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150,000 in northern Kenya risk starving as food crisis bites
Women wait for their turn to fetch water at Welmerer Borehole in Jarajilla division, Fafi district. In the past, severe drought has forced herders in northern Kenya to cross the border into Somalia in search of pasture and water. Photo/FILE
More than 150,000 people in northern Kenya are at risk of starvation.
Children under five years, pregnant women and the elderly bear the brunt of food insecurity as devastating drought depletes resources in the region.
In Moyale town, two children below five years were admitted to the district hospital over severe malnutrition, according to the Kenya Red Cross Society report on the drought in the Upper Eastern.
In Marsabit North District, unconfirmed reports said that two elderly herders had died of starvation. Relief agencies have already started distributing food in the area to avert a crisis.
A Red Cross report indicates that majority of residents in northern Kenya face starvation following massive crop failure in the last three planting seasons.
There have also been reports of animal deaths in the region due to drought. “Residents in Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu and Moyale are on food relief assistance, which is not enough. Locals have deployed coping mechanisms of skipping one meal a day.
In Marti, Samburu North District, pastoral households do not prepare lunch except porridge for children,” says the report.
In Moyale, Marsabit County, the price of a kilo of maize shot from Sh25 to Sh40 while beans prices rose from Sh50 to Sh70 a kilo.
Water shortage
The Red Cross report says that locals use unsafe drinking water from shallow wells in Ethiopia. The water is supplied by vendors at Sh60 per 20 litre jerrycan. Most residents cannot afford it.
“The situation is so bad such that water trucking for human consumption has commenced in most parts of the region.
In Moyale, the most affected areas that are already under water trucking are Amballo, Garba, Iladu, Watiti, Dirdima, Funan Qumbi, and Baden Rero, and Badana Garadida in Isiolo.
In Marsabit branch that comprises five districts, Burgabo borehole is currently overstretched,” said Upper Eastern disaster management officer Bitacha Sora.
On his part, Actionaid project coordinator in Isiolo County Mr Muhamed Ahmed said:
“We distribute cereals, porridge, cooking oil and salt to locals according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation standards but distribution will be extended to other areas if the Kenya food security steering group assesses the situation and determines if it is possible to do so.”