Hundreds of Turkana pastoralists flee to Uganda as drought bites

Thousands of Turkana pastoralists and their animals have crossed the border to neighbouring Uganda as drought hits hard in the far north western county wiping out vegetation and drying up major water points.

Many of the migrating pastoralists are from; Lokiriama, Urum, Lorengipi, Naipa in Loima Sub County, while another significant number originate Turkana North and west areas.

Current statistics from the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and the County Government indicating that, over 10,000 animals have died as a result of the ongoing drought.

The prevailing harsh drought situation in the region has affected animals as well as human beings.

Leah Lolimo a former Civic leader in Turkana has called upon both the national and county governments, as well as, humanitarian agencies like the Red Cross and churches to consider distributing relief foods to those people in Uganda.

Samuel Kaleng also echoed Leah’s sentiments saying that pastoralists grazing in Uganda are also considered in the relief food distribution because while their animals have found some relief in Uganda, pastoralists are suffering due to lack of food.

Albert Naida a resident of Lokiriama has appealed the government to accelerate the livestock off take program so as to caution herders against huge losses from dying animals.

The pastoralists in Uganda are currently feeding on meat from the emaciated animals, which they are also selling in order to buy Hundredother necessities.