Garissa deputy governor appeals for help as the drought continues to cause havoc in the County

Garissa county deputy Governor Abdi dagane (center) accompanied by officials from National drought Management Authority (NDMA) during the flagging off 7200 bags of nutritionally balanced animal feeds across the 7 sub counties. Photo/Kulan post

GARISSA—Garissa County deputy governor, Abdi Dagane, has on Thursday appealed for necessary intervention from the National government and other relevant stakeholders in an effort to mitigate the ongoing drought.

The deputy governor added that the ongoing drought has affected various schools across the seven sub counties, resulting to their closure and residents are fleeing the areas.

“We received reports that various schools have been closed, we are put mitigating measures in those affected areas to reduce drought disaster impacts.” said the deputy governor.

However, the deputy has flagged off 7200 nutritionally balanced animal feeds, donated by National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) across the seven sub counties to mitigate the ongoing drought.

Mr. Dagane, who was speaking during the flagging off said, urgent support is needed on more food supplies, animal feed, water, and other means of livelihood for residents in those sub counties.

“As a county, we undertook efforts such as hiring of over ten water bowsers and supplying them to different areas in the county, we are overwhelmed by the drought and need more support,” said Mr. Dagane.

National Drought Management Authority county co-ordinator (NDMA), Abdinoor Dubow who also accompanied the deputy governor, said worst affected sub-counties are Lagdera, Balambala, Hulugho, Dadaab, Fafi and Garissa township.

He added that, no reports were received of human loss due to the dry spell in the region and a total of 40 % of the population living in those areas require food aid as a result of minimal rainfall that has been recorded in the past 4 consecutive seasons.

Mr. Dubow highlighted the construction of water dams to the capacity of 200,000 cubic meters per sub-county, which was proposed in this year’s County Integrated Development plan (CIDP).