At least 6,000 needy households with children who are at risk of facing hunger in Bulapesa, Burat, Oldonyiro, Kinna, Garbatula, and Chari wards of Isiolo County have received food supplies to support them during the ongoing April school holidays, courtesy of the Child Welfare Society of Kenya.
Through the initiative, 1,000 Households from each of the six wards will receive relief food support, with every targeted family receiving 20 Kgs of maize, 6 Kgs of green grams, 6 Kgs of cow peas, and 4 Kgs of rice.
Speaking at the Isiolo Police Grounds when she presided over the relief food distribution exercise, the County MP Mumina Bonaya lauded the leadership of the Child Welfare Society of Kenya for heeding her call and providing the relief food intervention, noting that it will go a long way towards cushioning children from the targeted families, especially during the current tough economic times.
She noted that this was the second time in a year that the Child Welfare Society was offering relief food to needy families in Isiolo County, having done a similar exercise last year when the region was affected by a prolonged drought.
Mumina said that the benefitting families were identified through coordination by the office of the County Commissioner, where chiefs and village heads were asked to identify vulnerable households that have children who are at risk of facing hunger.
The Programme officer at the Child Welfare Society of Kenya Mary Thiong’o said that the intervention intended to retain children in their respective homes, avoid instances of separation, and prevent children from being engaged in child labor.
She said that apart from the relief food intervention, the identified households in Garbatula and Chari wards which are the most affected by hunger will each receive a mattress and a blanket, as a way to make the children more comfortable in their respective homes.
Eric Mugo and Habiba Fugicha who were among the beneficiaries in Burat and Bulapesa wards respectively lauded the initiative as a huge boost to the benefitting families bearing in mind the current tough economic times that make it difficult for some families to afford two meals a day.
They appealed to the County leaders and organizations to come up with similar interventions from time to time to also enable those who are yet to receive the aid to benefit as well.
They noted that coming during Eid Celebrations, the move will also enable struggling Muslim families to celebrate the religious festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadhan.
The distribution exercise will take place for the next three days to cover the six targeted wards.
