County distributes relief food to drought hit villages
Lamu Governor Issa Timamy flagging off the relief food aid distribution exercise at the Mokowe County Headquarters on January 7, 2017. PHOTO | KALUME KAZUNGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Addressing the public during the flagging off event at Mokowe, Mr Timamy said the County has set aside at least Sh25 million this year to assist in mitigating the impending drought crisis.
- He further revealed that the allocation was made following a crisis report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) which list Lamu as among the counties worst hit by drought in the country.
The County Government of Lamu has started distributing relief food worth Sh10 million to residents affected by drought in both Lamu West and East Sub-counties.
Governor Issa Timamy launched the exercise at the Mokowe County Headquarters on Saturday and it is expected to end in a week.
The exercise is under the county government disaster management programme and funded by the county drought contingency fund.
Addressing the public during the flagging off event at Mokowe, Mr Timamy said the County has set aside at least Sh25 million this year to assist in mitigating the impending drought crisis.
He further revealed that the allocation was made following a crisis report by the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) which list Lamu as among the counties worst hit by drought in the country.
“We want to use the money in salvaging the situation including purchasing and distributing relief food to areas mostly affected by drought in Lamu,” said Mr Timamy.
He said the money will also be used for water distributing water besides drilling bore holes in areas like Mkunumbi, Hongwe and some parts of Lamu East including Basuba which have been hard hit by the drought.
He expressed worries that many people in the county were increasingly becoming needy due to drying up of water sources.
Lamu County Chief Administrator who is also the head of the County Disaster Management Department Mr Salim Bunu, speaking in the governor’s office, said that the most affected areas are Dide Waride, Chalaluma, Moa, Pandanguo, Hongwe, Zebra, Pangani, Koreni, Shanga, Ishakani, Mtangawanda, Bahamisi, Kiwayu, Mkokoni, Madina, Kiunga and Pate and Faza.
Others include Bargoni, Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and Kiangwe.
“The hunger situation is worsening by the day. As a county however, we are prepared and we will ensure all those affected get food and water until the situation goes back to normal,” said Mr Bunu.
He however cautioned residents against selling relief food.
In December last year, the national government also distributed a total of 1000 bags of rice, 400 bags of maize, 200 bags of beans and 100 cartons of cooking fat to Lamu residents affected by the drought.
