Provincial
Thousands stare hunger in the face in arid North
Schoolchildren queue for food at Dambas Primary School, about 70 kilometres east of Wajir Town during the 2006. A new government report released on Thursday shows that more children in the country are suffering from acute malnutrition and diseases complicated by hunger than ever before. Photo/ ABDULLAHI JAMAA
Posted Monday, January 19 2009 at 16:59
In Summary
- Starvation threatens families, with 70 per cent of them needing urgent relief food
A combined tragedy of dry conditions and subsequent locust invasion along the river forced many small-scale farmers to abandon that activity.
“Within the next two weeks, the river will have dried up. And no water, no food,” said Omar Abdullahi, a farmer who has abandoned that line of business.
From Danyere in Garissa to Dandu on the border district of Mandera, people are hungry. Schools are likely to stay without any pupils.
“The crisis in the food sector, affected the school feeding programme that used to attract children to school,” says teacher Ahmed Abdi.
In the previous years, the supplementary feeding in primary schools retained thousands of children. Nationally, 1.5 million children who depend on school feeding programmes are staring hunger in the face.
“The writing is on the wall. Like the 2006 drought, there is looming danger,” says Mr Saman Dahir, a pastoralist in Wajir.
In the previous drought, the Government and aid agencies were sharply criticised for the snail’s pace at which they brought help to the needy.
“It was not until death was reported that help came; we don’t want to witness a similar situation. This is the right time for mitigation,” said councillor Adow Ibrahim.
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Submitted by DujisDemocratPosted February 02, 2009 04:34 PM
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Submitted by rodneyghee
it is so suprising that till now kibaki continues to have supporters especially with some of the public and also some organisations e.g. nation media then they try to heap blame on anything or anyone except the man responsible for this.
Posted January 21, 2009 03:59 AM -
Submitted by gathoni
The parents of these children are suffering alone from the fact that they are unable to feed their own children leave alone feed themselves. Food is a necessity of life. Our leaders need to reform!
Posted January 20, 2009 09:08 PM -
Submitted by cnphilison
Yes Thousands stare Hunger yet the Government is ready to spend Sh4-7billion on census. Who suggested the hungry people need census or food? Or do we have two governing organ?
Posted January 20, 2009 04:33 PM -
Submitted by njb
IT is depresing to read to what has happened in the last two years to the people of Wajir. Someone has lost a family member, lost their livestock, To these families, our prayers are with you during these difficult times. How long do we have to depend on Aid Agencies with their hidden agendas where is our righteous leaders? must urgently sort enormous help-out Wajir needs every cent it can get from anybody who wishes to give. The simple man on the street will be grateful for anything given out of genuine concern.
Posted January 20, 2009 04:30 PM
RSS
As the saying goes"you sow what you harvest". These leaders dont come from mars they come from within us and reflect us.Come election and people shout "chota kitu and ongea kwa mkono".I dont blame these leaders because they bought it.As long as they SELL their votes they will remain HUNGRY and they deserve it