Hon. Members of the Assembly present, Members of County Executive Committee Members, Chief Officers present, other senior county officials and the general public.
Asalam Aleykum,
We are gathered here to officially launch the Countywide Emergency Relief Food distribution to vulnerable households that are suffering as result of the biting drought across all the sub-counties.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As you are aware President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the drought situation affecting arid and semi-arid counties of Northern Kenya a national disaster on 8th September, 2021 after several appeals from the leadership of the affected counties. Following this pronouncement, Mandera County Government has taken swift action to caution the vulnerable population in Mandera against the scourge of the drought through the provision food rations, animal feeds and water.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Climate change has led to perennial droughts in Mandera, negatively impacting the livelihoods of pastoralist communities. It has disrupted the traditional way of life for many pastoralists, pushing many people to towns with no means of livelihoods. Over time the vulnerable communities in both urban and rural areas requiring support during drought periods has grown. Consequently, we need to be ready all the time to overcome this sad reality.
Ladies and gentlemen,
In the week between 13th to 17th September, 2021 the county multi sectoral technical officers lead by the Special Programme Department conducted rapid need assessment of the most vulnerable household across the all the constituencies. They identified 35,481 who are in dire need of humanitarian relief support programme.
The first phase of our distribution will target 4,146 households in Mandera North, 4,428 households in Banisa, 3,063 households in Mandera West, 6,645 households in Mandera South, 4,657 households in Mandera East and 2,435 households in Lafey. We will also target registered orphanages, special –schools, people living with disability (PLWD), Non-local groups in our urban centres, Destitute households, Fire victims and IDPS. All this will total to a further equivalent of 10,000 households.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Every household shall receive an assorted food items comprising of rice, Maize flour and vegetable cooking oil. Each household will receive 12kgs of rice, 6kgs of maize flour and oil 3liter of vegetable cooking. This will translate to a total of 763 metric tons of food that comprises of 444 metric tons of rice, 213 metric tons of maize flour and 106 metric tons cooking oil.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Finally, let us keep praying to the Almighty Allah to grant us rain and relieve us from the suffering the biting drought.
Thank you.
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