World Food Program (WFP) is set to donate 3,500 bags of 50kg animal feeds to herders in Isiolo County, area programme officer Mr. Ambrose Ngetich has said.
Ngetich who was addressing County Steering Group (CSG) Friday said his organization also planned to deworm 10,000 cattle, goats and sheep so that they are not severely devastated by drought.
The Programme officer revealed that the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had previously distributed 4,500 bags of animal feeds in Oldonyiro, Charri and Garbatulla Wards where large herds are suffering.
Ngetich said that his organization had contracted a local dealer to distribute the range cubes to villages and trading centres under the supervision of livestock officers and his office.
He added that local residents would get the animal feeds for free and to be distributed to livestock owners to cushion them from the prevailing severe drought.
The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), County Coordinator Mr. Lordman Lekalkuli said that 20,600 residents in the area are currently on cash transfer programme.
He was speaking during CSG meeting chaired by Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries County Executive Member Dr. Lawrence Mwongera.
He said that 50 per cent local residents were in need of food assistance where most of them could not afford three meals per day.
Lekalkuli said that over 150,000 people in the County were in need of relief food since the situation was worsening and livestock products, which are their livelihood, cannot produce enough for them.
He added that the situation has led to rise in cases of malnutrition in the area.
By Abduba Mamo
