Garissa county government has appealed to donors and development partners to join hands in the drought mitigation efforts to cushion affected households who are in dire need of food and water.
According to the National Drought Management Authority, at least 332,000 people are in need of relief food in Garissa and the number is likely to rise if the county experiences low rainfalls in the October – December season.
Speaking during the flagging off of the county relief food distribution for the drought-affected families, Garissa Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane noted that at least 18,000 households have been affected.
The food which will supplement the ongoing water trucking and livestock feeds distribution across the county, comprise of beans, maize, milk, rice and cooking oil and is expected to reach 300 households in Sankuri, Baraki, Fafi and Maalimin which are the most affected wards in the county.
“The situation is dire. Although we have been getting support from the national government, donors and partners, we wish and appeal for more help to up our game in providing more food and water to the people,” Dagane Said
Bura East Deputy County Commissioner Thomas Bett who was present during the exercise lauded the county government for setting aside a budget to help the most vulnerable families.
“We want to ask other partners to upscale their activities, on the ground, there is a lot happening. We have been receiving livestock feeds, relief food, cash transfers from various organizations to cushion our people and so far no one has died of hunger but we have lost quite a number of livestock,” Bett said.
Sankuri ward MCA Abdirahman Borr called on more humanitarian agencies to join the national and county governments in keeping the drought situation at bay.
By Fahid Mohamed and Grace Kamau
