In a bid to support more than 2 million affected by hunger and famine, the Kenya Red Cross has activated disaster operations at the sub-county levels in the 14 counties highly affected by the calamity.
The move is expected to address the current drought situation that has affected Kenyans with the government declaring the current drought as a disaster.
According to Mr. Bernad Ndingila from the Kenya Red Cross Disaster department in Nairobi, currently, there are over 600,000 children under five years with cases of Malnutrition who require urgent intervention so as to prevent deaths. Speaking in Taita Taveta county during relief distribution exercise to over 1,000 households donated by the last Resort organization from Kenya he said beneficiaries will get food which will last for three weeks.
“We have activated full disaster operations in the country, we have teamed up to the sub-county levels for coordination purposes so any individuals organizations who may want to support can see Kenya red Cross at sub-county levels because the needs are many,’ he said.
Currently, he said 96,000 lactating mothers have so far been affected by the drought disaster and require urgent support. “This means they are feeling the effects through malnutrition because of lack of adequate food and over 600,000 children under five years are malnourished and need nutrition support because of the effect of drought,” he said.
The operation was activated after they began noticing the signs of disaster in April this year.
Initially, he said there were four counties affected in northern Kenya but currently the situation has deteriorated. “We are looking at 14 counties which are very much affected and these counties are in the arid and semi-arid areas,” he said.
Mr. Ndingila said in the coast region counties affected are Lamu, Tanariver and Taita Taveta, Kilifi, and Kwale.
In Taita Taveta for example, he said there are parts that are not severely affected but there are sprockets that are hard hit including Taveta, and Parts of Wundanyi.
He said they have been supporting interventions by providing relief food, cash transfers, and provision of water through water tracking where other methods are not working.
“We identified the most vulnerable households and those are the ones we are giving them food now, we are also going to distribute in Mahoo Taita Taveta county and Kamtonga in Mwatate,’ he said during the distribution at Mlilo.
During the distribution exercise in Taita Taveta county which has over 70,000 people affected by the disaster, it emerged that most of the victims are in dire need of food, water as water sources have dried.
Further, there are emerging cases of human-wildlife conflicts as animals from Tsavo East and West national parks are crossing over to the communities in search of water.
David Mwandahina Chief Kishusho location said they last received short rains in March but could not harvest that’s why there are serious effects of the drought.
He thanked the Kenya red cross and last resort organization for supporting the families but called on for more support as there are many others who have not received it.
He said there is a serious shortage of livestock grass and water which has led to deaths and appealed for intervention so as to save the remaining animals.
“We have witnessed deaths of cows, goats due to diseases related to the drought,” she said.
Loice Mwange victim Kamtonga said many residents in the area have no business and rely on farming and livestock keeping but due to the drought, they have been losing their animals.
She said they have not received rainfall for the last tw0o seasons and now they have no food and are forced to sleep hungry. “Another problem that i9s affecting us are elephants who are destroying our crops, they are killing us, we thank you for coming to support us and pray that you continue supporting us,” she said.
Beatrice Mwakio from the Mlilo area said the disaster has really affected them leading to deaths of livestock as both people and livestock have no access to water and food.
She said in her area one has to climb on top of a hill where there is water and not everybody can go there. “as a mother, I go for long distances when the water dries I climb Mwanjila or Mbulia hill so for those who are weak cannot go there to get the water,” she said.
Grace Mjomba a resident of Mlilo said women and school children are highly affected as they have no food.
“We walk for three hours to get water because of the drought, we have also begun losing goats, sheep, and chicken because of lack of water, we are happy for the food distribution and pray that you continue supporting us,” he said.
Josiah Mwadime a person living with a disability from Ndigai village said they are facing many challenges due to the disaster and require support so as to be able to survive.
