Lamu,KENYA:The national government has dispatched a consignment of over 2000 bags of relief food to the Boni minority communities and IDPs who fled their homes due to Alshabaab attacks in Lamu county.
Many of the IDPs are putting up at camps with the biggest being the Katsaka Kairu camp and the Witu AIC church in Witu after they fled Alshabaab killings in their villages in Jima,Pandanguo and Poromoko.
Speaking in his office,Lamu county commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo said his office had received more than 2000 bags of maize,rice,beans,cartons of cooking fat and fortified foods for children.
County Commissioner Gilbert Kitiyo says they have received more than 2000 bags of maize, rice, beans and cartons of cooking far ready for distribution to the vulnerable groups.
Kitiyo said the food will be distributed this week to all the vulnerable groups especially Boni residents in terror prone areas which also fall within the operation Linda Boni zones in Bargoni,Milimani,Basuba,Mangai,Mararani,Kiangwe,Pandanguo and others.
He said the over 2,500 IDPs in the various IDP camps will also benefit from the food consignment.
Kitiyo said the government shall continue to push the limits in order to help those affected by terrorism and other vulnerable groups inclusing those in drought prone areas in the county.
Two days ago,the Boni minority Community cried foul after the national government stopped a food distribution programme launched shortly after commencement of the Linda Boni security operation inside the Boni forest and neighboring areas.
When the operation was launched,the national government promised to provide food aid and other humanitarian assistance to the Boni community after all the villages occupied by the Boni become Linda Boni Operation zones.
Kitiyo said plans are on to ensure the Boni community receives all the necessary assistance.
“We have received over 2000 bags of food which we intend to give to the Boni,IDPs and those in drought prone areas here in Lamu.The national government shall continue to render help to these people until they are okay,”said Kitiyo.
He said plans were also on to ensure schools in terror prone areas,all of which are currently closed,are re-opened very soon so that the Boni children can learn like the rest of their counterparts countrywide
All schools in Basuba,Milimani,Mararani,Mangai,Kiangwe and Pandanguo have remained shut,some for years, owing to Alshabaab attacks
