The national government in conjunction with the Kwale County government has scaled up the distribution of relief food to vulnerable people in drought-affected areas.
The area County Drought Coordination Committee has revealed that at least 200,000 residents spread in Kinango, Lunga Lunga, Samburu, Matuga, and Shimba Hills sub-counties are at risk of hunger and urgent intervention was needed.
Last week the coastal county received from the national government 3,200 bags of rice, 1,280 bags of beans, 1,000 bags of maize, and 800 cartons of corned beef.
In the latest wave of relief food assistance, the government has distributed 560 bags of rice and 100 cartons of corned beef to residents in Vanga and Mwereni electoral wards in Lunga Lunga Sub County.
The relief food consignment was flagged off by Lunga Lunga Sub County Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Joseph Sawe.
Sawe who was accompanied by Vanga ward MCA Yusuf Mbwana and Chief Officer for Public Service and Administration in the county government Mebakari Mwatabu said the sub-county expects to receive more relief food consignment from the national government next week.
“We have formed village committees which will ensure that the food aid reaches those who deserve the most,” he said, adding that they are determined to ensure the drought relief operation is a success.
Sawe said the government and humanitarian agencies will continue to provide food rations to vulnerable populations in areas affected by the current ravaging drought which he termed as an ‘unfortunate situation’.
The DCC said the strategy by the government is to ensure that drought-affected people have access to adequate diet and avoid a further deterioration in their food security condition.
The administrator said the biting drought has negatively impacted crop production and led to livestock deaths consequently affecting food availability and accessibility.
Speaking separately Lunga Lunga MP Mangale Chiforomodo said elephants and other wild animals were leaving the Tsavo National Park in search of water and pasture and straying into homesteads.
Chiforomodo said the animals were attacking villagers and destroying crops exacerbating the food shortage crisis in the region.
The MP urged the people not to resort to killing the jumbos but urged them to report to the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) when they spot the animals.
He said human-wildlife conflicts have been on the increase exacerbating food insecurity and negatively impacting the well-being of the local communities.
The legislator urged the government and humanitarian agencies to continue distributing food supplies and supporting populations in need of assistance until the situation normalizes.
By Hussein Abdullahi
