Dirib now depends on the water delivered by a local partner of U.K.-based Christian Aid, a member of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.
Five other ACT members in Kenya are responding to the drought under a US$2.4 million appeal sent to ACT members around the world on February 2. These other ACT members are offering similar assistance in life-saving efforts by providing access to water and food as the situation reaches a crisis stage.
Seven water tankers set off from El Wak town every morning. The water tankers visit small settlements throughout the district.
Most people have dug pits near their homes and lined them with plastic. These pits are large enough to hold enough water for approximately 20 families for 20 days.
When the pits are filled, a scene of orderly chaos unfolds. Anxious to get the pits filled as fast as possible, people quickly peg in the plastic sheets to line the pits. As the pit fills, many people fill their cups and bottles with water to drink.
Any livestock nearby is also thirsty and the people have to work hard to stop the donkeys, goats and sheep from drinking from the pit and contaminating the water.
Within minutes of the tanker arriving, 20 to 30 people have gathered around with jerry cans and gourds, waiting to collect water.
"Without this water, we would have to leave our homes and go to the towns where there are boreholes that still work," explains Dirib.
Thousands of people have had to move to camps outside of the main towns and villages in search of water. Dirib is among the more fortunate in that at least she is able to stay in her home.
Yet for Dirib and for most of the other members of her community, the future looks difficult. She has lost all but four of her cattle. The remaining livestock are weak and need fodder.
People urgently need help to not only cope but also recover from this emergency.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has provided $65,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds towards the $2.4 million ACT appeal for Kenya drought and famine response that includes addressing the immediate food and water needs of the most-affected communities, distributing food, bringing water in by tanks for human and livestock consumption, and drilling boreholes. The Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) is a part of the ACT appeal and is taking an active role in the response.
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