Mathias Ringa and Daniel Nyassy
30 April 2008
Nairobi — Relief food should be rushed to villagers in some parts of Lamu District to avert death by starvation, the provincial administration said Tuesday.
Some 25,000 residents are in dire need of food, according to district commissioner Charles Muathe.
In Boni village in Bargoni sub-location alone, more than 1,000 people were "staring death in the eye" due to severe food shortages caused by two failed harvests, assistant chief Salim Abuli said.
Speaking to the Nation at Bargoni, Mr Abuli warned that the villagers might start "succumbing to hunger very soon". He said that the last time they received relief food from the Government was December last year.
"Lives here are hanging by a thread as the famine situation is almost getting out of hand. Unless they are urgently given relief food, the chance of their survival is slim," he said.
Mr Muathe said the Government last week brought 1,000 bags of maize and 600 bags of beans, which were being distributed to the affected families.
The DC thanked some businessmen for donating 11 tonnes of assorted foodstuff, to supplement supplies from the Government.
"It is true that the famine situation in Lamu is worrying as 25,000 residents are affected.
"Because of lack of food, some villagers almost died of poisoning after they consumed sorghum seeds they had been given by the Government for planting this season," he said. Many were taken to hospital in critical condition.
In neighbouring Malindi District, prices of most essential commodities has risen by more than 300 per cent.
Business people in Malindi Town attributed this to the financial squeeze caused by the post-election violence in January.
High transportation costs and the downturn of the tourism industry have also greatly contributed to the situation.
Because of the low purchasing power, traders have in turn reduced the amount of commodities they buy from Mombasa.
Wholesaler Murtaza Dossajee said traders feared their commodities would not be bought due to increased levels of poverty.
Thirty five tourist hotels and hundreds of private villas were shut down in the area immediately the violence started.
More than 4,000 workers in the industry were declared redundant and sent home.
"Vegetables, sugar, beans and maize are the major products whose prices having been increased by suppliers," said Mr Dossajee.
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