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Highlights

• The intensity of the October-December short rains led to bumper harvest in Ukambani and other areas.
• Lives, property and Infrastructure were affected by the heavy rains.
• Cholera re-emerged in seven districts in 2010
• Government allocated KSH 4.5 billion towards flood interventions

KEY HUMANITARIAN ISSUES

1. FLOODS 

1.1 Situation Analysis
Heavy rainfall occurred during the last week of December 2009 and early January 2010 in some parts of Rift Valley, Nyanza and the Coastal provinces. The intensity of the rainfall caused flooding and landslides in some areas resulting in damage to property and loss of lives. However, livestock condition improved and bumper harvest was received in areas which have had poor harvests as a result of serious and prolonged drought. 

1.2 Impact
Forty-seven (47) lives were lost and an estimated 58,000 people displaced. Several livestock perished and roads, bridges and buildings destroyed.  Several water sector infrastructures were damaged or destroyed.  These include dams, pans, water supplies and irrigation schemes. On a positive note however, the short rains is expected to increase maize production by 47% from the normal 3 million bags to 4.4 million bags. The Government led Short Rains Assessment slated for February and organized by the Kenya Food Security Steering Group will determine the extent of the impact of the short rains on crop production nation-wide.  

Health InfrastructureThe Ilaiser Dispensary in Narok District was partially damaged by heavy rains.In Margat District, the Ngambo Dispensary was also hit by floods.      

1.3 Preparedness Measures 

1.3.1 Early Warning
The Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD) started providing early warning alerts from August 2009 following reports from World Met Organization and IGAD climate predictions on the likelihood of an El Nino. For more information, visit http://www.meteo.go.ke.
The government embarked upon public sensitization campaign in the flood prone areas. 

1.3.2 Contingency plans
Contingency Plans were developed and activated in flood prone areas while measures were put in place to exploit the opportunities provided by the rains. (Ref the 2009 El Nino Preparedness Plan dated 29 Oct 2009). 

1.3.3 Mitigation
Through construction and de-silting of pans and dams under the Kazi Kwa Vijana Programme, water storage capacity has been increased by 2.4 million cubic metres countrywide. 

1.3.4 Food Sector

• MOSSP pre-positioned relief food worth Ksh. 382,457,200 in 41 districts that are considered flood prone. The food was utilized by these districts when the floods occurred. MOSSP and partners responded to the floods disaster by providing relief assistance to the victims.
• WFP prepositioned up to 36,326 MT of food in seven flood -prone districts (Mandera, Wajir, Garissa, Ijara, Kwale, Tana River and Isiolo) covering two months requirements for 1.3 million beneficiaries currently targeted under the Protracted Relief and Recovery Operation(PRRO) and an additional contingency for 200,000 people who could be displaced by the floods.

1.4   Interventions   

1.3.5 Agriculture and Livestock

• 215 MT of traditional crop (“orphan” crop) seeds were distributed to farmers during the season. The sector has enhanced seed multiplication of traditional crops through KARI, Kenya Seed Company and other Agricultural Institutions. Seeds worth 150 Million shillings are being multiplied to be issued to farmers for the long rains season (March-April-May 2010).
• In October 2009, 6,064 metric tons of assorted seeds, 360,000 cassava cuttings and 1 million sweet potato vines were procured and distributed to short rains dependant districts of Eastern, Coast, Central and Rift Valley Provinces. 1,023,034 households in 109 districts were targeted and did benefit from this provision. The Ministry of Agriculture organized “Grow More Food Campaigns” countrywide with emphasis on short rains dependent areas.
• Support to irrigation schemes in Bura, Ahero and Mwea has been enhanced and is ongoing to increase production of rice and maize from irrigable land.

1.3.6 WASH

• The Ministry of Water and Irrigation conducted water trucking activities for 21, 500 persons displaced in the Rift Valley during the December 2009 floods.
• Four water bowsers from the MoW have been operating in Mogotio, Central Pokot, Turkana South and Turkana East Districts.

 
1.5 Gaps/Constraints

• Affected canals, banks and infield structures in irrigation schemes and water supplies need repairs.
• Water storage facilities such as bowsers, plastic tanks and collapsible tanks are inadequate and should be provided.
• Water treatment chemicals are needed.
• Coordination and capacity building should be enhanced.
• Repairs and reconstruction of roads and bridges should be undertaken.

 2. DROUGHT

2.1 Situation Analysis

Kenya has been facing severe drought conditions since 2007 because of the poor and erratic short and long rains. Some parts of the country, especially the Eastern and Northern Eastern provinces hardly received adequate rainfall. This led to massive crop failure especially in the country’s grain basket resulting in scarcity of the staple maize.

Drought Stages Map. Source: Drought Monthly Bulletin, Ministry of State for the development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands dated December 2009  

2.2 Impact of drought on Sectors

2.2.1 Water
Over 90% of pans and dams dried out nation-wide at the peak of the drought.

2.2.2 Livestock
Deteriorating livestock body conditions leading to mortalities of up to 20% (600,000 cattle) affecting 150,000 HH.
 
2.2.3 Agriculture

• Prices of foodstuffs including maize went up by between 100-120% in the marginal agricultural, urban and pastoral areas.
• Expected 30% drop in long rains maize production compared to a normal season due to the late onset and poor distribution of rains.

 
2.2.4 Health and Nutrition

• High malnutrition rates of up to 25.3% GAM
• Increased diarrhoea diseases by over 141% due to poor sanitation and unhygienic conditions attributed to water shortage.

 
2.2.5 Education

• Migration in search of pasture and water affected enrolment.
• Enrolment of under-age children into schools (in search of food) in the affected areas increased.

 
2.3 Preparedness Measures

2.3.1 Agriculture and Livestock

• MoA and partners embarked on provision of seeds for drought/ adaptable crops and fertilizers.
• The GoK allocated Kshs.200M to the MoA for Livestock off-take, treatment, and vaccination against noticeable diseases which are spread by uncontrolled livestock movement and to purchase feed supplements for the weak and lactating animals.

 
2.4 Intervention

2.4.1 Food Sector

The food sector provides relief food to needy populations through two channels:

i. Through the PRRO that is jointly implemented by the Government and the World Food Programme.
ii. By GoK through the Ministry of State for Special Programmes (MOSSP).
 
The Ministry of State for Special Programmes (MOSSP) currently provides relief food to an average of 1 million people every month in over 100 districts.  The assistance is mainly targeted at areas not covered by the PRRO.  Food may be given to districts under PRRO but targeted at beneficiaries who are not covered by the food programme.  The PRRO does not target certain district hence MoSSP regularly complements. The current phase of the PRRO (October 2009 – March 2010) is benefiting about 3.8 million people in 28 districts. The programme will be reviewed in March 2010 after the short rains assessment.   

2.4.2 Agriculture and Livestock
Interventions targeted 81 worst hit districts where over 18,000 heads of cattle were bought and taken to KMC for canning. Some were slaughtered and distributed for local consumption. In addition, over 1.2 million animals were vaccinated against RVF, CCPP and CBPP. 58,000 were treated and 242,000 de-wormed. The Ministry plans to re-stock and restore the livelihoods at an approximate cost of Kshs 160 million. GoK and partners are involved in rehabilitation of livestock sale-yards (markets), range lands, loading ramps and vaccination crushes in various parts of the country.

2.4.3 WASH

• Oxfam-GB conducted water trucking in Wajir and carried out borehole drilling in Turkana.
• COOPI is installing five 100m3 elevated steel tanks for refugee camps and constructing water sources for communities living around the three camps in Lagdera and Fafi Districts. They have constructed three pans of 15,000 to 20,000m
• CORDAID carried out drought interventions in Marsabit, Samburu, Isiolo and Mandera through ECHO and own funding.
• KRCS is drilling boreholes in Makueni and promoting roof catchment in Masinga and Yatta.
• German Agro Action (GAA) is carrying out drought intervention projects in Namanga and Mashuru Divisions of Kajiado District.
• Action Against Hunger (AAH) is carrying water trucking activities in Mandera to support nutrition interventions.
• AMREF Amref works in Makueni, Kitui, Turkana, Kajiado, Kilifi and Malindi, constructing shallow wells and doing hygiene promotion.

2.4.4 Transport

• GoK provided 71 cargo trucks including water bowsers that were located in Turkana, Samburu, Laisamis, Marsabit, North-Eastern Province and parts of Tana River District.
• To date, the primary and secondary transport sectors have been able to transport and distribute 63,573.29 tons and 27,000 tons of foodstuffs respectively.

2.4.5 Forestry and Wildlife Sector

• 10 conflict management meetings and public awareness related to environmental conservation were conducted.
• 286 km were covered during surveillance and fighting of forest fires. 100,000 bamboo seedlings for critical catchment resuscitation have been produced.
• Wildlife was given easy access to 10 million litres of water in water scarce parks and reserves.

• The failure of four successive rainy seasons resulted in prolonged drought which led to poor environmental sanitation and unhygienic conditions, high malnutrition rates of up to 25.3% GAM and an increase in disease outbreaks, especially diarrhoeal diseases and vector borne infections were observed and registered.

• Public Health Officers in collaboration with partners were stationed on the ground for enhanced disease surveillance.
• Sensitization and training of health workers were conducted.

3.3    Interventions

• Commodities for vector control were in 57 priority districts.
• Chlorine tablets for water disinfection were provided to 2.5 million households.
• Disease surveillance and immunization activities were intensified.
• Supplementary feeding programme targeted a total of 242,000 vulnerable children.
• Unblocking of drainages was conducted.
• Social marketing strategy on safe hygiene using the hand washing campaign (SOPO) initiative countrywide was conducted.
• Chemicals for household water treatment were procured and distributed.
• Food safety and quality control monitoring, including closure of food premises with filled up pit latrines and septic tanks in cholera prone areas.

3.4    Gaps/Constraints

• Inadequate resources/funds for emergency interventions.
• Inaccessibility of health services in some areas due to damaged infrastructure.
• Lack of proper drainage systems in built-up areas and informal settlements.

4.    INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS

4.1    Situation Analysis
 Following the announcement of the 2007 presidential election results, the country was rocked by violence which lasted for about two weeks, which resulted in loss of lives, displacement and destruction to property. A government –led profiling exercise revealed that some 663,921 people were displaced.  A total of 350, 000 sought refuge in 118 camps spread all over the country. About 313,921 IDPs were integrated within communities. Most families have returned home to date.

4.2    Impact
Over 1000 people were killed during the violence. There are currently 3, 714 households from the post-election violence living in 25 transit sites in three districts (Molo, Uasin Gishu/Wareng, and Trans Nzoia West/Kwanza). There are 19 Self-Help Groups, with 6, 802 families that also require support from the government. There were 78, 254 houses destroyed during the violence.

4.3    Interventions
The Government has continued with the resettlement programme and over the past three months (October 2009 to January 2010) released a further Kshs. 367,256,000/- to remaining affected families in Nyanza, Western, Central and Rift Valley Provinces.

Furthermore, H.E the President directed in September 2009 that the families in self-help groups to be relocated into well-designed eco-villages with each household receiving 2.25 acres.

444 families have so far been resettled in Giwa farm in Rongai District with beneficiaries receiving their parcels.  Houses for the returnees have also been constructed.

Another 156 families have been settled in Mau Summit and Managu farms in Molo. 

Identification of land parcels to resettle the remaining families in the self-help groups is on-going.

The African Development Bank (ADB) provided a loan of Ksh 1.5 billion for restoration of farm infrastructure and rural livelihoods. This is being used to put up 19, 000 houses and to restore farm infrastructure.   IOM, Goal International and Danish Refugee Council have won the tender to construct the 19,000 houses.
 
In reconstruction of infrastructure damaged during the violence, the government has disbursed Ksh 242 million to reconstruct 138 schools.  Another Ksh 123 million was disbursed to the Kenya Army to construct 16 schools in Molo and Uasin Gishu districts.

The Red Cross Society rehabilitated Sugoi Girls, Ngura Primary, and Anensens secondary schools.

In the immediate aftermath of the violence, humanitarian actors provided support in 12 key sectors to IDPs in camps.

5.  REFUGEES

5.1    Situation Analysis

There are 377, 885 refugees living in Kenya. An estimated 266,779 are hosted in Dadaab camps in Garrisa. There are 64,790 refugees in Kakuma and 46,316 in Nairobi, according to UNHCR statistics.

5.2    Impact

• The continued influx of refugees has led to congestion in refugee camps, especially in Dadaab raising the need for additional space for refugees.

5.3    Interventions

UNHCR and other partners continue to support sectoral activities in food, health, education, shelter, NFIs and water/sanitation.