Assorted foodstuff collected by residents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support famine-stricken families in the north rift region was shipped off.
Flagging off the consignment in Dubai, the group led by Sir Ali Bin Hatem, said the food donations were destined for Turkana County.
The 'Friends of Turkana from the UAE’ began the initiative following the Governor’s appeal for help to charitable societies and associations to boost the emergency food assistance program.
The donations will support more than 5,000 families for at least one month.
“I wish to thank our well-wishers for their generous contribution meant to save the lives of our brothers and sisters back at home who are facing hunger because of the prolonged drought,” said Turkana County Governor Jeremiah Lomorukai.
He said the county emergency response was ongoing in different areas of Turkana and promised to visit the areas that are worst affected to coordinate the efforts.
The drought situation is at the alarm stage and has affected nearly 800,000 residents of Turkana with the Global Acute Malnutrition rate rising to 34.8 per cent.
The latest report by Humanitarian-Choice indicates that 32 per cent of the population in Turkana is classified as “food insecure” while 40 per cent of the population suffers from extreme poverty.
Provision of food relief materials and emergency interventions in the areas of health, nutrition, water and educational material is still quite needed even as the county explores long-term strategies, Lomorukai indicated.