MP Diriye Mohamed appeals for quick intervention as drought hits Wajir
Women in search of water. Over 60,000 residents of Wajir South constituency faced starvation due to persistent drought that has left water sources dry. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Their livestock are also at the risk of dying due to the persistent famine.
- Thirsty residents and animals are converging at the few remaining water points in the drought prone area.
- MP Diriye Abdullahi Mohamed says the situation could to deaths if there was no quick intervention.
- Most water pans are now dry and the few boreholes available have no adequate water.
Over 60,000 residents of Wajir South constituency are facing starvation as drought continuous to bite.
Their livestock are also at risk of dying due to the persistent famine, Member of Parliament Diriye Abdullahi Mohamed said on Tuesday.
He said although no death had so far been reported as a result of the drought, the situation could get out of hand and could lead to deaths of both humans and livestock if there was no quick intervention in the coming weeks.
The lawmaker said thousands of residents in his constituency faced a looming calamity as water pans were now dry.
Thirsty residents and animals were converging at the few remaining water points in the drought-prone area.
WATER PANS DRY
“There is an unusual harsh and dry spell in Wajir South. All water pans have dried up, putting extreme pressure and high demand on the few available boreholes ,which are now the only source of water for the pastoralists, their livestock and the roaming wild animals,” he said.
Mr Diriye, who is also a member of the parliamentary Environmental and Natural Resources Committee, said the dry spell had led to mass migration of the residents in search of water to neighbouring counties and neighbouring Somalia in a bid to save their animals from imminent death.
“The drying of water sources is leading to occurrence of conflict over the scarce precious commodity and on average three incidents of nomads clashing over the sharing of water are reported every week,” he added.
Mr Diriye appealed to the national and county governments to intervene quickly and adopt measures such as water tracking and maintaining the available boreholes in the area.
“I am also calling (on) the national and county governments to put in place water-storage facilities and also drill new strategic boreholes and excavate more water pans,” he said.
AREAS HARDEST HIT
The areas that are hardest hit by the drought are Dif, Biayamadow, Sala, Madahlibah, Sarif, Shimbirey, Burder and Macheza.
Others are Matana, Salalma’a, Dabley, Kursin, Sukela, Gerille and Ibrahim Urey.
“There is high demand for water as animals are queuing for water and borehole engines are now running non-stop for 24 hours, which often leads to breakdown.
"In addition, there are no adequate water-storage facilities. I therefore appeal to all stakeholders both from the county and national government to urgently intervene and save lives from being lost unnecessarily,” he added.
