Ravaging drought in Marsabit claims two people, hundreds in dire need of food

The ravaging drought in parts of Marsabit County has claimed two lives, local elders have claimed.

The, a man and a woman reportedly died in Mbarambathe village in North Horr Sub-County.

A survey by the Nation on Monday showed that hundreds of residents are in dire need of relief food.

A woman, identified as Yatane Umuro Bura, died two weeks ago while a man identified as Huka Godana Soka starved to death a week earlier, the elders said.

Mzee Barille Roba said residents are at risk of dying of hunger related incidences as the number of people in need of food increases following the harsh weather.

Mr Roba said the county government donated food in the area last Friday. The rations included 6kg of maize, 3kg of beans and half kilo of cooking oil per family.

The hunger-stricken families also received Hunger Safety Net Programme stipend of Sh2,550 each.

“The county government distributed the food to households but it was not enough for people who have gone several months without food. In fact, some households missed the distribution completely,’’ said the elder.

Marsabit Acting County Commissioner Joseph Sawe say he was unaware of any deaths in the area as a result of hunger.

"I will confirm from the area chief on the ground," he said.

He said the national government had not sent relief supplies to the county since June.

He said many hunger stricken families usually throng his office looking for food due to drought in the area.

A spot check by the Nation revealed that the targeted persons are forced to share their food rations with relatives and other villagers who have nothing to eat while emaciated livestock stroll the villages.

NO RAINFALL

The elders dismissed the Kenya Meteorological Department-predicted El Nino rains as a hoax.

They said they had not had rainfall in last three months and do not expect it until April next year.

“We as rainmakers have predicted the rains will not be pounding in our land untill next year during the long rains.

"We heeded government warning before and stayed around but now our animals are dying in large numbers. We regret it and from tomorrow we shall head to far places in search of pasture and water,’’ he said.

Thousands of livestock have also reportedly died across the sub-county. In Shuur, for instance, 1,500 goats reportedly died due to lack of food and pasture.

Mr Bata Tuye, a resident of Maikona, Marsabit North said he had lost 150 of his livestock in past three months and only five of his animals are alive.

“I have resorted to feeding them using porridge because they are too weak to stand. I have to look for at least four people to assist me in helping the animals stand,’’ he said.

The condition of livestock has also deteriorated, leading to price falls. A goat which was fetching Sh7, 000 in June is now selling at Sh500.

Bubisa Chief Mumo Waqo said a trader in the area bought 150 goats for Sh82, 000 last week meaning one fetches on average Sh543.

Mr Patrick Katelo, the chairman of Marsabit Indigenous Organisation Network, a consortium of 12 local NGOs, said the situation is bad and needs urgent humanitarian aid.
He said the most affected areas are in North Horr, Marsabit North and Leisamis sub-counties.

“We appeal to the government and humanitarian agencies to intervene and avert further deaths due to starvation,’’ he said.
He said the food donated and cash stipend by the government was doing little to help the situation as families heavily relied on food aid.
He warned that the stench of carcasses in the area was also a health hazard as residents were too weak to move them away from their manyattas.

VULNERABLE POPULATION
Mr Katelo said the most affected are children and lactating mothers, the sick and the elderly.

Korr–Ngurenet MCA Daud Tomasot said the situation was alarming, adding that at least 50 per cent of the livestock and 80 per cent of residents in his ward were affected.
He said neither the county government nor national has heeded his call to distribute food to the residents.
Mr Tomasot said he could not understand why people were suffering, yet he passed a bill in the Assembly for some funds to be set aside for emergencies.
“We passed County Emergency Bill for the county government to set aside Sh200m but it is yet to give anything to residents of Ngurenet,’’ he lamented.
He said one woman from the ward was being treated at the Marsabit Referral Hospital due to malnutrition.
He said the area has not received adequate rainfall for last five months resulting in water points drying up and a decline in food availability.

The matter had also turned for the worse after the World Food Programme (WFP), which has been feeding about 40,000 locals, announced it was pulling out of the county.
Two months ago, the WFP's country director for special programmes, Salim Moora, and the organisation’s programme advisor, Ms Helen Bugaari, delivered the terse message to governor Ukur Yatani and the county administration of the decision to transfer the task to the county government.
They said donor fatigue could no longer guarantee the humanitarian aid programme that was initially carried out in collaboration with the national government hence the decision to pass it over to devolved units.