All ASAL counties have recovered from drought, new report shows

A woman fetches water from a drying water pan in Moyale in Marsabit County where drought has adversely affected the pastoralist’s community due to failed rains. [Antony Gitonga, Standard]

All 23 ASAL counties have fully recovered from the devastating drought that left a trail of livestock deaths and tears for hundreds of families.

According to the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA), the counties are currently in a normal stage following the ongoing rains that have been pounding parts of the country.

The authority was, however, quick to note that the El Nino rains had left more suffering for families in ASAL regions due to massive flooding that had seen tens of families displaced.

In its monthly report, the authority noted that the majority of the casualties of the ongoing flooding were families from the ASAL counties.

“Based on the drought phase classification, all the 23 counties reported normal conditions in November,” said the authority.

The report further noted that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance would drop to 1.5 million in January from 2.8 million in July due to the good performance of the short rains season.

“However, the negative effects of the enhanced rainfall continue to undermine the food and nutrition security situation following the flooding reported in various ASAL counties,” said the authority.

The situation had further been compounded by the destruction of road and communication networks, which had limited the flow of food and other essential commodities.

NDMA identified Isiolo, Samburu, Wajir, Garissa, Mandera and Tana River as the most affected by the floods noting that out of 160 casualties in the country, two-thirds were reported in ASAL counties.

The authority further added that flooding in Garissa and Tana River counties resulted in the displacement of households and the destruction of infrastructure such as roads and health facilities.

“Sections of critical roads such as the Garissa-Modogashe road and the main road linking Hola in Tana River and Garissa were washed away, curtailing transport and supply of essential commodities,” NDMA report shows.

On health and nutrition, the report noted that the situation in the majority of the ASAL counties was above average, with only eight counties on a worsening trend. These include Garissa, Makueni, Kwale, Kilifi, Nyeri, Meru, Baringo and Tharaka Nithi.

“The residual effects of previous failed seasons continue to lead to poor nutrition status in these counties and the local livelihoods are still in recovery mode,” the report said.