MALNUTRITION IN KENYA?S TANA RIVER DISTRICT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 005247 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 SOCI SUBJECT: MALNUTRITION IN KENYA?S TANA RIVER DISTRICT REFS: NAIROBI 05074 Summary ¶1. Chronic food insecurity and drought in several communities of Kenya?s northern Tana River District are responsible for high levels of malnutrition, particularly amongst children under five years and pregnant women. A UNICEF nutritional assessment conducted in October found malnutrition rates to be at emergency levels. A USAID/OFDA assessment confirmed that several factors, including drought, are contributing to local nutritional problems; however, several events since the survey, including a resumption of humanitarian food distributions, improved rains, and the return of livestock should lower malnutrition levels in the short term. End Summary Background ¶2. In November, UNICEF distributed results of a nutritional survey for the northern Tana River area that indicate global acute malnutrition rates of 18 percent and a severe acute malnutrition rate of 3.3 percent. The results were part of a multi-district assessment that included Tana River, Garrisa and Wajir Districts. To address this situation, UNICEF has appealed for $900,000 to support supplemental feeding programs targeting 45,000 children in the surveyed districts. OFDA chose to assess Tana River District following a donor coordination meeting with Britain?s Department for International Development and the European Community Humanitarian Organization who indicated they will consider emergency problems in Wajir and Garissa. ¶3. The northern area of Tana River District is a sparsely populated semi-arid region and extremely under-developed. August and September are traditionally the driest months of the year for populations continually struggling with water shortage. The predominantly Muslim residents rely on livestock (goats, camels and their milk) and some subsistence agriculture for food security and livelihood. Approximately 30 percent of the residents of the region have been receiving humanitarian assistance, mostly in the form of food distributions, regularly since 1985. ¶4. OFDA Regional Advisor visited the northern Tana River on November 29-30 to ground truth the UNICEF survey results. The Bangale, Bura, and Galole divisions (highlighted in the UNICEF survey) were visited, and included stops in affected households, medical clinics and discussions with local officials. Findings were shared with the Tana River District Commissioner and the head of Arid Lands (Kenyan Government emergency monitoring agency). Current Situation ¶5. Although drought is blamed for the high levels of malnutrition in the area, there are several other contributing factors. According to the District Commissioner, food security in northern Tana River has actually been in decline since 1985 following the collapse of two government sponsored irrigation programs and the construction of hydroelectric dams located above the affected communities (the dam construction subsequently changed the Tana River?s flooding patterns). ¶6. A contributing factor to the high malnutrition rates recently found by UNICEF in northern Tana River was the disruption of food distributions to vulnerable populations in July, 2005. The World Food Program (WFP) was unable to meet distribution targets for two months (due to financial shortfalls). Vulnerable groups already impoverished and with few coping alternatives, began to become malnourished. WFP has subsequently received new resources and food distributions resumed in northern Tana River in October. Residents confirmed the resumption of timely deliveries and accurate targeting and noted that corn soy blend (CSB),a fortified food, was being included in the rations distributed. ¶7. Pastoral migration patterns have also contributed to the spike in local malnutrition rates. Most of the villagers who own animals do not receive food aid and are coping by migrating to the Tana River Delta area in the southern portion of the district for pasture and water during the summer dry season (and were not measured in the UNICEF survey). The migration of animals and manpower from the north for several months reduced the availability of milk and meat for vulnerable groups left behind to survive on relief assistance. The November start of the "short rains" has improved pasture and water availability throughout the district, prompting the return of a significant number of pastoralists and animals to their northern origin areas. ¶8. Cultural practices have also impacted local nutritional levels. Mothers interviewed generally only breast feed newborns for one or two months. Several families spoken to were reluctant to sell livestock to purchase food from well supplied local markets. Many who had previously farmed were not planting drought resistant crops such as millet or sorghum (which does well in surrounding districts) because of the preference to eat corn. UNICEF conducted the survey during the end of the Ramadan period when fasting is normal. ¶9. Finally, poor access to health care and the lack of clean water are also common. Although clinics exist in the villages, all had minimal levels of qualified staff and medicines. Poor families told us they couldn?t seek medical treatment for illness due to the inadequate facilities and expense. Common morbidity included malaria, upper respiratory infections and diarrhea disease. Water is normally consumed directly from local sources without treatment, and there is little evidence of latrine use. Recommendations ¶10. Short term emergency interventions will do little to resolve the area?s food insecurity and persistently high malnutrition rates. Sustainable improvements, such as the introduction of drought resistant agriculture, better education on nutrition, improved health care and the provision of clean water are needed to address the area?s chronically high nutritional rates. ¶11. To alleviate immediate emergency nutritional concerns, continuation of WFP emergency distributions to the general population, which include CSB, is the fastest, most effective way of reducing elevated levels of malnutrition found by UNICEF. The WFP program has already identified vulnerable groups, has distribution infrastructure in place, and established good relationships with the communities. USAID Kenya continually liaise with WFP to ensure pipeline continuity, and the area is scheduled to reassessed at the end of the short rain period next March. BELLAMY