Over 300,000 face hunger and thirst after crop failure
What you need to know:
- The county consumes at least 1.2 million bags of maize every year.
- NDMA has launched an initiative where goats will be slaughtered for the next three months and the meat distributed to the 50 worst hit families.
- The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has put the number of people in dire need of relief food in North Rift due to poor rainfall patterns at 400,000. Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties are the worst hit.
Over 300, 000 people in Baringo County are facing starvation due to crop failure.
Tiaty Sub-County is the worst hit with more than 70,000 people on the verge of starvation, according to the latest assessment by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA). Most water sources have already dried up.
It has been a vicious cycle locals of Baringo have had to go through each year as a result of erratic climatic conditions which have resulted in total crop failure this year.
NDMA urgently needs Sh600 million within the next three months to avoid a calamity.
“We have managed to raise Sh322 million. We are now calling on well-wishers to held us bridge the deficit so we can feed these people,” NDMA Baringo County co-ordinator Hussein Jirma said after touring several areas in the county over the weekend.
Komolion and Nginyang are some of the hardest hit areas as residents flee to neighbouring counties in search of water and pasture for their livestock. There are fears of conflicts due to the likely scramble for resources.
The NDMA assessment report shows that only 200,000 bags of maize will be harvested in the county next year. Normally, the area produces up to 800,000 bags which translates to about 70 per cent crop failure.
GOATS WILL BE SLAUGHTERED
The county consumes at least 1.2 million bags of maize every year.
NDMA has launched an initiative where goats will be slaughtered for the next three months and the meat distributed to the 50 worst hit families. The initiative will mainly target vulnerable groups including the elderly, lactating mothers and children.
The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has put the number of people in dire need of relief food in North Rift due to poor rainfall patterns at 400,000. Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties are the worst hit.
KRCS says most households in the area are experiencing food shortage and the situation could worsen.
“Most parts of the counties face an acute shortage of food. This has pushed prices of basic commodities beyond the reach of many households and the situation might worsen,” KRCS programme manager in charge of the North Rift region, Mr Kennedy Mulama, told the Nation.
Mr Mulama cited Loima, Turkana Central, Turkana North and Kibish sub-counties as worst hit.
Three people reportedly succumbed to hunger related illnesses in Nakale ward in Turkana County early this year as the famine stricken families appeal for urgent relief supplies. “We are working with the county governments to train emergency response volunteers,” Mr Mulama said.
