Marsabit county distributes relief food as hundreds in dire need of aid

Marsabit county government has continued with the distribution of relief food across the county to the victims of drought.

Hundreds of hunger-stricken households in Nagayo and Dakabaricha locations in Marsabit central ward on Thursday received relief food from the county government to cushion them from the biting effects of drought.

The relief food was distributed to the residents according to their vulnerability as part of the government's effort to save lives.

The food supply came as a relief to over 20,000 households across the county.

During the monitoring of relief food distribution in Nagayo and Dakabaricha, County secretary Ibrahim Adan Sora said 1000 households in the ward benefitted from food distribution.

He said the county government was responding to the severe droughts experienced in the county to prevent deaths from starvation.

"We want to make sure that the most vulnerable families get the support they needed to avoid death as a result of drought," he said

The county secretary, however, acknowledged that more people need food assistance and other forms of livelihood support, assuring that the county government will be able to cope with the current drought situation and warned against selling the food relief.

"The government has made an effort to supply this food and we want to assure you that everyone who was affected will get it," he said

He said the number of people severely affected by the drought was identified by village elders, and added that the government has lineup intervention measures to ensure that every deserving person receives food aid.

He appealed to donors and well-wishers to continue to chip in and channel their contributions through government administrative offices for easy and transparent distribution.

Mr Ibrahim said Governor Mohamud is committed to ensuring that long-term measures are put in place to prevent perennial drought and hunger.

The county's recent drought analysis shows that more than half a million are in desperate need of emergency relief food support.

The drought has been occasioned by poor rainfall in four consecutive seasons leading to decreased yields and crop failure in the county.

Marsabit central ward MCA Jacob Elisha Godana thanked Governor Mohamud for the timely intervention but said more relief food should be directed to his ward, saying more people are in need of food aid.

" We have more people facing starvation. As we thank the governor for the relief food, we are asking for more support," he said

He says hunger among his people is alarming as many households spend several nights without eating anything.

He pleaded with his colleagues in the county assembly to work closely with county government in order to save the people ravaged by drought, saying wrangles will only hinder service delivery.

Nagayo residents lauded the county government for the relief distribution, urging the government to also purchase and distribute livestock feeds for their animals as they have been losing daily.

Golllo Daaka a resident of Nagayo said their biggest challenge is food shortages and water and urged the government and humanitarian agencies to assist them before the situation becomes detrimental.

Jamila Halkano said the hunger situation had worsened after going for four consecutive seasons without rain.

"It's really a tough time and we don't know what the future holds for us. We are happy that we receive relief food from the county government but the situation needs even more intervention," she said