Islamic Relief has organised a Ramadan food distribution in Al Nur village in Wajir, Kenya. Raga Nonow Abdille is 50 and suffers from Down syndrome. She has been identified as one of the most vulnerable in the village. Islamic Relief works through local communities and they are the ones that informs the charity about who the food distribution should target.
Raga waits in line patiently with her aunt Habiba. She lives with her aunt and her family. Her aunt has eight children and takes care of Nonow. Once she receives her food pack Habiba, with some help from her son, carries the food back to the hut for Nonow.
“When there is food we cook, when there is no food we don’t,” says Raga “I really appreciate the help,” she adds. Raga is smiling, her aunt tells me that she has never seen her so happy “when there is no food, she cries,” Habiba tells me as she smiles at Raga; both are happy today. This food means that they will have food for the entire family.
I take out the camera to take a picture and Raga smiles, she likes the attention she is getting today, and she sits down and poses for us. She is very happy today, the Islamic Relief aid workers are happy too, they have seen the impact that a simple food distribution can have on a life and the joy it can bring.
Some people cannot come to the food distribution point in the village. One of those is Abdi Absiye Omar who is disabled and is 72 years old. His livestock died because of the drought and now we travel with the Islamic Relief team to his hut.
He has an intense look on his face as he turns to look at us after he finishes praying outside his hut. There are eight people living in his hut.
“When I get food I eat, If I don’t I go hungry,” he says in a quiet tone. I ask him how long he goes without food, “two to three days sometimes,” he replies without hesitation.
In this desert environment it is hot and harsh. Nothing much grows here and people were totally dependent on their livestock. With increasing food prices the affects of the drought have been exacerbated forcing many to leave their homes in the search of food and water.
Islamic Relief has been working in the Horn of Africa for a number of years delivering food, water and setting up mobile health clinics.