Droughts in this barren region have often led to conflicts

More than 30% of people's livestock in the area have died due to the drought, Mandera's district commissioner said.

These reports come two days after UN agencies warned that 2.5 million Kenyans could face famine next year unless food aid pleas are met.

The drought in the area along the border with Somalia has led to competition for land and water.

This has led to frequent clashes in Kenya and Somalia with conflicts between pastoralists and farmers.

Nothing

Mandera District Commissioner Kimani Waweru told Kenya's media that lack of rain had caused the situation to deteriorate badly.

"We have moved from a situation of drought to one of famine. The situation is not just bad, it is very, very bad," he said.

Mohammed Molole, 80, told the East African Standard that the last of his 289 head of cattle died at the weekend.

"I have walked all over the plains and there is nothing at all to give the cattle," he said. The newspaper says that there are fears that more deaths could have gone unreported because residents would usually bury their dead within 24 hours.

The World Food Programme is appealing for $127 million for emergency operations in the drought-affected areas while the UN children's fund, Unicef, says it needs $4 million to save more than 20,000 children hit by famine in northern Kenya.

The government also says more than 100,000 people are faced with food shortages on the east coast due to a prolonged drought.