UNITED NATIONS KENYA HUMANITARIAN UPDATE vol. 45 12 - 27 March, 2009 Office of the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya HIGHLIGHTS The Government of Kenya donates 9000 MT of food worth KSH279 million to WFP for the EMOP Kenya Humanitarian partners launch the revised EHRP Meteorological Department warns of poor rains in upcoming rainy season compounding concerns about food insecurity Fewer people killed in pastoralist areas this year compared to the high numbers reported at the same time last year Cholera outbreak spreads to 16 districts affecting hundreds of Kenyans Nakuru humanitarian actors to assess conditions in relocation sites 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 General Overview Members of the humanitarian community with support from the Government of Kenya on 16 March presented the 2009 revised Emergency Humanitarian Response Plan (EHRP) for assistance of those most in need in Kenya. Since the initial launch of the 2009 EHRP five months ago, the humanitarian situation in Kenya has deteriorated. Poor rains, food shortages and high commodity prices have deepened food and livelihood insecurity across many parts of the country; while instability and conflict in neighbouring Somalia have prompted marked increase in refugees entering Kenya. Humanitarian partners have therefore reviewed their programmatic requirements to respond to existing and emerging needs. The revised appeal requests a total of USD 575 million to address the needs of vulnerable communities. Around USD198 million is for protection and assistance to refugees while USD 373 million is to address food insecurity, the search for durable solutions for IDPs and other emergency interventions in critical non-food sectors like health and water and sanitation. Among the key populations targeted under the plan are victims of the current food crisis particularly affecting the pastoral ASAL areas, the marginal agricultural areas of south-eastern and coastal lowlands, as well as the urban poor. The crisis has been triggered by a combination of factors including poor short rains, rising food and commodity prices, reduced cereal production, livestock diseases and incidents of conflict, which converged to dramatically increase food security among many vulnerable populations. The much awaited Long Rains season which was expected to start the week around 18th March delayed by a week. According to the Meteorological Department the rainy season is expected to be short. Another poor rain season could damage crop production prospects and there are fears that this will limit the supply of the national staple maize. The anticipated poor rainfall further puts pressure on farmers, some of whom have had inadequate farming inputs (seeds and fertilizers) as well as farming machinery. Even for farmers that have received inputs, the poor rains will result in poor production, loss of investment, little/no income from poor crop production and ultimately exacerbate poverty levels and limit access/affordability to essentials. The Kenya Red Cross has also warned of the drought worsening in the Eastern Province (Kitui, Makueni and Mwingi). OCHA has noted the early warning signs of an intensification of food insecurity. More March - May 2009 Rainfall Forecast. Source: Kenya Meteorological Department advocacy is required in highlighting the slow onset of drought and its aggravating consequences on vulnerable populations in the country. A total of 12 people were reportedly dead in conflicts that took place during the month of March, bringing the cumulative number of pastoralists killed since January this year to 58. This is a substantial reduction in number compared to reports received during the same period in the year 2008, where 93 cumulative deaths were reported. Deaths reported were mainly as a result of water and pasture based conflicts. The reduction in the numbers of those killed can be attributed to reduced rustling activities, as a result of diminished water and pasture, essential resources that would be necessary to sustain livestock acquired during raids. According to a 2008 report on Vulnerability and Dependency in Four Livelihood Zones in Northern Kenya, diminished rains in pastoral areas have translated to reduced pasture and water. In addition, there have been recorded drastic livelihood changes, increased poverty and dependency in the areas, attributes that also contribute to the existing resource based conflicts. The report also points out the lack of alternative sources of income in pastoral areas, therefore leaving pastoralists with no alternative sources of income. The report further concludes that reliance on livestock production cannot be sustainable, given the existing drought conditions. Humanitarian actors in Nakuru have agreed to undertake an inter-agency rapid assessment on 31st March, in 18 relocation sites in Molo, Naivasha, Nakuru and Olkalau. The rapid assessment is aimed at analysing the humanitarian conditions in relocation sites by:- Compiling a profile for each Self-help relocation site in the South Rift, including analysis of the livelihood activities, demographic stratification, and other pertinent information. Documenting the humanitarian situation and identifying gaps if any. Assessing levels of integration with the communities in the areas they live in. Identifying priorities for recovery and make recommendations for the development of a post conflict strategy on gaps which could be used to advocate for follow up. OCHA shared the concept note and draft questionnaire with the inter-agency team for comments. WFP, OCHA, UNDP UNV, SCUK, UNHCR, KRC, DRC, GOAL, and UNFPA have expressed interest to participate. II. Humanitarian Situation Food security The GoK has donated 9000 MT of maize worth KSH 279 million to WFP. The maize will be distributed through the single pipeline as per new policy passed by the government. Additional funding worth US$ 7.9 million has been received from DFID. Other pledges have been made by Swiss, Spain, Japan, Brazil and Turkey. The needs in food aid remain high to meet the 30,000-35,000 MT of maize required per month. Save the Children UK (SCUK) is in its last phase of response activities in Molo district. SCUK has been providing livelihood support through agricultural inputs, cash grants, cash for work and veterinary assistance to the returnees and vulnerable households in among the surrounding communities. The NGO will be in Molo up to 13th May 2009. SCUK has finalised yield assessments for the agricultural support programme in Molo district. The 2 assessment revealed a 1 to 9 rate of return in vegetables. The prices of farm inputs such as fertilizers are gradually going down. The price of 50 kg bag of fertilizer in the market has dropped from Kshs. 6,000 reported last year to Kshs. 2,800. This has partly been attributed to government subsidized fertilizer prices which is going for Kshs. 2500. SCUK will is yet to share the report and has cautioned that the assessment results in some areas are unreliable as beneficiaries gave incorrect information anticipating to receive more support. SCUK reported that some of the people in transit sites are not as desperate as projected. There are cases where people stay at sites during the day and go back to their homes at night in order to receive assistance. SCUK is working with Equity Bank Ltd to provide credit facilities to farmers at an interest rate of 1.42% per month. The facility is aimed at supporting agricultural production and livelihood rebuilding in Molo district. Food assistance The MoSSP has appealed for the continuation of food aid to 150,000 IDPs identified as food insecure during the Short Rains assessment. WFP had planned for the phase out of food assistance for IDPs by the end of May. The Stakeholders meeting held on 30 March held extensive discussions on the possibility of conducting a rapid assessment to determine the level of vulnerability. The WFP/KRC’s 14th food distribution cycle targeting 109,870 beneficiaries is on going with 104 713 beneficiaries being covered in the South Rift. 5,157 have not yet been reached due to cereals pipeline break in WFP. WFP reported of hostilities in Narok district where communities who are not included in the food distribution protested over the exclusion. The EMOP in the South Rift only targets people who were displaced during the violence. The communities felt that they are equally needy and demanded to be targeted. WFP held talks with the District Commissioner on 26th March 2009 to discuss the issue. Meanwhile WFP reported that the EMOP food distribution to the IDPs and returnees in the South Rift will end 31st March 2009. WFP will close the Nakuru office and any necessary operations in the region will be covered from their Eldoret field office. Refugees UNHCR reports that the refugee caseload in Dadaab continues to increase. More than 18,000 new arrivals have registered this year with more than 16,300 from Somalia. Increased insecurity especially in the middle and lower Juba regions coupled with drought/food insecurity are cited as main reasons for this surging trend. The overall population in Dadaab currently stands at 259,323 persons as of 13 March 2009, an increase of 10% since the beginning of 2009 (from 235,455 persons). In Kakuma, UNHCR informs of a new trend of refugee status with 240 Sudanese (mostly from Darfur), and 1500 Somalis having been registered this year. Currently, there are 19,000 Somalis in Kakuma. Since the launch of repatriation of Sudanese from Kakuma camp to South Sudan in December 2005, around 37,000 have returned. Somali Refugees await registration at Dadaab Refugee Camp, 2008. Out of these, 15,000 have gone with UNHCR ©IRIN assistance while 21,000 have gone back spontaneously.