Northern Kenya's devastating drought wipes out livestock, endangers lives

Carcasses of goats and sheep littered the landscape in Mandera, northern Kenya, as a prolonged drought wiped out livestock and left families struggling to survive.

The lack of rainfall dried up water sources, forcing pastoral communities to travel long distances in search of water and grazing land. The drought severely reduced livestock numbers, undermining the main source of livelihoods for many households in the region.

Aid remained limited, while the distance required for water trucking increased, further straining communities. The loss of livestock was expected to have long-term impacts on livelihoods in Mandera, where most residents depend on pastoralism for survival.