RAINS FALLS IN KENYA AT LAST!

Heavy rain in drought-hit Kenya.

The north-east of the country has been hit hard by the drought. Heavy rain has fallen in northern and eastern parts of drought-hit Kenya. The falls have brought some relief to the African nation but also caused flooding and damage to roads. And a government spokesman said that although famine had been averted so far, without sufficient rainfall the country would be in "deep trouble".

Months of drought have left 3.5 million people in Kenya and at least 11 million across the Horn of Africa in need of food aid. UN relief co-ordinator Jan Egeland is due to launch an appeal for international aid for the region on Friday. Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua said systems were currently in place to feed the people until June. "If it doesn't rain, then we are in deep trouble, then we have to start importing food," he said. "But we have asked for international assistance because it is very, very expensive to feed our people." He said the rain, though welcome, had brought havoc in some areas, damaging roads and leading to flooding.

Ethiopians at heart of food crisis answer your questions

Some 3,000 people had to leave their homes in the north-east of the country after a river burst its banks, Reuters news agency reported. Aid workers were having trouble getting to the area because of damage to roads, an official told Reuters. Aid agency Oxfam warned last month that north-eastern Kenya could take 15 years to recover from the effects of drought. The BBC's Karen Allen says although the rain may provide temporary relief, millions of people will still have to rely on food aid for some time to come, and it is clear the crisis is far from over.

BBC NEWS REPORT.