Why Garissa

Reasons for Maahad Daawah Organization’s Choosing Tana River & Garissa for Iftar Distribution in Ramadhan

The frequency of drought has been increasing in the ASAL areas, especially with the poor rains in October – December 2020 and March-May 2021 and the currently delayed October – December 2021 rainy season. The worsening drought conditions have led to poor vegetation growth and increased distances to watering points as pastoralists have had to move further and further away, looking for the last shrub and vegetation. The impact is evident in the worsening livestock body conditions and reduced milk production as our field officers observed.

Reduced forage resources have triggered migration and concentration of livestock in particular grazing area. This has increased competition for the resources and
continues to trigger resource-based conflicts among different pastoral communities in the ASAL region. These severe drought conditions have induced food shortages and a malnutrition crisis in these already marginalized communities, with many households unable to meet their basic food requirements including reduced number of daily meals, eating less nutritious foods,and sale of more livestock than normal.

With current projections indicating that the country is likely to experience La Nina conditions, the need to provide support for the Muslim Ummah in the region is higher than ever. Additionally, unmitigated severe drought conditions have a spillover effect on other sectors including education and healthcare as families have been forced to move far away from centers with schools and hospitals and children withdrawn from Madrasas and schools in order to help with the livestock herding needs.