Hundreds in dire need of relief food in Isiolo County – NDMA
A man looks at the carcass of a cow killed by the biting drought in Gafarsa, Isiolo County. Thousands of Kenyans are facing starvation, according to the National Drought Management Authority. PHOTO | VIVIAN JEBET | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Drought which started in February 2017 has severely hit Sericho, Oldonyiro, Cherab, Garbatulla and Chari wards.
- The situation has been worsened by poor performance of last year’s October-November-December rainfall.
The authority will also distribute 6,000 bags of drought pellets to affected areas.
At least 103,000 people are in dire need of food aid in Isiolo County owing to the persistent drought, the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) has confirmed.
County NDMA Coordinator Lordman Lekalkuli said 26 percent of the population in need of food aid are children under the age of five, lactating and pregnant women.
The prolonged drought which started in February 2017 has severely hit Sericho, Oldonyiro, Cherab, Garbatulla and Chari wards.
The NDMA official further noted that the situation is worsened by poor performance of last year’s October-November-December rainfall which was inadequate hence affecting livestock, water, education, health and nutrition sectors.
DROUGHT WORSENS
“The drought condition has worsened since February last year. Up to today, the situation has not improved,” said Mr Lekalkuli.
NDMA in partnership with the European Union (EU) will use Sh23 million for commercial offtake programme where they will support traders with transport subsidy to go and purchase livestock from pastoralists in far flung areas affected by the drought.
“We want to save livestock whose conditions are still better so that pastoralists can get good prices and cushion them from losses,” he added.
The authority, in conjunction with the county government, is using trucks to supply hundreds of families in Sericho, Oldonyiro and Cherab wards with water through the water trucking programme.
The authority will also distribute 6,000 bags of drought pellets to affected areas.
Mr Lekalkuli regretted that malnutrition rates were still high, currently standing at 28 percent in pocket areas of Sericho, Cherab and Oldonyiro wards.
