Mandera Conflicts Humanitarian Needs Assessment

MANDERA CONFLICTS HUMANITARIAN NEEDS ASSESSMENT.

Mandera is an arid county situated on the northern tip of Kenya’s boundary with Somalia and Ethiopia. The primary economic activity is livestock pastoralism with cross border trade in Mandera town. The county is hot with mean annual average temperatures of 300C, maximum 370C. Rainfall is scanty and unpredictable averaging at 255mm6

The main economic activities are pastoralism in Mandera East and Central, Irrigated cropping on the northeastern of Mandera East bordering Ethopia and Agro-pastorals in Mandera West.

The population of Mandera County is 2.7% of the Kenyan populations with 54.6% male and 45.4% female. Mandera Town is the largest urban population center with a population of 9%, Rhamu 3%, Elwak 2% and Takaba 2% of Mandera population (CRA 2012) It has a population density of 988.2 which is 40.6% higher than the national population density of 401.1 per square kilometer see Table 1 with a population of 39 people per square KM The average household size is 8.2, 53.7% larger than the national average household size of 4.4.

Mandera is one of the poorest counties, ranked at 46/47 with a poverty rate of 89.1%, 43.2% higher than the national poverty rate.

Context

Mandera County is one of the most tempestuous conflict prone zones in the North Eastern Kenya. Proliferation of small arms and light weapons, Inter-Clan conflicts especially among the Degodia and Garre on resource sharing e.g. water, pasture, Terrorism by militia groups e.g. Al Shabab and Land disputes are the main security concern in the County. . Tension started building up in the Month of March along the Mandera-Wajir border, of close proximity to Burmayo, the main cause of the tension was merely dispute over territorial boundary between the two counties. This led to the County government and national government intervening through inter-county peace dialogues however the build-up of tension between the two clans heightened leading to various incidences.

SCOPE/SCALE OF DISPLACEMENT.

Tension started building up in the Month of March along the Mandera-Wajir border, of close proximity to Burmayo, the main cause of the tension was merely dispute over territorial boundary between the two counties. The fragile peace effort by the Government and other stakeholders was disrupted by attacks and counter-attacks by the warring clans leading to movement of population. Children, women and elderly people were affected the most by the conflict, in terms of displacement, trauma of loss, and deprivation of the essential building blocks to live a dignified life. Children have dropped out of school, food insecurity, malnutrition, lack of access to basic health facilities for fled families are the main challenges. The table below show’s casualties and deaths as from 15th May 2014;

DATE PLACE OF INCIDENT CASAULTIES DEATH

13/5/2014 Burmayo - 3

14/5/2013 3 km’s from Elwak(Bus 28 3 accident)

15/5/2014 Towfiq- Rhamu 5 5

16/5/2014 Gunana 1 1

19/5/2014 Manyatta 4 km’s - 4 3 Takaba

21/5/2014 18 km’s away from 1 1 Guba-Banisa sub- county.

28/5/2013 karsahama 5 2

The clan conflicts in the County have further been compounded by increased attack’s by the al-shaabab militia mainly in Mandera town and parts of Lafey Sub-County. Attack on Mandera-Lafey road and Car- jacking also increased during the Month of May as shown in the template below;

DATE PLACE OF INCIDENT CASAULTIES DEATH

6/4/2014 County revenue barrier - - near Moi Girls Secondary and Barwaqo revenue barrier

11/4/2014 Mandera Town 1 - Administrator’s office

2/5/2014 KPLC power plant - - 2 Alshabab Mandera militias

17/5/2014 Mandera police station - -

19/5/2014 Lethi - Arabia 6 12 28/5/2013 Ledhi -Arabia 1 2

Despite the Incidences as a result of happening mainly in Mandera-West and South, there was high movement of population from neighboring sub-Counties like Banisa to areas believed to be safe zone. The build of fears was caused by the protracted conflicts, the need to go far away from the border areas of Wajir County and moving away with livestock which was also targeted by the attacking groups. The table below shows the population displaced as a result of the conflicts from four sub-counties:

SUB-COUNTY WARD IDP HOUSEHOLD SHIMBIR FATUMA Burmayo north 291 burmayo south 282 MANDERA SOUTH Garse dam 84 Warido 67 Tutes 62 Wargadud Quramadow 150 SukelaTinfa 150 ERES Kinto 100 HarSanga 100 Buke 100 HarAdi 71 Fincharo 46 Qalanqalesa 53 Dololo 38 Kobadadi 37 TOTAL 1631 fincharo Kutayu 75 Nyatalio 30 Qalanqalesa 30 Dololo 40 Egu 40 QarsaDimu 40 TOTAL 255 DANDU WARD Dandu 250 MANDERA WEST Kubihalo 385 Didkuba 85 Kharsahama 175 Masho 50 Abokofe 50 Harbuyu 175 TOTAL 1170 TAKABA SOUTH Didkuro 398 Bolowle 125 Gulani 38 SukelaKuli 96 Itilale 30 Duduble 250 Wayaamdera 41 Kobadadi B 95 Wangaidahan 200 Kotkoto 50 Har billow 58 Qoqaye 33 Qordobo 43 TOTAL 1457 LAGSURE WARD AwachoSambur 197 Afalo 130 Darweed 200 Lagsure North 257 Donqay 68 DiriBadana 96 Lag Karo 94 TOTAL 1042 DERKALE WARD Derkale 400 Kukub 350 Tarama 300 Burashuum 200 Goljo 400 Dirbor 250 Wara 200 QoroboAbero 250 Duke 200 TOTAL 2550 GITHER WARD Burduras 15 Dandu 9 Chiracha 10 Takaba 6 Sake 20 Arda Halo 10 TOTAL 70 BANISSA WARD Mata arba 70 Merille 150 BANISSA WARD Chiracha 150 Lamajir 60 Yatani 140 Hardawa 120 Ogonicho 70 Qalim 50 Rukesa 40 Jilomarsa 50 GoolboOmacho 40 Malkaruqaidps 293 Haigurach 30 TOTAL 1263 GUBA WARD Tarbey 50 QodQud 45 Choroqo 150 Murathelo 60 Ramudimtu 250 ola 200 Murutho 40 TOTAL 645 KILIWAHERI WARD Urille 80 Gesrebki 120 Chabi 120 ArdaGarse 50 TOTAL 370 MALKAMARI WARD Doomal 100 Malkamari 150 AdaaGabicha 60 TOTAL 310 GRAND TOTAL 10763

Humanitarian Profile

Inter-communal conflict between the Garre and Degodia clans of the Somali community in Mandera compounded by increased al-shaabab attacks has left over 15 people dead and 13 injured as a result of the clan conflicts and 16 people died and 8 injured as a result of al-shaabab attacks, over 64,578 persons (10,763 house-holds) displaced since May 2014.

In terms of water safety and access, the main water sources in the county for both domestic and livestock include boreholes, water pans and River-Daua. 39.6% of the population has access to safe water, 14.5% lower than the national population who has access to safe water. The average distance to the nearest water source is 20KMs and only 11% of the population have access to portable water point ( FS statistics).The areas heavily affected by the conflict(Mandera-West and Banisa) mainly rely on water pans as their main source of water, the county have realized rains below normal during the long rains. Banisa and Takaba received rains as compared to other parts however due to high in-migration from other parts of the County and Southern Ethiopia, most water pans have dried up and pasture depleted. various sites visited during assessment reported shortage of water with areas like Takaba reporting increase in water prices (A drum of water was kshs. 100 during normal time and went up to sh.300 after the high population influx).Women and children were observed moving long distances carrying 20 liters jerrican of water in Sake area during the transect drive.

The entire county is food insecure and it’s classified on the stressed phase of food insecurity (IPC Phase 2). Factors affecting food security in the County include consecutive poor rainfall performance, reduced household livestock holdings due to cumulative livestock mortalities, Successive crop failure particularly in the agro-pastoral zone. Depletion of pasture, and browse, Poor recharge of temporary water sources. The displaced population in all the sites visited has not moved with food items due and other house-hold belongings due to lack of transport thus relying on host communities and depleting the scarce available resources. Mass in migration before the on-set of the clashes has depleted the resources of Mandera-West and Banisa sub-counties, the clashes have worsened the situation by concentrating in small areas perceived to be safe zone thus impacting negatively on food security. The NDMA May monthly bulletin classified the County at alarm stage with the situation worsening. Targeting of livestock by attackers through spraying bullets led to pastoralists fleeing with their livestock towards the Ethiopian border. An elder reported having lost six (6) of his camels during the Karsahama attack remaining with only one (1) camel.

Mission Objective

1. Clearly understand the humanitarian situation and conflict impact on the affected communities and locations. 2. Consolidate and verify existing information in prioritizing needs and designing humanitarian response required. 3. Understand how different sectors and groups are affected and what needs to be done. 4. Understand how different groups are affected and establish their priority needs; 5. Highlight key priorities and gaps for the purposes of resource mobilization and advocacy.

Priority Locations

The locations which have experienced the greatest negative impact as a result of the inter-clan conflicts are; Takaba, Sake, Kiliwehiri, Shimbir-fatuma, Olla and Rhamu Dimtu. They house the largest numbers of internally displaced persons with different sectors reeling under great pressure, for instance the host community’s are housing up to five (5) families in one house-hold depleting the scarce available food. Open defecation has been observed in most areas covered by the assessment e.g. Sake,Olla,Shimbir-Fatuma and Rhamu-dimtu.

Priority Needs

The priority needs identified during the assessment are: -Food, Shelter/NFIs, and medical interventions and and WASH. Among the respondents interviewed during focus group discussions and key informant interviews, Food and shelter have been ranked as the first and second priorities respectively. GAPS IN GENERAL.

1. Education; the education sector has been seriously affected by the conflict, Eighteen (18) schools have been closed down in Mandera-west sub-counties, six (6) schools in Mandera-North and eleven (11) schools closed down in Banisa sub-County. The template below shows schools closed down and the enrolments;

SCHOOLS CLOSED DUE TO CLASHES AS AT 20TH MAY, 2014

No Name of School closed Enrolment No. of Schools closed in Enrolment in Mandera West Sub Teachers Banissa Sub-county County 1 Dandu Pry 729 8 1 Derkale Pry 396 2 Dandu Boys Sec 142 4 2 Burashum Pry 237 3 Karsahama Pry 438 3 3 Tarama Pry 303 4 Didkoba Pry 396 2 4 Kukuba Pry 323 5 Harbuyo Pry 58 1 5 Dirbor Pry 204 6 Bachile Pry 230 3 6 Merille Pry 248 7 Kubdishan Pry 253 2 7 Chiroqo Pry 312 8 Datach Tune Pry 51 1 8 Guba Pry 443 9 Bolowle Pry 254 2 9 Tarbei Pry 141 10 Sukela Pry 298 1 10 Yattani Pry 272 11 Sambur Pry 195 2 11 Chiracha 351 12 Alokoba Pry 238 1 Total 3230 13 Kobadadi Pry 298 2 14 Iyan Abkula Pry 256 1 15 Wayamadera 40 1 16 Lagsure Pry 421 5

17 Kotkoto Pry 458 2

18 Wangai Dahan Pry 584 5

Total 5,339 46

Schools closed due to clashes in Mandera County Source – Sub-County Education officer & T TSC Agents at the Sub-County level

The following schools were also relocated to convenient centre /school as shown below;

2. 1.Darwed Pry - Madarasatul Zaid bin thabit Takaba - 444 3. 2.Wangaidahan Pry – Takaba pry -458 4. 3.Kotkoto Pry - Rockyhill pry-332 5. 4.Lagsure Pry - Gutole pry -421 6. 5.Bolowle Pry - DidKuro – 234 7. 6.Sukela Pry – Didkuro -278 8. 7.Bachille – Gither -56 9. 8. Dandu –Gither -78.

NB: All areas where schools were closed, the settlements were also deserted with parents moving with their children.

Lack of access to education services for the displaced schools will lead to poor curriculum coverage; Absorption of the influx has constrained existing facilities of host schools. Lack of Materials to set up temporary learning spaces (school tents, Portable black board) & lack of teaching and learning materials has been the main challenge. Some of the schools that have realized high influx with over-stretching of facilities include Rocky primary school,Takaba primary school,Didkuro primary,Udole primary,Darweed day Secondary in Mandera-West,Banisa primary and Kiliwehiri primary in Banisa Sub-county,Shimbir-Fatuma and Fincharo in Mandera-South and Olla and Rhamu-Dimtu in Mandera-North. The principal Takaba boys reported that pupils especially from Moyle were traumatized as they have bad experience of the Past Marsabit County clashes and the occurrence of similar conflicts has affected them and thus need for psychological trauma counseling for both the children and adults. Challenges in fees payment by parents were reported by all principals of affected schools as most parents of the pupils couldn’t be traced. Pupils of Takaba boys and Takaba girls secondary were reported to have adopted the day schooling mode for fear of spending in the school. It was evident that all schools in the affected sub-counties were either directly or indirectly affected by the clashes as most schools had to alter their daily attendance time of morning hours and release pupils earlier than usual during the evening as this was the expected time of attack. There is need for Reactivation of the Education Coordination Group Meetings.Key areas to support in this sector includes:

1. Support host schools with food as the available resources are over-stretched. 2. Food for fees for secondary schools as most parents can’t be traced to settle fees for their children 3. Provision of basic teaching and learning materials including distribution of individual learner kits (exercise Books, pens, pencils, eraser and sharpener). Other materials such as textbooks, chalk etc. 4. Support water-stressed schools with Water trucking in Mandera-West and Banisa sub-Counties. 5. Support displaced pupils with uniforms 6. Conduct psycho-trauma counseling for affected pupils.

Food Security

The entire county is food insecure as rains received in the entire county were below normal with high in-migration depleting the available pasture. Migration to Somalia has not been possible due to low rains and insecurity. Influx from southern Ethiopia and within the County has led to depletion of pasture and water mainly in Banisa and Takaba areas. Moving livestock towards the Ethiopia border in fear of attack and concentrating in small areas has led to low milk availability and high increase in prices, a litre of milk was ksh. 100 during normal times and rose to shs 300 after the conflict period in Takaba. There were still cases of Peste Des Petit Ruminate (PPR), CCPP, Sheep and Goat pox, and Black quarter diseases reported in all the areas visited by the assessment team. The main access road of Mandera to Nairobi via Wajir is not accessible in fear of the opponent clan attack who occupy Wajir County; Most vehicle’s access Nairobi through Moyale which is far in terms of distance, this led to increase in food prices e.g. 50 Kgs of Rice was ksh.3,200 during normal time’s in Takaba and kshs.4,000 now, 50 kg’s of sugar went up from kshs. 3,600 to 4,400 after the conflicts. Reduction in livestock prices was reported e.g. average cattle prices decreased from Ksh17,936 to Ksh13,343 during the month of May 2014 and average goat price decreased from Ksh 4,517 to Ksh 3,617 for the month of May The decrease in price is attributed to the deteriorating body condition and lack of access road due to the clan conflicts. Negative coping mechanism of sharing food with host community has also affected host community’s capacities. The County government has started food distribution that can sustain the IDP’s for three weeks. The pie-chart below shows the source of livelihood for the County for the Month of May with Sale of livestock high(Irreversible coping mechanism) Income Sources at Household SALELevel OF as LIVESTOCK at 7% 4% May2014 CASUAL LABOUR

9% 30% FORMAL EMPLOYMENT SALARY 10% GIFTS ITEMS 10% PETTY TRADING 30% REMITTANCES Source –May Monthly bulletin-NDMA. Communities adopted non-reversible negative coping mechanism of selling assets. The casual work was mainly practiced by areas within the county that was not affected by the conflict.

Nutrition

The average number of mothers initiating breast feeding – 1 hour has gone down to 78.33% in 2013 from 83.40% in 2012 and 80.60% in 2011 in the County Milk consumption has decreased as compared to last month due to outmigration of livestock (NDMA May bulletin)

IYCF practices have also been affected. For instances due to the conflict experiences during the clashes mothers cannot breastfeed normally especially exclusive breastfeeding mothers due to fear and sudden disruption of livelihood. This has eventually forced them to resort to other coping strategies like giving water mixed with sugar, porridge or even tea which has eventually predisposed the children to fecal-oral diseases like diarrhea.

The number of meals eaten per day has also drastically reduced and children between 6-24 months are being affected, and this will eventually lead to malnutrition. A number of children are being forced to survive on breast milk alone which is not adequate to provide them with the nutrients they need for growth and development.

Shelter/NFI

Both the male and female interviewed during the focal group discussions prioritized food and non-food items as the number and two respectively. Overcrowding was reported in all the areas visited. One ‘somali traditional house “herio” could host up to five households. Women complained that there was insufficient privacy with men resorting to sleeping in the open in some areas. The worst hit areas are Sake,Fincharo, Rhamu-dimtu,Shimbir- fatuma and Kiliwehiri among other areas. High mosquito infestation was reported in most areas with malaria prevalence. The displaced population has no access to mosquito nets. In most areas there were inadequate jerricans for fetching water with displaced population borrowing from relatives and host communities .Access to fire wood in some areas like Takaba has been difficult for fear of attack, this led to increase in price from kshs. 500 per donkey cart to kshs.1000

Healthcare services

67.61% of the hospitals in the county are public and are government owned while the ratio of doctor to patient is 1:508,878 (CRA 2012). 53.1% fully immunized population is below the national immunized population of 83.0% . On every first outpatient visit 17.9% are found to have malaria while TB infection is 9% of every 10,000 people. Only 8.2% deliveries are in health centers. The county’s population of those that have had all vaccination is 47%

Health coverage Mandera Kenya * Fully-immunized 54.3 (31) 64 pop <1yr (%, 2010/11)

Malaria (as % of 17.9 (17) 27.7 all 1st outpatient visits)

TB in every 9 (6) 39 10,000 people (2009/10) HIV+ ante-natal 0.2 (1) 5.9 care clients (%, 2010)

Delivered in a 8.2 (45) 37.5 health centre

Qualified medical 11.3 (45) 37.6 assistant during birth

Access to health facilities for the displaced and injuries was hampered by long travel distances, lack of medical operational facilities at the nearest referral centers and a fear of retaliatory attacks by warring tribes. The Kenya Red Cross in collaboration with the county government has handled cases of referral cases including air-referrals to Nairobi. In most of the locations that were deserted by the residents all health facilities have been closed, staff deserted. The host health facilities were also constrained; there is need for more medical out-reaches to cover the far to reach areas where the displaced population is hosted (Mandera-West,Mandera-North,Banisa and Mandera-South sub-counties Due to long distance walking and disruption of livelihoods, reduction in breast-feeding time’s has been reported in most areas visited. Water and sanitation

39.6% of the population has access to safe water, 14.5% lower than the national population who has access to safe water 20 The average distance to the nearest water source is 20KMs and only 11% of the populations have access to portable water point FS statistics. Currently, over 40 centers in the County are under water trucking in mainly( Mandera South, Banissa, Takaba North and East sub counties). The following centers that are affected by the conflict are under water trucking;

Mandera-North – Burjon,Degmarer ,Libin primary in Rhamu dimtu and Garse. Banisa – Guba,Chiroqo,Hillow,Tarbe and Muruaateno. Mandera-South- Nyata Alio,Boji,Ardahagarsu,Harsanga,ytho,Dimu,Erekimto,Arda kalo,Ababasome and Tuuli. Mandera-West –Gagaba,Harshilmi,Argesa awra,Qorobo sagal,Ogode,Harbuyu and Sake.

There is poor latrine coverage by all affected areas and thus open defecation was observed. latrine coverage in Mandera West and Banissa that stood at 31 % and 17% respectively. While Shimbir Fatuma has 15 % pit-Latrine coverage. The already existing poor coverage was further worsened by the high influx.PHASTER training and cascading to all affected areas by the clashes is important.

Summary of overall capacity to respond

The protracted conflicts have weakened the local communities’ capacities. Various households have resorted to adopting irreversible coping mechanisms, this include school-going children loosing classes, sale of assets (Mainly livestock) etc. Reversible coping mechanisms like sharing meals, reducing no of meals per day was also common. Killing of livestock mainly camels by spraying bullets have had negative impact on community’s capacities

Recommendations;

Need for humanitarian intervention was evident in all the areas with food, WASH, and shelter remaining as the immediate priority needs across the four Sub-Counties. . There is need for improving level of coordination and collaboration between all actors for improved response and service delivery so as to serve the affected population with dignity.

Other needs in the affected sub-counties are as highlighted below:-

FOOD Food had been ranked as the key priority in areas where the assessment was conducted, there was thus need to provide food to all displaced population. The county government is conducting food distribution but it’s not adequate.

NON- FOOD ITEMS Provision of NFI’s to displaced populations as most couldn’t move with their belongings and are living in deplorable situation. KR CS have conducted distribution for 500 house-holds, there is need to cover all affected house-holds.

WASH Up-scaling of hygiene and sanitation promotion services across all the Sub-Counties considering latrine coverage in Mandera West and Banissa that stood at 31 % and 17% respectively,While Shimbir Fatuma has 15 % pit-Latrine coverage. PHASTER training and cascading to all affected areas by the clashes is important. Construction of emergency latrines in affected areas is important so as to reduce open defecation. . There is need to truck water to water stressed areas.

HEALTH There is need to upscale the medical out-reaches to cover more areas. Health facilities that are over-stretched by the influx require supply of pharmaceutical supplies.

LIVELIHOODS Provision of capital grants and restocking for families that lost their herds and small scale business disrupted. Some pastoralists (e.g. Karsama in Dandu Ward) have lost their camels being the only source of their livelihood through direct spraying of bullets.

EDUCATION

Reactivation of the Education Coordination Group Meetings. Other areas to support in this sector include:

NUTRITION

There is need to conduct urgent Mass muac screening in the areas affected by the clashes.

INTER-AGENCY ASSESSMENT-There is needed to conduct an inter-agency assessment using KIRA tool to support well coordinated interventions.