Over 200 persons living with disabilities receive food aid from Wajir County

Individuals living with disability receiving food aid from the County government of Wajir Department of Special Programmes.[Mohamed Saman, Standard]

The county government of Wajir in partnership with Kenya Red Cross airlifted food and non-food items to people affected by floods.

The Department of Special Programs rolled out an extensive food distribution campaign to those affected by heavy rains that led to at least 174 deaths.

At least 200 families benefited from the second phase of food distribution, most of them, individuals living with disabilities.

People living with disabilities are often vulnerable and easily affected by calamities such as floods and drought because of their predicament.

The initiative aims to address the immediate needs of vulnerable communities, with a broader target of 8,400 individuals across 10 locations in Wajir Town.

These are Jogoo, Barwago, Got Ade, Waberi, Maalim Salat, Halane, Township, Ali Maow, Furaha, and Hodan.

"The commitment to reaching residents in these 10 locations underscores our department's dedication to addressing the pressing needs of the community," said Abdikadir Hussein, Director of Special Programmes.

Abdi Farah, the chairman of the people living with disabilities thanked the county government for supporting them.

He also said that the interventions were timely and this would help them put food on the table.

The county is utilising a community-based targeting (CBT) approach, where community members play a pivotal role in identifying the most vulnerable families.

To facilitate this process, the Department of Special Programmes has enlisted the support of its officers, along with the collaboration of esteemed community leaders, including elders and religious figures.

This collaborative effort ensures accountability and equitable distribution of resources among the vulnerable groups in the community.