Smiles better

WHAT a difference a few months make as little Eruduki Ero shows the world she can smile again.

When the Sunday People visited her in April, malnutrition had left her weighing just 10lb – under half the healthy weight for her age.

The three-year-old had not been expected to survive the drought ravaging Kenya.

Now, after months of treatment on a nutrition programme at the Lodwar County Referral Hospital, she is beaming as sister Nancy cradles her in her lap. Nancy, 15, said: “Before, Erukudi could not walk because of illness. Her skin was peeling and her eyes were closed. She was thin but now she is so much better. I’m happy.

“Our parents felt so bad. They were saying maybe Eruduki would not live. Unlike before, Eruduki plays and goes out with other children.”

Eruduki is a glimmer of hope in an otherwise harrowing situation.

Earlier this year, we reported on the impact the drought was having across East Africa.

Five months on, nearly 73,000 children are severely malnourished. Aid agencies have issued a plea to the national and local governments to intervene. Francis Woods, Save the Children’s interim country director in Kenya, said: “The drought has left tens of thousands of children and families in a lifethreatening situation.” Also affected are South Sudan, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and Yemen – and the UN has declared the drought the worst humanitarian crisis for 70 years.