Turkana's Resilience
Turkana, in northwest Kenya, is the poorest and least developed county in the ASALs (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands). Almost the whole of the inhabitants of the Turkana district are pastoralists, so their survival depends entirely on livestock, natural resources for food and daily activities.
In the last few decades, due to climate change, the air temperature increased by about 3 degrees, while more frequent and prolonged droughts have reduced the natural resource base. Pasture resources for livestock have dramatically reduced, encouraging those closest to Lake Turkana to turn to fishing as an alternative livelihood.
The area is the fuse of violent conflict, indeed proliferation of illegal arms from southern Sudan and the reduction of natural resources has contributed to the escalation of insecurity along the area's shared borders with Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and other counties in Kenya as Pokot and Marsabit, causing the death of hundreds of people every year.
In the last few decades, due to climate change, the air temperature increased by about 3 degrees, while more frequent and prolonged droughts have reduced the natural resource base. Pasture resources for livestock have dramatically reduced, encouraging those closest to Lake Turkana to turn to fishing as an alternative livelihood.
The area is the fuse of violent conflict, indeed proliferation of illegal arms from southern Sudan and the reduction of natural resources has contributed to the escalation of insecurity along the area's shared borders with Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda and other counties in Kenya as Pokot and Marsabit, causing the death of hundreds of people every year.