Drought spreads in Africa

A mother explains that food will run out in a few days

By the BBC's Orla Guerin in Kenya

Aid workers say the next few weeks could be crucial in the battle against famine in the Horn of Africa.

There are hopes that rains, expected soon, might help ease the plight of millions of people. While attention has been focused on Ethiopia, other countries in the region are also stricken.

In parts of Kenya, there's been no rain for three years, leading to widespread suffering among its people.

A child tries to drink from his empty cup

The Turkana people of northern Kenya just sit for hours, silent and powerless, waiting for aid as they have lost everything to the drought.

Drought has ravaged this region, first claiming the animals and now the people.

Life or death

For the people, it is now a life and death situation as rations of pulses and cereals are carefully measured out. Food has been given to more than half the local population.

But one woman has told us the aid will run out in just four days and is not enough for her eight children and all her relatives. She has already buried one son.

Women gather the last grains of aid

The local leader, who has lost his son and daughter, said he could not remember a time when his people suffered so much.

"The generations to come will be told of this drought," he said.

Although there is aid, it is useless for those most in need. Young babies cannot digest the maize. They need milk, but there is none.

"He can't eat what they are giving us," said one mother of her young child. "I am afraid he is going to die in the next few days."