UNICEF APPEAL FOR NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 005074

SIPDIS

AIDAC

USAID/DCHA FOR WGARVELINK, LROGERS
DCHA/OFDA FOR GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, IMACNAIRN, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, SBRADLEY
AFR/EA FOR JBORNS, SMCCLURE
ROME FOR FODAG
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER
NSC FOR JMELINE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KE EAGR ETRD
SUBJECT: UNICEF APPEAL FOR NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTIONS
IN KENYA

REF:NAIROB 04607

Summary


1. Results of an October UNICEF nutritional assessment
revealed emergency levels of malnutrition amongst
45,000 pastoralist children in three districts of
eastern Kenya. The lack of rainfall and its effect on
pastoralist livelihoods is cited as contributing to the
malnutrition, however, the survey cites other factors,
including poor child feeding practices, inadequate
water and sanitation facilities, disease, and a history
of underdevelopment. Humanitarian organizations are
providing assistance to the affected areas through the
provisions of general rations and programs to increase
access to water. UNICEF is appealing for international
assistance totaling $900,000 to respond to emergency
nutritional needs in the three districts. End Summary

Background


2. A drought emergency was declared by the Government
of Kenya (GOK) July 2004. Following an international
appeal, more than 1.6 million Kenyans are receiving
food and other assistance to lessen the humanitarian
impact. Although the 2005 long rains improved
agricultural production and pastoral conditions in
several regions, the northeastern districts of Garissa,
Tana River, and Wajir were recently assessed as slow to
recover. The districts are mostly comprised of
pastoralists that rely on livestock production for food
security and livelihood.


3. UNICEF conducted a nutritional assessment in the
three districts from October 6-20 to determine levels
of malnutrition in children less than five years. The
survey measured 2919 children under five from 2002
households in the districts using the two-stage cluster
sampling method.

Current Situation


4. In Garissa and Tana River districts, the assessment
found global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates of 18
percent and severe acute malnutrition rates (SAM) of 3
percent. Rates were extremely high in Wajir District
(29 percent GAM and 4 percent SAM); and the crude
mortality rate there was calculated to be 1.7 deaths
per 10,000 children under five per day. The World
Health Organization standard is that a GAM rate of
greater than 15 percent indicates a critical situation.


5. The UNICEF results highlighted several factors that
contribute to the high malnutrition levels found during
the survey. More than a third of the respondents
reported they did not seek medical attention for sick
children due to the lack of medicines at local clinics
or their prohibitive cost. Measles immunization
coverage was found to be slightly below the 95 percent
WHO recommendation, however, polio vaccinations were
well above 80 percent. Exclusive breast feeding for
newborns up to six months is not a common practice and
infants are routinely given food comprised of glucose
or cereal based porridge.


6. The lack of production from livestock (milk),low
resale prices for animals sold (which limits the
purchasing power for food),access to and availability
of clean water, and endemic malaria were also cited in
the assessment as contributing to the high levels of
malnutrition found.

Response to Date


7. The United Nations and NGOs have been responding to
emergency conditions in the three Districts since the
GOK's original drought appeal in July 2004. The World
Food Program (WFP) is currently distributing a seventy
five percent ration to 238,000 Kenyans in the Tana
River, Garrisa and Wajir Districts (twenty-five percent
of the population). The current ration includes corn
soy blend (CSB),a fortified cereal-based commodity.


8. USAID?s Office of Food for Peace contributes
approximately thirty five percent of WFP drought
emergency commodities. USAID?s Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance is supporting programs with partner
CARE to increase access to water in Garissa District.
USAID Kenya is investing $2 million in a multi-year
livestock development program in all these districts.


9. Besides a contribution of cereals to the current
WFP emergency program, there are few GOK resources
addressing the humanitarian situation in the area.
Government district hospitals have limited therapeutic
feeding capacity to treat severely malnourished
children. UNICEF proposes to augment hospital capacity
by expanding the number of mobile medical clinics to
extend services to the rural pastoralists in greatest
need.

UNICEF Appeal


10. UNICEF has been supporting nutritional
interventions in Garissa, Tana River, and Wajir
Districts since the declaration of the drought
emergency in 2004. In October, UNICEF appealed for
$900,000 to continue nutritional monitoring and
surveillance activities through February 2006, which
coincides with the end of the short rains season.
UNICEF?s strategy is to provide immediate relief to the
malnourished and assumes that improved rains during the
current short rainy season will increase pasture and
livestock productivity, which in turn will improve
humanitarian conditions. UNICEF has also appealed for
an additional $2.5 million to provide immunizations,
malaria protection, and mobile medical clinics to
affected pastoralist populations throughout Kenya.

Conclusions


11. Sixteen months of international assistance in the
form of food and non-food support has failed to curb
high malnutrition rates in Kenya?s Tana River, Wajir
and Garrisa Districts. Although the poor rains have
negatively impacted local livelihoods and humanitarian
conditions, a history of underdevelopment and
inadequate resources is also contributing to high
malnutrition levels.


12. UNICEF needs additional resources to continue
supplemental and therapeutic feeding outreach to
affected populations. The GOK has shown little
inclination to devote specific resources to address the
elevated malnutrition levels.


13. The USAID/OFDA/ECARO plans to visit the recently
assessed areas in Tana River and Garrisa to assess the
situation and ground truth the UNICEF findings.
BELLAMY.