• The food relief launched by the Governor on Friday is targeting families severely affected by drought.
• Galgallo Guyo, a resident of Marsabit town has called on the government, humanitarian agencies and well-wishers to donate more relief food to save lives.
Image: Abdikadir Chari
The county government of Marsabit has commenced relief food distribution in the county.
The program is targeting 1000 households in every 20 wards to cushion residents facing starvation.
The food relief launched by the Governor on Friday is targeting families severely affected by drought that left them without food and water.
The exercise that began on Tuesday benefitted more than 420 families and a special group of people.
Over 100 households in Dub Goba also received 2500 bags of Rice, 800 bags of beans and 200 litres of cooking oil.
residents of the Sololo location on Wednesday received 500 bags of rice, 90 bags of beans and 80 cartons of cooking oil.
Those in the Anona location received 230 bags of rice, 40 bags of beans and 30 cartons of cooking oil.
Image: Abdikadir Chari
Residents of the Waye location in sololo sub county received 270 bags of Rice, 50 bags of beans and 40 cartons of cooking oil.
Each beneficiary received 25 kgs of rice, 8 kgs of beans and 2 litres of cooking oil.
While presiding over food distribution, county secretary Mr Ibrahim Adan Sora said the data generated by various government agencies and Non-governmental organisations working on the drought situation in the county painted grim pictures that called for urgent intervention.
He said Governor Mohamud-led administration was working with both the National government and non-state actors to mitigate against the current situation of drought in the county.
Image: Abdikadir Chari
"The county government was working closely with partners in coming up with comprehensive drought mitigation measures and ensuring no life is lost due to hunger," said, the county secretary
He said the current drought has been very severe due to the prolonged dry season for more than 4 years.
At least three-quarters of the county population is in need of food assistance, adding that the county government.
The county said it will continue to work together with partners to ensure no one starves to death.
He said the county steering committee would continue to meet on regular basis to analyze the situation and asses the drought with a view to ensuring the affected households are reached with both food and water.
The county secretary said, governor Mohamud has instructed both sub-county administrators and deputy county commissioners to ensure the food is distributed to deserving people.
He urged village elders to be keen on the exercise and report immediately any kind of relief food diversion to undeserving people who were not vulnerable.
He warned residents against selling the relief food, saying the government has bought food to help the most affected by drought and would not want those who have the ability to take the food and sell it.
Halakhe Waqo, a resident of Dub Goba and beneficiary of relief food praised Governor Mohamud's efforts and urged both the national government and well-wishers to provide food and water to the affected families as drought continues to ravage the region.
"We are experiencing a drought that we never experienced before. The drought has affected our livelihoods that we depend on for survival," he said
Galgallo Guyo, a resident of Marsabit town has called on the government, humanitarian agencies and well-wishers to donate more relief food to save lives.
He called on the government to initiate a cash transfer program and livestock offtake program to save them from incurring losses.
Fatuma John Bagajo lauded the county government for its relentless efforts to assist its citizens with relief food to protect them from the severe effects of drought.
Guyo Karra thanked the Governor for the relief food supply and pleaded for continued support, saying they have suffered from prolonged drought.
Image: Abdikadir Chari
Pastor Bule while commending the government's effort to address the drought situation, called for the upscaling of the cash transfer and animal feeds to save the few livestock remaining.
Marsabit Governor Mohamud Ali on Wednesday met with the Representative of the World food program in Kenya and discussed the prevailing drought situation and possible measures and support.
They also discussed the state of under five years children in the county and lactating mothers.
They asked for their support for the refugees from neighbouring Ethiopia who camped in Lataka.
Adi Qalla, a farmer from Dub Goba appealed to the government and well-wishers to help rescue the situation of the farmers in the county by providing them with seeds.
She said, farmers are confused about the coming season as they have nothing to purchase for the seeds.
"Any seeds aid would help farmers to deal with the looming hunger in the region," she said
She said, despite the challenges, farmers prepared their farms for the season as it's the only way to survive.
"We don't have tractors and only use our hands and that doesn't allow us to cultivate much and if we get seeds on time it would help us a lot," said Adi.