GARISSA,Kenya, Sep, 22 – The Garissa county steering committee on drought has identified close to 167,000 people set to be affected by the ongoing drought across the country saying that mitigating solutions have been put in place in order to avert a disaster.
Addressing member of the press after a special county steering committee meeting bringing together government agencies, NGOs and development partners, Garissa county commissioner Boaz Cherutich said that the government is working around the clock to help the people affected by the on-going drought.
“We have been informed that a total of 337 households have been affected and at the crisis level. These households have approximately about 167,000 persons and these are the people we are currently targeting”
Cherutich noted that the committee has recommended to both the national and the county governments to urgently procure a total of 22,000 bags of animal feed.
“We have recommended several programs which we are going to scale up so that we reach these people within the shortest time possible. Water tracking, which is running, through the support of NDMA, Livestock vaccinations is also ongoing,” he added
The committee has recommended to both the county and national government to procure 22,000 bags of animal feed as a matter of urgency.
At least two million Kenyans are said to have been affected by the ongoing drought with the number expected to double in the coming months if rains fails
President Uhuru Kenyatta declared drought, that is affecting parts of the country a national disaster.
Consequently, the President instructed the National Treasury and the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government to spearhead Government efforts to assist affected households including water and relief food distribution as well as livestock uptake.
“More details of the Government’s comprehensive drought mitigation measures will be unveiled in due course,” said State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena Mararo in statement.
The government has also denied claims that Kenyans have died as a result of the drought instead saying any death in the affected counties is as a result of COVID-19.
The government has established a multi-agency taskforce to support the affected families.
Under the Hunger Safety Net Programme each beneficiary is expected to receive at least Sh5,400.
During a meeting with Regional and County commissioners from the affected counties, Wamalwa however said, several livestock have died as a result of the drought.
Government has issued a Sh597m cheque to Equity Bank which will be used to support affected families in Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir and Mandera.
Further Sh10 billion will be released to counties hosting refugees under the Kenya Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (KDRDIP).
“Under this project Garissa will get Sh4.2B, Turkana Sh3B and Wajir Sh2B as we are targeting counties that are hosting refugees and have been affected by the drought,” he said.
The government is expected to release cash through the Relief Assistance Management Information System (RAMIS).
Under the RAMIS programme families are expected to receive Sh4,000 on a monthly basis.
The devolution ministry is working with the World Food Programme and National drought management authority by harmonizing their data in order to avoid cases of double allocation.
Also, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as well as the European Union (EU) have committed Sh1.5 billion and Sh500 million respectively towards water tracking and water provision to the affected communities.
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