The terrain around Rotu, in East Pokot, Kenya, is hilly and rocky. It is also isolated from the rest of the country by poor infrastructure and limited public transport. In recent years, the normally hot and arid local climate has been plagued by severe, prolonged droughts followed by heavy rains and flooding.

Extreme drought hurts crop yields and food supplies and the subsequent heavy rains and floods frequently displace residents. This makes them vulnerable to food and water insecurity with elderly, young children and lactating mothers most at risk. Heavy rainfall also increases the risk of disease.

To help the people of East Pokot, the Congregation of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) applied for emergency funding from Misean Cara. This was used to distribute food, including maize, beans, salt and cooking oil to over three thousand people.

This has helped them maintain good health and the sense of well-being necessary to continue with their daily lives. Efficient collaboration with local leaders and a sister congregation enabled the Spiritans to surpass the numbers of people initially targeted for aid.

Building community resilience to survive severe and erratic weather events is important, especially as climate-change-induced challenges will persist. Funding has also supported activities that help local people move from relying on emergency food support to sustainable livelihood programmes. The project is also looking at other ways to improve local infrastructure. This includes opening up the area for trade - especially in honey processing and other income-generating activities - by making roads more passable during rainy seasons.