/ 4 October 2000

KENYA FOOD SUPPLIES IMPROVE

EARLY harvests are improving food supplies in the west of Kenya but shortages in drought ravaged regions are getting worse, the government said. Harvesting in the breadbasket region has been promising, but food shortages are expected to persist in the arid Eastern, North Eastern and parts of the Rift Valley and these areas will continue relying on famine relief supplies until at least February 2001. Kenya is suffering its worst drought in four decades after the main long rains (March-May) largely failed. – Reuters