Isiolo District
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ISIOLO DISTRICT SHORT RAINS ASSESSMENT 11th – 14th FEBRUARY 2008 Assessment Team Eliud Wamwangi Ministry of Water and Irrigation Lydia Macharia Ministry of Health Julius Kisingu World Food Programme Stanley Kirimi Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries Development-Isiolo Regina Karanja Ministry of Health-Isiolo TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 History of Relief Operations ...................................................................................... 1 1.3 Food Security Trends ................................................................................................. 2 1.4 Summary of Recommendations ................................................................................. 2 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION ........................................................................... 2 2.1 Overall Food Security Situation................................................................................. 2 2.2 Impact of Harzards/Shocks on Food Security............................................................ 3 2.2.1 Rainfall............................................................................................................... 3 2.2.2 Crop Production and Prices................................................................................ 4 2.2.3 Livestock Production and Prices........................................................................ 5 2.2.4 Water and Sanitation .......................................................................................... 6 2.2.5 Health and Nutrition........................................................................................... 7 2.2.6 Education............................................................................................................ 9 2.2.7 Coping mechanisms ......................................................................................... 10 2.3 Divisional Ranking................................................................................................... 10 2.4 Ongoing Interventions.............................................................................................. 10 2.4.1 Health and Nutrition......................................................................................... 10 2.4.2 Water and Sanitation ........................................................................................ 11 2.4.3 Livestock .......................................................................................................... 11 2.4.4 Agriculture ....................................................................................................... 11 2.4.5 Education.......................................................................................................... 11 RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Food Aid Requirements ........................................................................................... 11 3.2 Non-Food Interventions ........................................................................................... 12 Disclaimer: The recommendations of the Regional Assessment Team are tentative and subject to the approval of the Kenya Food ii Security Steering Group (KFSSG) 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background Isiolo District is in Eastern Province. It has recently been divided into two districts, namely Isiolo and Garbatula Districts. Their combined total population is estimated at 131,510 with 50% located in the Central Division. For the purposes of this assessment, the two districts will be handled as one. The new Isiolo District has three administrative divisions – Oldonyiro, Central and Kinna and has a total population of 86,556. Garbartulla District also has three divisions – Garbatulla, Merti and Sericho and has a population of 39,817. The larger Isiolo District borders Wajir, Marsabit, Laikipia, Samburu, Meru North, Garissa, Tana River and Mwingi Districts. It covers an area of approximately 25,600 square kilometres. The District has four livelihood zones (see map on pg 1): • Agro-pastoral: this is concentrated along the Ewaso Nyiro River, upper parts of Kinna and Central Divisions. • Pastoral: this is the main Livelihood in the District with cattle, goats and sheep in the northern region while the southern region has all livestock species. • Casual Waged Labour: this is mainly within the Isiolo town. • Firewood/Charcoal burning and Pastoral: mainly in the outskirts of Isiolo town. 1.2 History of Relief Operations The first phase of EMOP 10374.0 started in November 2004 to February 2005 targeting 36,177 beneficiaries in all the six divisions. The January 2005 short rains assessment phased out Oldonyiro and Central Divisions in the second phase due to improved food security situation. The phase had two intervention modalities of food for work (Garbatulla and Kinna) and general food distribution in Merti and Sericho. The third phase was purely food for work and targeted 7,550 beneficiaries in Oldonyiro and Sericho Divisions. The October-November 2005 short rains failed leading to an increased number of vulnerable populations. The fourth and fifth phases again targeted all divisions except parts of Central Division with beneficiary population of 55,323 and 52,331 people respectively. The January 2007 short rains food security assessment recommended continuation of the EMOP into the sixth phase under general food distribution covering 38,656 beneficiaries in all the divisions except parts of Central Division. The sixth phase started in April and lasted until September 2007. The July 2007 long rains food security assessment recommended continuation of the EMOP into the seventh phase under general food distribution covering 17,373 beneficiaries in Oldonyiro, Garbatulla, Merti and Sericho divisions, the seventh phase is expected to end by February 2008. Disclaimer: The recommendations of the Regional Assessment Team are tentative and subject to the approval of the Kenya Food 1 Security Steering Group (KFSSG) 1.3 Food Security Trends The food security situation is worsening due to the below normal short rains and total absence in some areas of the district. The worst affected areas are Sericho and Merti Divisions though all areas in the district are affected to some extent. Pasture and browse is quickly being depleted and most water pans and earth dams have dried up. 1.4 Summary of Recommendations Due to the failure of the short rains in most parts of the district, there is need for: • Continued Food For Assets (FFA) and General Food Distribution (GFD) in Sericho, Merti, Oldonyiro and Garbatulla Divisions. Some small pockets in Central and Kinna should also be considered such as Ngare Mara and Kula Mawe Locations, respectively. • De-silting of canals so as to increase land under cultivation • Provision of drought tolerant certified seeds to farmers along the Eawso Nyiro river basin in Merti and Sericho Divisions. • Urgent vaccination of livestock against CCPP, tryponosomiasis and control of tick-borne diseases where the livestock have concentrated in the Eawso Nyiro River basin and parts of Kinna to arrest the reported outbreak of disease here. • Re-stocking/de-stocking of livestock through cash transfer programme. There are still households with little or no livestock at all following the severe drought of 2005/2006. The worst hit areas are in Sericho and Merti and affects about 10% of the population there. • Introduction of dairy goat breeding programme to improve household milk consumption and therefore improve the nutrition level. This should be done in Sericho, Merti, Garba Tulla and Kinna Divisions where the dependance on livestock is very high. 2 DISTRICT FOOD SECURITY SITUATION 2.1 Overall Food Security Situation The current food security status varies across the district. The Agro pastoral livelihood zones is generally stable but deteriorating, while it is worsening in the pastoral livelihood zone. The rainfall received during October-December period was lower compared to the previous year and the long term average by more than 50%. The rains started late in most parts of the district and were erratic. During the 2nd and 3rd week of January there were unexpected showers in almost all parts of the district. Malnutrition rates have declined slightly with GAM levels of 10.5% in 2007 as compared to 20.6% in 2006. This gains might however be reversed because of unavailability of milk for under five at the household level as the pastoralists have moved their livestock to the dry grazing areas. The situation may worsen if the long rains delay. Factors Affecting Food Security Poor rainfall is the main factor affecting food security. This results in poor pasture and browse conditions. It also results in drying up of pans and dams hence increasing the distance and time to alternative water sources. The livestock also end up going to far off places to graze Disclaimer: The recommendations of the Regional Assessment Team are tentative and subject to the approval of the Kenya Food 2 Security Steering Group (KFSSG) therefore denying families their source of milk. Food prices are high in the interior due to high transport costs. Inter-ethnic conflicts between some communities living in the district also affects food security as it often involves theft