- The socioeconomic situation of the urban people in Saku worsened following long dry periods and harsh economic times with hundreds of people facing acute food insecurity and malnutrition.
- The long dry periods caused uncertainty in food security among underprivileged households.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Over 600 urban poor families in the Saku constituency have received relief food supplies from the county government in order to mitigate the effects of drought in the region.
Each beneficiary received 12.5 Kg of rice and 5 Kg of beans.
The socioeconomic situation of the urban people in Saku worsened following long dry periods and harsh economic times with hundreds of people facing acute food insecurity and malnutrition.
The long dry periods caused uncertainty in food security among underprivileged households.
The ward-based program which started in October 2022 is being implemented across the county, targeting communities that have been severely affected by the drought.
The program has been providing the much-needed lifeline to over 60,000 households that had exhausted their resources to drought.
Saku Sub-county administrator Shukri Ibrahim who presided over the food distribution said community elders and chiefs identified the neediest families who were more vulnerable.
He said the majority of those who benefited were persons living with disability, those living with HIV/ AIDS, bodaboda/ taxi operators, miraa vendors and people living in n extreme poverty.
"The food was distributed in a fair manner such that only those who deserved families were given the food. Most of the beneficiaries live in town," he said
He said the county government under the leadership of Governor Mohamud Ali is committed to providing support to the urban poor who rarely received support from Non-governmental organizations as they focused on low-land areas.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
The administrator said the county government was committed to addressing the needs of its citizens, calling on donors to support government efforts in helping poor urban people.
He cautioned beneficiaries against selling relief food and urged them to share with their neighbours.
He acknowledged that more people need food assistance and other forms of livelihood support assuring that the government will be able to cope with the growing number of hungry residents.
He noted that the current drought situation had resulted in increased food insecurity in the urban settlements and across the county.
Shukri expressed gratitude to Governor Mohamud Ali for the food aid saying the relief food came at a critical time.
The beneficiaries lauded the county government for the intervention, confessing that the cost of living had gone high, making most of the families sleep on an empty stomach.
Halima Abdi, one of the beneficiaries said many urban families were struggling to place a plate of food on the table owing to the hard economic times.
"It is hard to get casual labour which we depend on, making most of us beg for food," she said
"We are grateful that the county government cares about its own people. Our children will have something to eat that we couldn't afford."
Galgallo Abdi, a resident of Saku who is among those living with disability who received relief food expressed his gratitude to the governor for the relief.
He said consecutive failed seasons made life difficult for the residents hoping that this season will compensate for the previous failed seasons.
Kadiro Boru thanked Governor Mohamud Ali for the intervention admitting that there had been a severe drought.
"This food will go a long way in alleviating our suffering even as we look forwarding to a better harvest," he said
A beneficiary of the relief food Tache Ali couldn't hide his joy after receiving relief food and said that his family is now guaranteed a meal for at least one week as they were hoping for a good harvest this season.
"The situation has been tough for me. The previous drought has killed all my livestock leaving us with no milk for children and the food has also become hard to get," he said
Grateful for the relief food she has received, Soti Abdi appealed for more well-wishers to also chip in and give a helping hand to the urban poor.
Miraa vendor Qabale Huka thanked the governor for coming to the aid.
"Most families in town are hardly getting a meal in a day. All NGOs are focusing on low-land areas. We are pleading with the county government to give us more food aid," said Qabale.
She hailed the governor for the noble initiative of remembering urban settlements saying that the food will last for some days.
"Putting food on the table for our families has become a problem. We hope the governor can extend this relief food program," she said
She urged the national government and well-wishers to compliment the county's efforts to provide food to save lives.
Abdi Ali, a resident of Saku said the intervention is timely. Though they have an infant, they have been having one meal a day and that has affected the health of their babies.
He lauded the county government for the initiatives of distribution of relief foods to alleviate their suffering.