Famine looms in the North as livestock begins to die

The vegetation cover is getting depleted and one occasionally pumps into yellowing trees, the usual sign that all is not well. There’s little hope for the short rains in November.

“When things are turning this way, we usually watch in despair and we don’t have much expectation of good rains. Remember drought is recurring in this region,” said Mrs Fatma Alasow, a pastoralist.

The drought in Mandera, for instance, has persisted and the April rains which were not well distributed have rendered most pans and shallow wells dry, resulting in mass migration of people and livestock to other centres.

And pressure is increasing on the few pans and boreholes which are yet to dry up. “The rate of migrating pastoralist in search of water is reaching the highest, occasioning a battle-like competition for basic resources,” said Mohamud Issack an aid worker with Racida an NGO in Mandera.

The barren border between Wajir and Mandera districts where water catchments are yet to dry, remained stomping ground for hundreds of pastoralist from the two districts.

“We are receiving the largest number of pastoralists from Mandera, because the drought there is much worse,” said Wajir East DC Henry Ochaka.

Conflict occasioned by management of pasture and water is likely to increase as herders jam watering points.

“We’re concerned of emerging conflict, because the grass we have is depleting. We have planned a meeting so that pastoralists can share the resources without conflict,” said Mr Ochaka.

In Mandera hunger is also looming large. Aid workers say food shortage is creeping in as several months of failed rains culminate into a crisis.

Malnutrition among children under the age of five, according to an assessment by an international aid agency, is at 21 per cent. Sources indicate a number of livestock have died as a result of the drought in Takaba District.

“The community is vulnerable. Already 60 per cent of the population need food and water. Remember the fasting month of Ramadan is coming, and we might witness tragic scenes if this condition persists,” said Mr Issack.

“We’re awaiting our fate. I’m sure death is just around the corner, because the season is turning from bad to worse,” said Mr. Suleiman.