I would like to thank The Times for the full-page report (December 31) on the famine situation in that part of Kenya where Bishop Paul Darmanin OFM Cap is working together with other missionaries from Malta and other countries.

The appeal touched many generous hearts from all over Malta and Gozo. When the bishop was contacted prior to his departure to visit the most remote areas of Wajir and Mandera (500 and 1,000 kilometres away from Garissa, the administrative centre of his vast diocese in the northeastern part of Kenya) he was highly appreciative of the contributions so far collected and sent to alleviate the devastating drought and famine which has hit the area causing people and cattle to die.

While I was in our Missions Office in Floriana immediately after The Times' appeal, a family came in and presented their contribution: the parents gave Lm20, their first daughter gave Lm10 and their other daughter gave Lm5 out of the pocket money collected during these festivities. They wanted to share with others less fortunate than themselves what God has showered on them. Besides that, we were all surprised by the good example the parents gave to their children; it also shows the formation such parents, and many others like them, give their children. May God bless them all for their good example and generosity.

I myself, who had been in the area of Garissa for 10 years between 1985 and 1995, experienced first hand what it meant to live in a drought situation. In those years, together with the local people, we were still sharing with the people the effects of the 1983 drought.

In 1992, myself, Fr Joe Alessandro, now Provincial Minister of the Maltese Capuchins, Bro Joe Vella, now at Xemxija and Bro John Cassar, who is still on the spot, shared with the people and gave all our energies under the guidance of Bishop Darmanin to help the people survive.

This drought and famine situation in the Garissa diocese is perhaps even worse. People continue to die if they do not receive immediate support. It is not without reason that the BBC called this drought and famine "the silent tsunami" which is killing many people and other living creatures silently and quietly. And since in those areas no proper statistics can be recorded, the actual figures are much higher than those given.

The generosity of the people of Malta and Gozo is something proverbial; we have seen its truth these days. Please do not forget those dying children and elderly. They depend on our generous heart.

Donations can be sent to Fr Crispin Tabone OFM Cap, c/o Missions Secretariat, Capuchin Friary, Floriana VLT 14 (Tel: 2123 3874, 2122 5525 or 2123 4949).