At least 400 hunger-stricken residents of Turkana suffering during drought have received food aid from a local radio station.
Bethel Media Services on Sunday donated foodstuffs to residents of Sopel village in Turkwel in Loima subcounty
In March, Turkana county announced that 50 per cent of the population, about 640,000 people, were facing starvation and hunger in parts of the county.
Willykister Halonda, manager of Bethel Media Services in Lodwar, said people are still facing hunger and starvation and are in dire need of food.
“We routinely share whatever little we have with the community as a way of giving back. Together with the support of co-founder Mike Halonda, we have been donating food to residents every month," she said.
On Sunday, Bethel donated beans, maize meal, salt and cooking oil.
Alice Aleman of Sopel village said residents of Sopel village have been going for days without a meal and they still need help from the government and humanitarian agencies.
“In March, drought caused our water sources to dry up. We thank God the rain came and the pastures sprouted but the problem is food," she said.
"We depend on government, humanitarian agencies and well-wishers for survival.
Resident Peter Echakan of Sopel village said the food donation is a big boost.
Echakan said they were ravaged by drought that made their animals emaciated and many died for lack of water and pasture.
In March, Turkana Deputy Governor Peter Lotethiro said the entire county was affected by drought and hunger. Since August last year, there had been no rain, he said.
Lotethiro said 50 per cent of the population, about 640,000 people, are facing starvation as drought gets worse in most of Turkana.
The hardest hit areas are Turkana North, Kibish, Turkana West, Turkana East, Turkana Central and Loima.
He said the new cycle of relief food distribution is part of the county's plan to aid residents during the drought and Covid-19 pandemic.
(Edited by V. Graham)
