H.E. Ambassador Marie-Thérèse Pictet-Althann was part of a Delegation from the Sovereign Order of Malta and Malteser International to Nairobi, Kenya, for a five days field visit. After a warm welcome and introduction by the Malteser International Kenya team at the country office. They visited projects helping marginalized people in poverty, e.g. the emergency medical services project.
For more than two years, the Horn of Africa has experienced a persistent decline in rainfall. According to the United Nations, more than 20 million people there are in urgent need of aid as a result of a severe drought. We are providing people with drinking water and cash, animal feed, food such as oil, tea, salt, sugar and cereals. The delegation was directly involved in one of the distributions.
In addition, they learned a lot about the complex situation, for example the impact on foreign gain imports – which are needed – and ecological and socio-economic consequences. Local grain varieties that are adapted to the location are also being pushed out: the competition with imported grain products is too great. The consequences are the loss of a large number of useful plants, the destruction of livelihoods and refugee movements. The tense situation on the agricultural markets is getting worse and food security is suffering as a result.
The Delegation was composed of
- H.E. Ambassador Marie-Thérèse Pictet-Althann, Permanent Observer to the UN in Geneva
- H.E. Ambassador Dr. Wilhelm von Trott zu Solz, Ambassador to Kenya and South Sudan, Permanent Observer to UNEP in Nairobi
- Mr. Raphael Vermeir CBE
- Ms. Cecile Brenninkmeijer
- Dr. Michael Rabbow
- Mr. Clemens Mirbach-Harff, Secretary General of Malteser International
- Mr. Hansen Roland, Head of the Africa department at Malteser International.
More about our program in Kenya and also how we support people on the long-term: mint.ngo/3Y1vFmy
