Ethiopia is only three kilometres away to the North of Sololo town in Moyale Sub-county, Marsabit County. Five kilometres from the town lies an only girls’ boarding school in the Sub-county, Dr. Guracha Girls’ Boarding School that has been in existence for nine years with a population of 186 students, 10 teachers and 8 support staff. The school hits a home run each year with their sterling academic performance but according to the school’s principal, Ms. Amina Wako, if the underlying challenges they face are solved, the academic perform would be exceptional. “You see, there is no office that my feet have not treaded. I have literally knocked into all offices requesting for help. Some of them have even gotten a little groggy whenever they see me. Others have literally walked out on me when they saw me approaching, says Ms. Amina, flashing a smile at me. A seemingly agitated…

With their limited food stocks from 2018 harvest already depleted and temperatures soaring up to 40 Degrees Celsius during the day, there is an urgent need for food to regain energy and clean water to cushion the dire effects of dehydration,” says Adhe Wario, Programme Director for Pastoralist Community Initiative and Development Assistance (PACIDA) in Kenya. In Yaa Galbo, one of the zones that has been hardest hit by the drought, hundreds of households are surviving on one meal a day. Women and children are trekking over 20kms every day in search of water. An estimated 400 families are in need of emergency assistance. In Namarei, Laisamis Sub-county, people have resigned to drinking contaminated water from an outdated water pan which is also shared with livestock heightening the risks of spreading of water-borne diseases like cholera and dysentery. “In the past, we used to ave some food reserves that kept…

PACIDA has embarked on a coordinated emergency response programme reaching drought-affected communities in Marsabit County with life-saving interventions and mitigating the harsh effects of drought and scarcity of water and food. “We are on the ground, our emergency response teams are providing food, water, cash support and mobilizing other stakeholders to join in the efforts. We want to ensure that no human life is lost in Marsabit County due to drought,” says Wario Guyo, PACIDA’s Programme Director. Food distribution to vulnerable communities To curb malnutrition, PACIDA is distributing food directly to the affected communities in North Horr, Moyale and Laisamis sub counties. Food items distributed include maize flour, wheat flour, cooking oil, beans and peas. Targeted households include the most vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. Water provision PACIDA’s water facilities in Laisamis, Loglogo, Marsabit town, Bubisa, Burgabo and other locations are now critical…

“My life has stabilized significantly since the cash support activity began. I have paid my debts and I am able to buy food and water form my family,” says Roba Wario (28) who is one of the beneficiaries of emergency cash transfer to vulnerable and drought-affected communities of Marsabit County of Kenya. Roba is a mother of three children. She was born in Bubisa Ward of Marsabit County, this is where she still lives. She does not have any formal job. Her children need food but she can only afford one meal a day for them. She has received a cash allocation of 3,000 Shillings (equivalent of about 30 US Dollars). “Without the cash support, we would be sleeping hungry,” she says. On this day, she has bought maize flour at 70 shillings (0.7 US dollar) and pasta at 70 shillings. She proceeded to prepare ugali, a local delicacy made…