300,000 lives at risk as hunger and thirst hits Turkana region

PHOTO | FILE A Turkana Herdsman at Nasiger Plains - Turkana County.

What you need to know:

  • The report of the study carried out from October 16 to October 20 was launched by deputy Governor Peter Lokoel.
  • Nakurio and Kangirisae dispensaries in Turkana Central Sub County had 11 cases of severe malnutrition in September, and nurses warned that the cases were likely to increase.
  • Thirsty residents are spending their days along main roads begging for water from motorists just to quench their thirst.

More than 346,000 Turkanas are in dire need of water and food, a new survey shows.

The research by the National Drought Management Authority paints a grim picture of life in the arid and semi-arid region, with residents trekking for more than 20 kilometres to fetch water — sometimes without success.

More than 500,000 head of cattle are threatened as water and pasture have run out, say the researchers.

The Turkana County Rapid Food Security Assessment Report says it’s getting worse by the day, with health centres receiving a steady stream of malnourished patients.

RUN OUT OF FOOD

The report of the study carried out from October 16 to October 20 was launched by deputy Governor Peter Lokoel, County drought coordinator Julius Taigong and disaster management county executive Charles Ewoi Thursday.

It says people have run out of food and water as livestock lack pasture due to swarms of locusts that invaded soon after short rains.

The pests have destroyed vegetation, food crops and pasture in Loima, Turkana North and Turkana Central.

Areas most ravaged by the drought, according to the report, are Kanukurdio, Kaeris, Naadung’a, Milima Tatu, Kaaleng, Kachoda, Natoo, Kaalem, Kokiselei, and Riokomor.

Mr Ewoi said fresh swarms of locusts had descended on Puch, and Lokwatuba and were spreading towards Lokiriama.

He called on the government to urgently use aircraft to eliminate the pests as happened in August.

“This is a serious threat to survival of livestock since these insects invade and consume tree leaves and shrubs,” he said

Mr Lokoel said 20,000 pastoralists had migrated to Loyoro in Uganda and feared that their livestock would contract killer diseases because they were not vaccinated.

There are also fears of outbreak of conflict between the Turkana and Toposa, Merile and Nyangatom of Ethiopia.

A nurse at Letea Dispensary in Turkana West sub-county said in August and September they had 83 malnourished children nine of them severe.

Nakurio and Kangirisae dispensaries in Turkana Central Sub County had 11 cases of severe malnutrition in September, and nurses warned that the cases were likely to increase.

The starvation worsened after the government stopped relief food supplies in April, with satellite schools bearing the brunt of hunger.

The World Food Programme stopped supplying the schools with the relief just like it did to other public schools.

After the recent discovery of a 207-billion-cubic-litre-fresh-water aquifer at Lotikipi plains pastoralists migrated to the area, hoping that the water would be available immediately. However, their hopes were dashed since drilling has not started.

MIGRATION PATTERNS

Mr Lokoel said the pastoralists’ rush to the area interfered with the their migration patterns and are now starving as the county government makes plans to transport water to the worst hit areas and schools.

The document says sub-surface water and shallow ground water were fast diminishing, with 90 per cent of pans and dams drying up.

Thirsty residents are spending their days along main roads begging for water from motorists just to quench their thirst.

The only functional and reliable water sources are boreholes with hand pumps, solar, wind mills, or disel powered pumps in the plains.

In July last year, Kenyans raised more than Sh500 million for relief for over three million people facing starvation in northern Kenya.

Boreholes were dug and irrigation agriculture is on course at Kaikor Village.