Mandera County Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif has on Saturday launched second phase of relief distribution, that is expected to cover 60,000 households across 30 wards and 517 centers, including Vulnerable Households, People with Disabilities (PWDs), and IDPs.

Governor Khalif said his administration carried out assessment of the needs of the populace in terms of their vulnerabilities in a bid to ensure the relief reaches the right people including children, expectant mothers and people with disabilities.

“We have conducted accurate assessments of the needs and vulnerabilities of different populations and decided to use targeting mechanisms that prioritize the most vulnerable groups, such as children, pregnant and lactating women, elderly people, and people with disabilities.”. said the governor.

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He asserted that the department of the Special Program has procured 750 tons of foodstuff and 180,000 liters of cooking oil, which is equivalent to 10,000 cartons adding that every household will receive 12.5 kg of rice and 3 liters of cooking oil.

The distribution has commenced and is expected to continue for one week to all targeted settlements.

The county boss further said the distribution of the relief food is geared towards ameliorating the state of food insecurity in the county adding that his government has scaled up water trucking in the areas hardly hit by shortage of water in the county.

Mandera Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif flags of second phase of relief food distribution. Photo/Courtesy

He eventually underscored the pivotal role played by the Civil societies, the National Government, and humanitarian agencies in provision of food aid and cash transfer to the vulnerable people in the county and further called upon State and non-State actors to continue supporting the county government in mitigating the drought.

“I would like to take this opportunity to appreciate the civil societies, the National Government, and humanitarian agencies who have been supporting us in terms of food aid and cash transfer across the county,

In conclusion, I call upon state and non-state actors to continue supporting us and scaling up interventions to alleviate human suffering and prevent the loss of lives.” he said.

On the same breadth, the governor subsequently chaired a steering committee meeting which centred on drought response interventions by the county, national government and non-state actors.

Governor Mohamed Adan Khalif chairing county steering Group meeting. Photo/Courtesy

Governor Khalif said drought and food insecurity continues to pose serious challenges on the people despite the tireless efforts by his government to mitigate the situation.

He appealed to the National government and non-state actors to scale up their intervention with a view to alleviating the human suffering and deaths

“Although my administration is trying best, the prolonged drought continues to worsen and food insecurity is at an alarming stage, almost going toward the emergency phase. Water points have dried up and the people are frustrated. I appeal to the National government and non-state actors to scale up interventions to alleviate human suffering and loss of lives.” he said.

Mandera is among the counties hardly hit by the worsening drought situation in the country which has led to mass destruction including loss of livestock and human death.