I. General Overview After a Censure Motion and Vote of No Confidence
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UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN UPDATE vol. 27 3 July – 9 July 2008 Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya HIGHLIGHTS • 59,666 IDPs remain in 89 IDP camps as of 8 July; 98,289 IDPs have been recorded in 134 transit sites. Government reports that 212,590 IDPs have returned to areas of displacement. • Pastoralist areas forecasted to remain generally dry through July and August, further deteriorating water resources and pasture. • Finance Minister steps aside over alleged irregularities in sale of public assets. The information contained in this report has been compiled by OCHA from information received from the field, from national and international humanitarian partners and from other official sources. It does not represent a position from the United Nations. This report is posted on: http://ochaonline.un.org/kenya I. General Overview After a Censure Motion and vote of no confidence by the Parliament against Finance Minister Kimunya for alleged involvement with the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel, the Minister stepped down from his post on 8 July. He noted that his resignation would help facilitate the ongoing investigation, however, he alleged that he was being framed to take the fall for the scandal by politicians who wanted to discredit him in advance of the 2012 general elections. Criticism of the Minster had begun when he embarked on a privatization of public assets, citing irregularities in his procedures. Debate over the Minister’s alleged culpability dominated local media for nearly a week and there was speculation that the fissures emerging in the Grand Coalition Government, between the Minister’s party (PNU) and those leading the accusations against him (ODM), could have undermined its stability. The Government meanwhile issued a ‘caveat’ against the sale of the Hotel until the issues related to the alleged corruption were resolved. (See Government Statement: http://www.communication.go.ke/media.asp?id=643) Meanwhile, noting that inflation fell from 31.5% in May to 29.3% in June, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) attributed a relative stabilization of the economy to positive improvements in the government, including the formation of the Grand Coalition Government. The IMF speculated that GDP would grow by 4% in 2008 and noted that ‘solid’ domestic revenues would allow the Government to fund recovery efforts the wake of the PEV as well as urgent infrastructure projects. In response to rising global prices for commodities, the IMF suggested that the Government augment measures specifically targeted at the poorest segments of the population and ensure that farmers have access to IDPs at the Naivasha Stadium IDP Camp discuss the issue of financial assistance credit, whilst ensuring that these with local authorities. 1 July. See more information on IDP movements on p. 6 interventions do not impede normal market functions. Noting the Government’s goal of becoming a middle-income country, highlighted in Vision 2030, the IMF highlighted that this will require increased public spending, support of private sector growth and increased trade. (See the full statement at: http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2008/pr08159.htm) The acting head of the UN Development Programme’s office in Mogadishu, Somalia was killed on 6 July. He was shot by unidentified gunmen following a string of attacks against UN staff in the country. Earlier this year in Kenya, the head of WFP’s sub-office was shot and killed in Lokichoggio, Turkana district on 7 May and WFP is continuing to investigate the incident. These incidents, among others, are notable as the safety and security of all humanitarian actors remains paramount for ensuing humanitarian access to the most vulnerable populations. Furthermore, on 21 June near Nakuru ASK Showground IDP Camp, Nakuru district, humanitarian staff observed demonstrations related to the disappearance of the IDP chairman, during which two IDPs were shot. Tensions increased after the shootings, and UN agencies and many implementing partners restricted their entrance into the camp, where there have been some reports of a proliferation of weapons. To ensure that staff safety and security is effectively protected and to facilitate the uninterrupted delivery of services, the IASC called for a security risk assessment of the ASK Showground IDP Camp on 2 July. II. Humanitarian Situation Food Security WFP reports that the emergency food assistance operation does not have enough food stocks to cover August distributions; however, the Government has confirmed that they will provide an in- kind donation of cereals, which will help to cover July distributions. The long rains assessment will start on 14 July, covering the post-elections violence (PEV) affected areas and the arid and semi arid land (ASAL) areas; the findings are expect to inform the next phase of the emergency food assistance program. According to WFP, Preliminary projections indicate that by September there will be between two and six million affected by food insecurity, whilst another eight million people in urban areas may be unable to meet their basic food needs due to food price increases. IRIN reported that almost 70% of crops as well as grazing pasture have been damaged by armyworms in the Isiolo, Mandera, Marsabit and Wajir districts. Food security in these districts had already been undermined by poor rainfall during the long rains season. The Government had provided pesticides to spray the areas and had sensitized farmers; however, some farmers reported that they were continuing to lose crops and pasture areas due to a lack of resources. In Marsabit district IRIN noted that families who had already sold livestock to increase their capital, were now losing crops, which are a critical food security safety net. Turkana district, the poorest district in Kenya, currently has the highest global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 28.9% in Central Turkana. Similarly high GAM rates have been recorded in North-east Turkana. The Kenya Food Security Steering Group recently Source: Kenya Meteorological Department, Normalized increased the beneficiary numbers in Turkana Difference Vegetation Index 21st to 30th June 2008 from 160,000 to 215,000 in response to the deteriorating food security and nutrition situation. According to WFP, the admission criteria for 2 supplementary feeding in the district have also been revised to include children at risk of being moderately malnourished. Meanwhile, Merlin reported that admission into nutrition programmes in the district increased from 500-900 people between December to May. Several underlying causes of the deteriorating situation were identified by Oxfam, including: two failed rains seasons; unpredictable food distributions due to logistical constraints and damages to the stocks; the disease Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), which has affected 1.2 million sheep and goat since 2006; poor access to markets; and an influx of approximately15,000 IDPs from areas affected by the PEV. Drought The Kenya Meteorological Association noted that the pastoral regions and other areas of Northern Rift Valley, Southern Rift Valley, North Eastern and South Eastern lowlands, experienced light or no rains at all during the last ten days of June, resulting in inadequate pastures and water. Furthermore, the rainfall outlook for July-August highlighted that central Province, the Southern Part of the Rift Valley Province, extreme Northern part of the Rift Valley Province, North Eastern Province and the Eastern Province will be generally dry. Most of these areas support livestock development, which will be compromised by anticipated water scarcity and further pasture deterioration. It was also anticipated that conflicts over scarce resources could increase as the situation deteriorates. The Meteorological Association recommended contingency measures, such as destocking of animals, hay stocking and rehabilitation water points to increase the resilience of households and communities. The grain basket area of Western Province, Source: Kenya Meteorological Department, June-July Rainfall Nyanza Province, as well as Trans Nzoia and Forecast. Note, Climatology refers to refers to a situation where any of the three categories have equal chances of Uasin Gishu districts, Rift Valley Province are occurring. forecasted to have near normal to below normal rainfall between through July and August, which will require farmers to plan carefully to maximize their use of rainfall. (For regular updates see http://www.meteo.go.ke/). Floods Whilst floodwaters have receded in the Tana River and Lamu districts, farmers are appealing for seeds and other inputs to cultivate crops, which had been destroyed by the floods. Over 3,000 acres of crops were submerged and approximately 22,410 people were affected. The Kenya Red Cross is providing food assistance to curb short-term food insecurity; however, the District Commissioner noted that at least 10,000 farmers require assistance so they can cultivate crops and avoid longer-term food insecurity. Furthermore, floodwaters will have washed away essential nutrients in the soil, which will reduce potential yields, or require inputs such as fertiliser to maintain yields or a shift to using the land for lower-value use, such as converting cropland to grazing land. Health The Government reported that the outbreak of cholera in Nyanza Province and Naivasha and Nakuru districts in Rift Valley Province has been contained. There were a total of 327 cases during the outbreak, which resulted in 11 deaths. The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation reported 3 that all water wells near toilets have been closed; chlorination of water wells and household water sources have been promoted; and food handlers have been banned from selling food on the streets. The latest outbreak started on 6 June, and was attributed to seepage from latrines, which contaminated wells. The KRCS supported the Ministry of Health in the affected districts with 23 cholera kits, 45,200 tablets of Aqua tabs and 63,400 sachets of PUR. KRCS also undertook community sensitization campaigns on prevention and hygiene targeting 14,000 people.