H.E. Governor Roba’s Speech on Launching of Relief Food for Drought Mitigation for Vulnerable Households in Mandera County, 20th Feb 2021

County Executive Committee Members, Hon. Members of the Assembly present, Chief Officers present and the general public of Mandera County, Asalamu aleykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu
We are here today to officially launch the relief food distribution for drought response as part of our drought mitigation measures.
As we are all aware, our County did not receive adequate rainfall during the last October – November short rain season. Accordingly, most of our earth pans did not collect any water and most of our grazing land did not grow any pasture for our livestock. As a result, the lives of our communities who usually depend on their livestock for their livelihood have been significantly affected by the prevailing drought situation. This has necessitated the County Government to take mitigation measures to cushion our people against the negative impact of this situation.
Brothers and sisters,
In the week between 9th to 15 February, 2021, we carried out an assessment of the impact of this drought on our communities and more specifically the number of households most affected in the county up to village level; we have identified 38,294 households in need of urgent food assistance. This is broken down by constituencies is as follows:
CONSTITUENCIES/VULNERABLE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS
1. Mandera South: 5,256
2. Lafey: 2,830
3. Mandera East: 5,337
4. Mandera West: 4,086
5. Mandera North: 4,921
6. Banisa: 5,101
7. Kutulo: 2,520
8. Other vulnerable households including all registered orphanages, persons living with HIV, non-locals, destitute and other special groups: 8,343
TOTAL: 38,394
In this distribution, each household will receive assorted packed food stuff of rice (12.5kg) maize flour (5 kg) & cooking oil (3 litres). In total, 785 metric tons of assorted foods will be distributed throughout the County over the next few days. You will note the portion of beans that we use to distribute have been replaced by maize flour due to persistent shortage of beans and quality concerns. In terms of tonnage, we will deliver 479 metric tons of Rice, 192 metric tons of maize flour and 114 metric tons of cooking oil.
Despite all our effort, the interventions that are necessary to save the lives of our people and those of their livestock are immense. Accordingly, we call upon the National Government, Non-Governmental Organization and all other development partners to provide support to the most affected.
So, as we flag off these food stuffs today, let’s pray to Almighty Allah to bestow His mercy on us and give us rain, for, the best of interventions is that which come from Allah in this kind of circumstances.
Thank you.
GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS MANDERA COUNTY.