Turkana Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai on Wednesday visited and gave food donations to hunger stricken families in Loima subcounty.
Lomorukai donated relief food to the families affected by drought and starvation in Kakalel and Kangalita in Lobei/Kotaruk Ward.
He said the drought in Turkana was severe and appealed for support from the national government, development partners and other humanitarian organisations.
He said the county emergency response was ongoing in different areas of Turkana and promised to visit areas worst affected to coordinate the efforts.
“We have brought some food to families affected by drought to cushion them. We need the support of National government, development partners and other humanitarian organisations to help us address the effects of drought,” he said.
He deplored that the drought situation is at alarm stage and has affected nearly 800,000 residents of Turkana with Global Acute Malnutrition rate rising to 34.8 per cent.
Lomorukai said county administration had budgeted Sh300 million for emergency relief support for this financial year and procurement of relief food has started.
He said the emergency drought response included treatment and supply of nutritional supplements by the Department of Health and Sanitation.
Families ravaged by drought and starvation in Kakalel and Kangalita in Lobei/Kotaruk ward appreciated the effort by the County government for the food donation.
James Ebei, a resident of Kakalel, decried that drought and starvation has been caused by lack of rain for the last three years.
He said drought has ravaged water sources and pastures that their livestock depends on for survival.
“For the last three years we have not received rains, the situation is worsening. Our livestock that we depend on to support our livelihoods are emaciated and dying.”
He has urged the government and humanitarian agencies to provide the necessary support to the affected families.
Esther Atabo, a resident of Kangalita said for decades they have never experienced such a drought that has forced them to depend on relief food for survival.
“We are starvation because of the drought. We are even going for days before getting something to eat. Our children are the most affected by this biting drought, if we don’t get enough food and water on time we will all perish,” she said.
According the health report seen by the Star, in the last one month, 449 children out of 605 under five have been admitted in Kangalita dispensary Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition programme.
Another 387 were admitted in supplementary feeding programme, 62 children have been admitted in Out Patient Program. Some 84 mothers are admitted in Supplementary Feeding Program and this left about 220 children under five children at risk of malnutrition.