity following five consecutive poor rainy seasons which have hampered crop production. Desperate families face starvation following years of drought. As an example, four years ago, the fields around the village of Achukule in Turkana county, were thriving. The 200 acres of farmland produced abundant crops including maize, sorghum, cowpeas, water melon, groundnuts and vegetables. The villagers also grazed cattle but now, because of the prolonged drought, the grass has shrived up, the villagers’ animals have died and crops cannot grow because there is no water.

That has not been the villagers’ only problem, as in late 2019, Kenya was among the countries of East Africa to endure a massive infestation of desert locusts. Thousands of hectares of cropland and pasture were ravaged, threatening the livelihoods of millions of people, including those in Turkana county. The people are now desperate. A grandmother from Achukule who lives with her two sons, a daughter and several grandchildren has said: ‘It is hard work just foraging enough to feed the goat. Feeding the family is even harder. We just try to survive any way we can.’

If you feel you would like to help support these desperate people who feel that only God can help them now, please go to the Tearfund website www.tearfund.org/gift to donate. Thank you.