Tana River County Commissioner Thomas Sankei has today flagged off relief food for drought-stricken families. More than 100,000 people are in dire need of food following a prolonged drought.
The County Commissioner says they have received 2000 bags of rice and 800 bags of beans all packaged in 50 kilograms bags to be distributed to Tana River, Tana Delta, Galledyetu, Bura, and Bangale sub-counties.
“We are here to flag off the food to be distributed to those who are affected from tomorrow. Deputy County Commissioners should make sure that the food is distributed to the victims of the drought so that it can be beneficial.
Each sub-county will get 400 bags of rice and 160 bags of beans and that is just the beginning, the government has ensured that the support will continue regularly. Water trucking is also ongoing, and livestock pellets are distributed by other organizations,” said County Commissioner Sankei.
He added although the situation is dire they are a number of interventions going like cash transfer programmes being carried out by the Kenya Red Cross, World Vision, and Islamic Relief Kenya.
“The national government also has cash transfers to some specific individuals”, said County Commissioner.
County Women Representative Hon. Amina Dika witnessed the flagging off; she thanked the state for the timely relief food intervention to avert the loss of lives and livestock.
She said, “We are grateful it has arrived in Tana River, it will be distributed to all sub-counties. I am asking the government again to continue helping us and to increase the food.
Drought has become a big disaster, right now our people do not have food, livestock does not have water and there is no harvest in the fields”.
Amina further said she is looking for long-term interventions for the drought crisis through partnerships with Non-Governmental Organizations.
Phares Buya, Acting CECM for Agriculture and Land said the County Government is working with the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) to supply water to schools, hospitals, and villages.