Hundreds of families in Bungoma County affected by floods have benefitted from a food distribution exercise initiated by the county government.
Each affected household received sugar, maize, flour and cooking oil donated by various well-wishers.
Deputy Governor Prof Kibarane Ngome said rivers Nzoia, Malakisi, Kuywa and Lwakhakha have burst their banks and displaced hundreds of families who have moved to schools and are living in deplorable conditions.
According to area Governor Wycliffe Wangamati 120,000, people have been affected by floods.
The food distribution will be carried out in phases and among the first to be reached include 150 households in Bumula, 50 in Dorofu, 100 in Cheptais, 100 in Sirisia and 100 families of persons living with disability.
Also earmarked for food aid are 80 households displaced by floods in Sitikho Ward of Webuye West Sub County and 70 households from the Muslim community in Tamlega, Malakisi of Sirisia Sub County.
Governor Wangamati noted that the drastic measures taken to check the spread of Covid-19 in the Country had affected businesses and the livelihoods of residents and as a result most families had no food and no money.
He said his Government is working in collaboration with the Red Cross, the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Government to provide food to support the most vulnerable households across the County.
According to Governor Wangamati, the first phase of this plan will see some 6,000 households receive a food pack estimated to last them for at least one month.
The process of identifying vulnerable households is ongoing in all the wards. It is being undertaken by the Red Cross, the County Government and National Government.
Area County commissioner, Aden Mohammed is in charge of the pool county food basket kitty that is roping in donations from well-wishers.
Maenwhile Bungoma Deputy Governor Prof. Ngome says the number of patients visiting hospitals in health facilities across the county has gone down since the onset of the covid-19 pandemic.
Ngome said the number of patients seeking treatment for ailments such as malaria, pneumonia and flu has reduced considerably.
He said most patients are shying away from the hospitals and have opted to buy over the counter drugs for fear of being quarantined for exhibiting high temperatures.
By Roseland Lumwamu
