Ijara MP elect Sophia Noor Abdi in a past event. She wants the government to supply more relief food to locals still facing hunger and starvation. (Photo/nation.co.ke)
Ijara MP elect Sophia Abdi Noor has urged the national government to continue supplying relief food to families in facing hunger and starvation as a result of prolonged drought in the area.
The MP says that hunger and starvation is still real with many families going without food and water.
Addressing journalists in Ijara town on Thursday, Noor said that most residents have been forced to flee their homes in search of food, water and pasture for their animals.
She said that the drought has worsened and residents are in dire need of help. “The national and the county government should continue with relief food program until when we will get sufficient rains,” She said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
The People Reforms Development (PDR) MP elect said that cases of malnourished children and women are rife, adding that the victims need medical attention.
Abdi assured residents that she will fight to ensure dams are constructed to enable local’s access water for farming and domestic consumption.
She said that residents are suffering to get clean water, adding that the county government of Garissa will have to work tirelessly to resolve the water problem.
Ijara and the larger Garissa is among areas that were hit by severe drought and famine in the country.
The county is among others across the country that has been under a feeding program from the national government and donors as locals wait for onset of rains.
During his swearing in on Monday, Governor Ali Bunow Korane vowed to tackle perennial famine and starvation.
The governor said that his government will set aside more money to mitigate drought and construct dams for irrigation.
He appealed to the national government and donors to continue supporting areas that have been hit by famine and starvation in the county and the larger North Eastern region.