WFP to boost drought mitigation efforts in Wajir

The World Food Programme has promised to continue helping counties badly hit by drought.

WFP executive director David Beasley said they will continue working closely with both the national and county governments as well as other partners.

He said they will make sure that lives and livelihoods are not affected by the ever changing climatic conditions.

Beasley spoke on Tuesday when he led a delegation to assess the drought mitigation preparedness in Wajir county.

“There is need for enhanced collaboration not only from government agencies but also from non-state actors because the current situation dictates so.

"We will continue working hard to give help and hope across this nation and all over the world,” Beasley said.

According to the National Drought Management Authority the drought situation in the county is at the alarm stage.

The phase is characterised by an ever-increasing number of people in need of humanitarian assistance.

Beasley also visited Bulla Hagar, Wagalla and Alas Farm on the outskirt of Wajir town.

He was accompanied by national and county officials among them county commissioner Jacob Narengo.

The visit targeted to get a first-hand report and assessment of the drought situation on the ground.

Beasley said their is need for cooperation from the relevant stakeholders to make sure that no life is lost.

“We have just witnessed firsthand the adverse effects of drought in our field visit. The situation is extremely bad and one that requires concerted effort to address it,” he said.

County secretary Abdullahi Maalim acknowledged the long-term close collaboration between the Wajir government and WFP.

He said WFP supports the Wajir government in developing policies and bills that provide a framework for the county to deliver efficient services to the residents.

They include the Disability Bill that has obligated the Wajir government to allocate funds for monthly stipends to families and guardians of disabled dependents.

Also, the Early Childhood Education policy that has ensured that the Wajir government allocates money for school feeding.

Maalim further appealed for more support in up scaling of drought mitigation interventions.

They include cash transfers, provision of livestock feeds, fast moving spare parts for strategic boreholes, fuel subsidy to strategic boreholes and water storage tanks.

"Livestock diseases remain a major threat to livelihoods and thus we appeal for concerted efforts in disease control including heightened surveillance, ring vaccinations, treatments and parasite control,” he said.

The July NDMA assessment report said food security is on a worsening trend with livestock, the region’s main source of livelihood, being adversely affected.

The report further states that a decline in rangeland resources including water and pasture has led to low livestock productivity across the county.

The strategic boreholes and shallow wells have also been experiencing high pressure due to human and livestock concentration.

The NDMA says owing to the dismal performance of the livestock sector, there has been a rise in malnutrition rates in the county.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)