The drought situation in Mandera has continued biting hard affecting livelihoods in the region with imminent loss of livestock expected if no intervention is initiated to mitigate the effects.
In Banisa sub county at the border the Ethiopian border we meet Mzee Abdirahman Ibrahim, a pastoralist who says if there will be no rainfall in the next two weeks there will be imminent livestock deaths.
Abdirahman, a resident of Banisa sub county says the current drought situation has never been experienced for the last 10 years.
He says lack of rainfall for the past two years has caused depletion of pasture and drying of water pans.
He says water is being supplied using water boozers fortnightly, which is not enough for domestic and livestock use.
Mandera water executive Mohamed Ali admitted the situation is grave but said the county government was committed to fighting the drought effects.
Ali notes the county government has increased water trucking with two water boozers ferrying water to Banisa residents more frequently.
He says there has been a major human-animal conflict as monkeys seek for water and food from humans.
The National Drought Management Authority area coordinator Mohamed Alio notes his agency was working towards forming a government multi- agency team to find a lasting solution to the current drought effects.
He disclosed NDMA has already given cash transfers to support over 22, 000 families.
by Dickson Githaiga
