Families flee as animals die in Garissa drought

More than 160,000 households in Garissa are faced with starvation following prolonged drought.
Addressing the press in Garissa town yesterday, Fafi MCA Mustafa Abdirashid said the area has not received rainfall in two years.
Abdirashid said pastoralists have moved far in search of water and pasture for their livestock.
He said many animals have died because of the drought.
The MCA appealed to the national government, NGOs and the international community to intervene.
Abdirashid said the situation is “severe and dire”.
The leaders said the county government is overwhelmed and unable to address the famine.
Jarajilla MCA Mahat Osman said: “The county government lacks the funds to do water tracking for our people.”
“If something is not done urgently we may start losing lives.”
The MCAs were accompanied by the county National Drought Management Authority coordinator Dr Mohamed Keinan.
They urged the national government to swiftly take action and address the drought.
A survey conducted in January by the National Drought Management Authority revealed that more than 50,000 animals died between January and March due to drought.
Keinan said it is necessary to put together a rapid response team.
He said the damaged boreholes should be repaired.
“We are losing animals and our people are forced to trek for long distances in search of water and pasture,” Keinan said.
The NDMA report released last week showed that Wajir, Mandera and Garissa are among the most affected counties by the drought.
Source: the-star.co.ke