Drought in east Africa: Responding to child nutrition needs - in pictures

Peter, a nurse (in white shirt), measures a child’s upper arm during a Unicef-assisted nutrition screening in Longelop village, near the town of Lodwar, the capital of Turkana district, in Rift Valley province, Kenya. In northern Kenya, more than 25% of children are suffering from global acute malnutrition – in Turkana district the rate is 37.4%, its highest ever. The images in this gallery were taken over the past two weeks
Photograph: Kate Holt/Unicef

A sleeping child’s upper arm is measured by a nurse during a nutrition screening in Longelop village. The measurement, using a mid-upper arm circumference armband, is taken to assess a child’s nutrition status. The red section of the armband indicates that the child is severely malnourished Photograph: Kate Holt/UNICEF

A health worker registers new participants in a supplementary feeding programme for lactating women at a health centre in Longelop village Photograph: Kate Holt/UNICEF

Children and women attend a nutrition session at a health centre in Longelop village Photograph: Kate Holt/UNICEF

A woman and a baby join other villagers under a tree as they wait for nutrition screenings at a health post near the town of Lodwar. In this predominantly pastoralist region, many families are selling their livestock to buy increasingly expensive food Photograph: Kate Holt/UNICEF

Two children wait for nutrition screenings near Lodwar Photograph: Kate Holt/UNICEF

Akuam Kamais and her son Etir, two, arrive at the Unicef-supported dispensary in Kapua village. They have travelled for three days. Akuam heard rumours that this place could offer help and food. Akuam and Etir came from Ladoto, sleeping in the open on the way without food or water. Akuam says people need assistance to reach food so that they can help their children. Unicef and its partners have seven emergency vehicles to support 68 dispensaries in northwest, south and central Turkana. The emergency response needs to be scaled up if every child is to be reached in the most remote villages. Akuam will leave early the next morning with Etir and begin the journey home. Etir has been given a two-week supply of corn soya mix. In theory, Akuam will have to return in two weeks to get more food for him, but with another two children at home it is doubtful that the dry mix will last more than a few days Photograph: Jones/UNICEF

Josephine Lesoru waits with her baby Mariam, 16 months, outside the dispensary in Kapua village. Mariam was given Plumpy'nut (ready-to-eat high-protein paste) last week after her arm measurement was dangerously low. Josephine says that Mariam has been sick most of her short life due to lack of food. Josephine found it very difficult to breastfeed as she produced very little milk due to her own lack of nutrition. Mariam often has diarrhoea, fevers and a cough. Her body has been weakened due to having no food Photograph: Jones/UNICEF

Lucy Lomatchu, the lone nurse in the Unicef-supported dispensary, measures Mariam's arm to check if the Plumpy'nut she was given last week has helped her to put on weight. Mariam’s arm measurement and weight has improved slightly since last week but is still dangerously low. Mariam’s mother is given another week’s supply Photograph: Jones/UNICEF

A woman sits with her severely malnourished child in the paediatric unit at the district hospital in Lodwar. Another malnourished baby lies nearby Photograph: Kate Holt/UNICEF

Orsen Basha feeds her daughter, Ansell, Plumpy'nut, in a feeding centre in the Dagahaley refugee camp near the Kenya-Somalia border. The camp is among four that make up the Dadaab refugee camp complex, located near the town of Dadaab in Garissa district
Photograph: Unicef/Kate Holt

Sabirin, one, receives Plumpy'nut after being screened and weighed for malnutrition at the Galkayo camp, Somalia. Sabirin has lived in this camp with her mother, Aamino, for 10 months. Her sister has brought her along today Photograph: Jess Mony/UNICEF

A sachet of Plumpy'nut supplied at the camp at Galkayo, Somalia. Unicef is the main provider of ready-to-use therapeutic food in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia, but, like all agencies trying to respond to the crisis, it urgently needs more funds to reach every child Photograph: Jess Mony/UNICEF

Health workers prepare a measles vaccine as part of a mother-and-child health day at the camp at Galkayo, Somalia. Children are screened and weighed for malnutrition, vaccinated against major childhood diseases and given de-worming and vitamin A tablets. Mothers of childbearing age also receive tetanus vaccinations Photograph: Jess Mony/UNICEF