The county government of Garissa has enlisted 10,000 vulnerable households to be supported with relief food supplies during the Holy Month of Ramadhan.
According to the area deputy Governor Abdi Dagane, the programme will also incorporate flood victims and families whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking Thursday when he received a donation of 110 bales of wheat flour from Gulf African Bank, Dagane assured the residents who are reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and those rendered homeless by raging flood waters that plans had already been put in action to ensure help reaches them.
“We have enlisted 10,000 households who will receive food and non-food rations during the holy month of Ramadhan. We shall also expand the list to include recent victims of the floods. With our partners we will ensure everyone in need receives help,” he said.
Meanwhile, the deputy governor has appealed to corporate entities, persons of goodwill and non-governmental organizations to donate funds and material support to the County Emergency Response Committee.
Dagane said that thousands of residents in Garissa County have been displaced by floods and were in dire need of food aid and material assistance.
According to the Kenya Red Cross 1,500 families in three sub-counties of Garissa, Balambala and Fafi have been displaced by the floods
Apart from the floods, Dagane said the county was battling the spread of highly infectious coronavirus.
He said all the food aid and other support will be used to feed the less fortunate members of society especially during the month of Ramadhan.
The deputy governor asked representatives of local banking institutions to chip in and assist the county government to give support to the vulnerable members of the society.
“When people are at war, they don’t fight alone. Hence we need to fight together and that is why we are asking for your help. Our immediate priorities include continuing the war against the coronavirus while also ensuring flood victims are taken care of as we await the river waters to recede,” he said.
“We also need to feed the vulnerable members of our society during this holy month especially now when they face even more hardship because of this Covid-19,” he added.
The deputy governor called on well-wishers to channel their contributions through the committee in order to avoid duplication and wastage.
Elsewhere, Galbet MCA Abdirizak Ismail has asked the county government of Garissa to distribute face masks to the flood victims camping at various learning institutions within Garissa Township.
Abdirizak whose ward is among the worst also urged the public health department to enhance hygiene promotions in the camp noting that the camps could be a fertile ground for the spread of the coronavirus.
“Social distancing is a big challenge in the crowded camps. The public health department has a duty to educate the victims on the guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” Abdirizak said.
“If we ignore these basic hygiene practices, then these camps could turn out to be a fertile ground for the spread of the highly infectious disease that has no cure or vaccine,” he added.
By Jacob Songok
County to support 10,000 vulnerable households during Ramadhan
