Drought-hit Garissa appeals for food aid from UN

Garissa county government is appealing for food aid from the World Food Programme to help families affected by drought.

A prolonged dry spell has ravaged the county, affecting pastoralists.

The Met Department said the dry period will continue for three months, making the already bad situation worse.

Deputy Governor Abdi Dagane said state and non-state actors, should pull their resources together to save the situation.

Dagane spoke Wednesday when he hosted a delegation led by UN-WFP East Africa Regional Director Michael Dunford.

“We didn't get enough rains during the October-December season, as expected. The situation has led to the loss of livestock and low milk production,” he said.

Dagane said the animal's body condition has not improved and herders have to sell their livestock. This, he said, makes the matters worse.

He, therefore, appealed for immediate intervention.

Dagane said only two subcounties received some rainfall while Lagdera and Balambala subcounties recorded the lowest level of rainfall.

“Fafi and Ijara that received substantial rain are currently facing high livestock population but residents are now searching for water and pasture, the situation is likely to worsen in the next two months,” he said.

The deputy governor appreciated WFP support in August last year, for supplying food to 11,627 households, supporting farmers in food production, addressing malnutrition cases and market linkage initiatives for framers. 

“We were forced to spend money previously set aside for development, to address the drought issue. Water trucking was prioritised and we hope to get more partners including the national government,” he said.

Dunford said they will continue working closely with the national government and counties worst affected by drought. 

“Drought is a natural calamity, our duty is to help where we can. As we do this, we will make sure to use the structures available at the national and county level,” Dunford said.

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed.

Through the MoU, there will be food distribution, empowering youth and women to do bush clearing for a stipend and giving out generators to farmers.

The WFP team including the representative and country director for Kenya, Lauren Landis and Yussuf Ali, head of WFP Garissa, appreciated the county's commitment towards the MoU.

Present during the meeting was Director for Donor and partner coordination Mohamed Sahal, Hassan Elmi the county disease surveillance officer, county secretary Abd Ali and water executive Abdi Omar.

Edited by Kiilu Damaris