Biting drought in Mandera has seen the intervention of the County Government to launch the Emergency Relief Food distribution to cater for vulnerable households.
Speaking during the launch, Mandera County Deputy Governor, Mohamed Arai stated that the County Government has taken action to caution the vulnerable population in Mandera against the scourge of the drought through provision of food rations, animal feeds and water.
“Following President Uhuru Kenyatta declaration that drought affecting this region is a National Disaster, Mandera Government has taken a step to caution our vulnerable population against drought and starvation through provision of food stuff and animals feed,” said Arai.
Climate changed has negatively impacted the traditional way of livelihood for many pastoralists. People are moving to towns with no means of livelihoods. The rains are not predictable anymore.
“In a rapid need assessment conducted by county multi sectoral technical officers led by the Special Programme Department between date 14-17 last month in all sub-counties in Mandera County, 35,481 families are in dire need of humanitarian relief support programme,” said Arai.
The first phase of distribution will target 4,146 households in Mandera North, 4,428 households in Banisa, 3,063 households in Mandera West, 6,645 households in Mandera South, 4,657 households in Mandera East and 2,435 households in Lafey. The distribution will also target registered orphanages, special –schools, people living with disability (PLWD), Non-local groups in the urban centres in Mandera, Destitute households, Fire victims and internally displaced persons.
Every each household will receive 12kgs of rice, 6kgs of maize flour and 3liter of vegetable oil cooking. This will translate to a total of 763 metric tons of food that comprises of 444 metric tons of rice, 213 metric tons of maize flour and 106 metric tons cooking oil.
Mandera County Agriculture Department has trained farmers on drought mitigation as well as crops to grow in case of minimal rains in the area.
“This training is very important as it aims at educating our farmers on drought mitigation as well warning those living around River Dauwa to be cautious of floods expected from heavy rains from Ethiopia highlands,” said Daniel Lolpejalai, Crop Scientist and Assistant Director in the department.
Over 191,000 households are in dire need of food according to Mandera County Commissioner, Onesmus Kyatha.
