Kenya Red Cross society with the support of Italian Agency Cooperation has distributed Sh 5, 000 cash transfer to 2,723 households across West Pokot county to families hit by drought and hunger.
The areas covered are Akiriamet, Sekerrot, Cheptulel, Sarmach and Arpollo
West Pokot County is among 23 counties currently experiencing severe drought and recently inter-community conflicts have also increased as communities fight for scarce water and pasture for their livestock.
Kenya Red Cross North Rift Region coordinator Michael Ayiabeyi said they are distributing relief food along the border of West Pokot and Turkana and are targeting to reach more than 37,000 household who are mostly affected with drought conditions.
“We have lots of challenges related to drought and we are appealing to well wishers to also come in handy and help. The program of cash transfer will run for three months.” He said
He said the cash transfer will cushion locals on food shortage and enable them to buy food items and their focus is on hard hit drought areas and areas where people have been displaced.
Ayiabei said drought keep on disturbing living patterns and they are helping communities to have community based disease surveillance so that they can depict early signs of diseases.
“Most of the locals depend on livestock but we are training them on agriculture and provide basic seeds for them for farming.” He said.
Kenya Red Cross North Rift Region coordinator Michael Ayiabeyi with governor Lonyangapuo
He noted that the communities are facing so many challenges along the way which results to conflict due to water shortage and pasture leading to inter community conflict.
“We are also supporting rain fed or irrigation agriculture although the projects are sometimes affected with bad whether conditions,” he added
West Pokot county governor John Lonyangapuo while flagging off the donations at governor’s residence said the county experienced total crop failure and locals need food.
He said the drought has resulted to conflict zone as locals scramble for the little resources along the border points of West Pokot county and other neighboring counties.
Lonyangapuo appealed to the national government to supply more food to hard hit area’s to avert skirmishes.
“Along the border of West Pokot and Turkana we had experienced total calm and peace for close to five years but the conflict has now resurfaced.” He said
He added that the displaced families need food hence thanked Kenya Red Cross for the donations.
“My people don’t have maize we have received rice and beans well wishers should help us,” he said.
He said 70 to 80 Percent of families have been affected by drought and food shortage.
Kenya Red Cross society with the support of Italian Agency Cooperation has distributed Sh 5, 000 cash transfer to 2,723 households across West Pokot county to families hit by drought and hunger.
The areas covered are Akiriamet, Sekerrot, Cheptulel, Sarmach and Arpollo
West Pokot County is among 23 counties currently experiencing severe drought and recently inter-community conflicts have also increased as communities fight for scarce water and pasture for their livestock.
Kenya Red Cross North Rift Region coordinator Michael Ayiabeyi said they are distributing relief food along the border of West Pokot and Turkana and are targeting to reach more than 37,000 household who are mostly affected with drought conditions.
“We have lots of challenges related to drought and we are appealing to well wishers to also come in handy and help. The program of cash transfer will run for three months.” He said
He said the cash transfer will cushion locals on food shortage and enable them to buy food items and their focus is on hard hit drought areas and areas where people have been displaced.
Ayiabei said drought keep on disturbing living patterns and they are helping communities to have community based disease surveillance so that they can depict early signs of diseases.
“Most of the locals depend on livestock but we are training them on agriculture and provide basic seeds for them for farming.” He said.
Kenya Red Cross North Rift Region coordinator Michael Ayiabeyi with governor Lonyangapuo
He noted that the communities are facing so many challenges along the way which results to conflict due to water shortage and pasture leading to inter community conflict.
“We are also supporting rain fed or irrigation agriculture although the projects are sometimes affected with bad whether conditions,” he added
West Pokot county governor John Lonyangapuo while flagging off the donations at governor’s residence said the county experienced total crop failure and locals need food.
He said the drought has resulted to conflict zone as locals scramble for the little resources along the border points of West Pokot county and other neighboring counties.
Lonyangapuo appealed to the national government to supply more food to hard hit area’s to avert skirmishes.
“Along the border of West Pokot and Turkana we had experienced total calm and peace for close to five years but the conflict has now resurfaced.” He said
He added that the displaced families need food hence thanked Kenya Red Cross for the donations.
“My people don’t have maize we have received rice and beans well wishers should help us,” he said.
He said 70 to 80 Percent of families have been affected by drought and food shortage.
