- Each of the 6000 vulnerable households gets 18 kgs of Maize, 6 kgs of green gram, 2 kgs of rice, 2 kgs of Maize flour and 2 litres of cooking oil.
- The food was donated by the child welfare society, an organization that promotes the welfare of children.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Marsabit county woman representative Naomi Jillo Wako on Thursday led a relief food distribution exercise for vulnerable households in the county.
Each of the 6000 vulnerable households gets 18 kgs of Maize, 6 kgs of green gram, 2 kgs of rice, 2 kgs of Maize flour and 2 litres of cooking oil.
The food was donated by the child welfare society, an organization that promotes the welfare of children.
While presiding over the distribution of relief food, Wako said the ongoing drought has exposed half of the county's population to biting hunger.
She called for more support from humanitarian agencies in tackling the drought situation that has killed more than 80 percent of the livestock in the region.
She said the situation has reached an alarming level with women, children and the elderly being the most affected.
The deputy chief whip says the cases of malnutrition have been on the rise and urgent measures are needed to contain the situation.
She urged county residents to shun retrogressive culture saying girls are suffering because some people have refused to abandon negative traditions.
" FGM causes physiological problems to girls and women. It is one of the causes of difficulties during childbirth and can cause infections and death," she said
She reiterated the importance of communal efforts in protecting girls against FGM and advocate for the rights of children to receive education.
" Female genital mutilation and early marriages have contributed to lack of development. We need to embrace education and work together to eradicate the vice," she urged
She cautioned residents against breaking the law by carrying out practices that violate the welfare of children.
" The constitution protects the rights of children against harmful practices. Those who are caught engaging in these unlawful practices will be arrested and charged," she cautioned.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
She encouraged parents and guardians to invest in the education of their children so as to give them a strong foundation for prosperity.
Wako advised parents to support their children in school saying it is a future investment.
" Parents must play a greater role in instilling social skills in their children. Proper social skills equip a child to develop advanced cognitive skills," she said.
She urged pastoralist communities to embrace modern practices of rearing their livestock by keeping sizeable numbers of animals in order not to incur losses during the dry season.
"Pastrolist communities have to adopt a change by having sizeable numbers of animals. Quality is much better than quantity," she said
She promised to work closely with the county government to serve electorates with dedication saying the campaign period is over.
She pledged to empower vulnerable women and girls economically through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund.
According to her, most women, especially in rural areas, lack public awareness of the benefits of NGAAF which has left them in the dark as far as economic empowerment is concerned.
Torbi/Bubisa ward MCA Huka Galgallo, who accompanied the county woman representative, urged well-wishers to provide food aid, cash transfers and supplements for children and the elderly.
"We have countless challenges. The drought has dried up all the water sources, and wiped out pasture and livestock," he said
He vowed to work with the county government for the benefit of his people saying the electioneering period is over and now it is time for development.
Community elder pastor John Arero said residents are adversely affected by the prevailing drought which has led to unprecedented crop failures leading to starvation of people and their livestock.
Commending the woman representative for her kind gesture, Arero called for a scaled-up of humanitarian assistance to cushion children and the elderly from further suffering.
He said, most of the malnourished children who are under five years might not be able to continue with their learning due to pangs of hunger.
Arero said expectant mothers are also affected by food shortages with fears of their health and that of children below five years being high.
A resident of Saku Galm Dabaso said his livestock had all died and he is left with nothing.
Echoing community elders, Habiba Boru said she has gone for days without food and is not sure whether she will survive if she failed to receive food aid.
She is hoping that God will save them from the biting drought as she asked for more support.
" We need more help because when we go home, we will share this food with those who don't have it, we need more food aid so that all of us can get food," she said
Currently, more than 70 percent of the residents are experiencing hunger and in need of food support due to the prolonged dry season in the county.