Mandera South MP Appeals for Donations Over Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis

By Shadrack Musumba

The National Drought Management Authority last month stated that Kenya is facing worse levels of acute food insecurity where over 1.3 million Kenyans are affected.

Mandera South Mp Adan Haji Ali has called on Safaricom Foundation to assist in food donations following the ongoing food insecurity situation compounded by sporadic cases of conflicts in the area, poor vegetation and the effects of Covid-19 pandemic.

Adan Haji who is also the chairman for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives in the National Assembly has said the ongoing humanitarian crisis in many parts of Kenya particularly Mandera South Constituency in Mandera County with an approximate population of 260,000 citizens where 80% per cent of the stated population totally rely on food aid for survival.

He said the children are severely suffering malnutrition while the skeletal livestock die over shortage of fodder and water.

“The consequences of the adversity is massive distress movements of population causing interrupted education, massive drying up of water sources, livestock dying due to lack of fodder and in some cases the livestock owners are forced to sell at distress prices or just abandon to fend themselves,” uttered Hon Haji.

In a letter to chairman Safaricom Foundation Joseph Ogutu, the legislature said the constituency has seen an upsurge of violent attacks in the recent years leading to nongovernmental organizations complimenting the government’s efforts through relief assistance to shift to safer regions hence intensifying the humanitarian crisis being faced currently.

“The security challenges coupled with the cumulative impact of up to Four (4) failed rainy seasons In the Constituency makes the situation wanting. The continuous movement of pastoralist within Mandera County during this drought season is likely to trigger and spark conflict due to struggle between communities for limited water and pasture.

The purpose of this letter is therefore to seek assistance and response in support of food aid to support effort by the National and County Governments,” read part of the letter.

The Kenya Food Steering Group announced last month that many Kenyans are threatened by food insecurity which was projected to persist until December 2021.

The Group urged for mitigations to be put in place to save the situation.