It has rained heavily in most areas in Wajir and Mandera counties

GARISSA—It has rained in several parts in North Kenyan Monday afternoon as pastoralist in the region count losses following drought in the area.

At Tarbaj town in Wajir County, a child was saved by the locals after he nearly drowned in the rain water. It has also rained at Arbajan, Boji, Qara, Lanqol and Gasey-Qoftu in Wajir West.

Heavy rains were also reported at Leheley, Bohi Yare and Wajir town. In Wajir North, the rain water pounded Buna town

In Mandera North, Rhamu experienced heavy rains coming at a time when the locals stare hunger in the face.

Humanitarian crises has been looming in northeast Kenya’s county of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera as thousands of pastoralists’ families are hit by escalating drought that has led to drying up of water sources and depletion of pasture.

Affected families have appealed to the government as well as the international community to speedily intervene as escalating drought threatens their lives and that of their livestock.

Most water points have dried up forcing residents to heavily depend on inadequate remaining wells, which have changed color and developed foul smell due to contamination from the high number of animals and people converging at them for survival.

Large population of those stricken by the raging dry spell have to trek, in some cases more than 30 km to find water for drinking and for domestic use.

On 10 February the Government declared a national drought emergency, with 23 of 47 counties affected. The number of food insecure people more than doubled – from 1.3 million to 2.7 million. Some 357,285 children and pregnant and lactating mothers are acutely malnourished.

Most of North Eastern Province of Kenya lies in arid or semiarid condition making it more vulnerable to climate sensitivity. The communities in the province are mainly pastoralist and as a result of their frequent mobility the entrenchment of land management policies, service delivery and support to cope with weather related disaster tends to be difficult.

Consequently, the region has experienced a weak coping mechanism towards droughts and related water stress thus further aggravating their vulnerability to projected climate change.

The region has experienced constant armed conflicts for pasture and water among clans because during prolonged drought seasons