Mandera county has begun its second phase of food distribution in the entire county.
The relief intervention is expected to cover 60,000 households across 30 wards and 517 centres, including Vulnerable Households, People with Disabilities (PWDs), and Internally Displaced persons (IDPs).
While launching the food distribution, Mandera county governor Mohamed Adan Khalif promised that distribution would be effective and it would reach those who needed it most.
The governor said the county has 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.
The governor also acknowledged that as a county, they were exhausted and appealed to national government and developmental partners to chip in before situations worsens.
According to the February 2023 short rains assessment report by National Drought Management Authority, the population facing acute food insecurity and requiring humanitarian assistance has increased to approximately 550,000.
NDMA coordinator Mandera county Hussein Idhoro added that the prolonged failure of rains for five consecutive seasons has resulted in inflated prices of foodstuff, rendering the community unable to afford necessities.
In Mandera, the worst hit areas are Mandera West Mandera south and Banissa constituencies.
Source: Kenya News Agency