ADDRESSING SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT DURING EMERGENCY DROUGHT RELIEF IN MOYALE, NORTH KENYA

During the period 1999–2000, North Kenya experienced extended drought, which resulted in severe pressure on available water resources and increased mortality of livestock. In response, Action Against Hunger (an international relief agency with project-specific funding from the EC Humanitarian Aid Office) implemented an emergency water-resource programme in the Moyale District. This paper examines some of the sustainability issues relating to such implementations and their impact upon the fragile semi-arid pastoral environment of the region. Specific aspects are drawn from the Moyale programme to illustrate what is often a complex situation. The challenge is how to strike the balance between the short-term needs of an emergency response and the long-term aims of sustainable development and use of resources.