Drought in the Horn of Africa (HoA)
According to a Humanitarian report by the UNOCHA in August, 4.2 million people in Kenya’s Arid and semi-arid areas have been affected by the drought and are facing the threat of starvation following four consecutive failed rainy seasons and a suspected fifth failed rainy season.
The Kenya National Disaster Management Authority, Drought Bulletin in August 2022 reported Mandera County as one of the seven counties located in arid and semi-arid locations that are in the Alarm Drought Phase with severe vegetation deficit and poor pasture and browse conditions and poor livestock body conditions. This situation is worsening the availability of staple food sources such as meat, milk, or maize. The situation has led to decreased household dietary diversity, and intake and particularly poor child feeding practices at household levels.
Food Aid through Cash Transfer Programming in Mandera County
Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) in partnership with the ASAL Humanitarian Network, OXFAM Kenya, and the Kenya Cash Consortium (KCC) with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) is providing food aid through cash transfers to vulnerable households living in drought-ravaged villages of Arabia, Kamor, Liban, Kabo, and Alungu of Mandera County.
370 food insecure households have continued to receive monthly cash transfers through their mobile phones of Kes. 8,768, which commenced seven months ago. The money received by each household allows these vulnerable households to have the dignity of choice on how to meet their basic needs of accessing food, water, fuel, medication, education and so on.
As families can meet their basic needs, challenges such as child labour, crisis-related SGBV, family separations, forced and early marriages among young girls and other forms of abuse are addressed. The money provided also improves the psychological well-being of the already stressed guardians and in particular, those in female-headed households who constantly worry about the wellbeing of their children.
Story of Adey Dakane Nadir
Adey Dakane Nadir is a mother to six children and is also the guardian to five of her grandchildren. Adey and her family are among the millions of people affected by the current drought. They all live in Alungu, Mandera County, Kenya. Her husband died after a short illness and thereafter she took over the responsibility of being her family’s breadwinner. She struggled for many months over how to provide food for her large family.
“Over the years there have been many seasons when we did not receive rain for months and life was very difficult, but we survived that, Alhamdulillah! But this dry season is getting worse and I was scared whether my children would survive this.” Said Adey in dismay
Adey is a beneficiary of the cash assistance programme in Mandera County implemented by NAPAD.
“Receiving the money has given me a chance to buy what we need to survive, pay education expenses for the children and for the first time in many months, we have enough food to feed my family .” Reports Adey
Adey has also put aside some of the money and has invested it in opening a small tea and snack kiosk where locals can access some affordable meals. Although business is low, Adey is committed to making her business a successful one and making it a stable source of income for her household.
“I wake up early in the morning to come here and ensure I have the food prepared properly and cooked in good time so as not to lose my customers….May Allah bless NAPAD and their partners who helped us when we were in need.” Reports an appreciative Adey Dakane