POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA - HUMANITARIAN UPDATE

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000125 SIPDIS AIDAC USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, GGOTTLIEB, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL, MBBRENNAN DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, SANTHONY, CMUTAMBA AFR/EA FOR BDUNFORD STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM USUN FOR TMALY BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL KE SUBJECT: POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA - HUMANITARIAN UPDATE REF: NAIROBI 00077 SUMMARY 1) The humanitarian situation remains critical in the flashpoint areas of Rift Valley, Western, and Nyanza provinces, as well as in slum areas of Nairobi, following election-related violence in recent days (REFTEL). Despite reports of continued small-scale rioting on January 8 and 9, UN and relief agencies note overall improvement in security and access, allowing increased transport of fuel, commercial goods, and relief commodities. Humanitarian organizations are conducting initial assessments throughout affected areas, identifying priority needs, and establishing coordination mechanisms. A USG team departed Nairobi on January 10 to survey the humanitarian situation and determine emergency response priorities. End summary. CURRENT SITUATION 2) Estimates of the number and locations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continue to fluctuate based on access and available information, as well as continued population movements. As of January 9, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimated that the violence has displaced approximately 255,000 people, primarily in Rift Valley, Western, and Nyanza provinces, as well as Nairobi. The Government of Kenya (GoK) is relocating IDPs currently sheltered at police stations, churches, and schools to other public areas to allow routine security, religious, and educational activities to resume, and to decrease the number of scattered settlements so that aid agencies can better provide assistance and ensure protection. 3) As of January 10, UN agencies report improved access along major road networks, leading to increased commercial and humanitarian transport and alleviating previously-reported fuel shortages within Kenya and bordering countries. The Kenyan military and police are facilitating access to affected areas by providing escorts and clearing roadblocks. Officials at Mombasa port are working to clear the backlog of accumulated shipments from the past two weeks. In addition, the UN World Food Program (WFP) has deployed a helicopter from its southern Sudan program to aid emergency operations in Kenya for at least 10-14 days and is reviewing the need for additional logistics support. 4) It remains difficult to assess priority needs as the initial round of assessments is still ongoing. In general, relief staff in affected areas indicate that vulnerable and displaced populations require food, emergency relief supplies, shelter material, and water, sanitation, and health services. UN planning figures estimate that approximately 250,000 people will require assistance for at least three months. The UN Resident Coordinator for Kenya has asked UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to coordinate assessments, and OCHA is working to identify common assessment tools for each sector cluster. HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE 5) The GoK's Ministry of State for Special Programmes is coordinating response activities with other government ministries, UN agencies, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and other NGOs. As the food and nutrition sector cluster lead and the primary responder for emergency food aid, WFP is working closely with KRCS to conduct needs assessments and distribute WFP and GoK-provided food relief. WFP notes that food stocks currently being re-directed to meet emergency food needs of newly displaced populations will need to be restocked quickly in order to resume planned operations, such as school feeding programs scheduled for the week of January 14. 6) As of January 9, WFP had provided 259 metric tons (MT) of food aid to 45,600 beneficiaries, and KRCS had distributed 529 MT of food in two-week rations to 70,692 beneficiaries. On January 10, WFP reported dividing one-week rations intended for 500 families in Nairobi into smaller portions in response to additional beneficiaries at distribution points. 7) The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has pledged to provide basic household commodities, including blankets, mats, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, soap, and plastic sheeting for up to 100,000 people displaced by the current crisis. On January 9, UNHCR and KRCS completed an initial distribution of basic household commodities to some 200 displaced families within Nairobi, and are preparing approximately 10,000 family kits for IDPs in Rift Valley Province. UNHCR is considering options to procure additional supplies via local purchase or from emergency stockpiles in Dubai and Tanzania. 8) Relief agencies report that sanitation is a major challenge as most settlement areas do not have sufficient facilities. USAID field staff note that haphazard assessments and coordination gaps are hampering relief efforts. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is slated to lead future assessments via staff based in Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kisumu, following requests from the GoK Ministry of Water. Action Against Hunger is preparing to begin construction of 20 permanent latrines at Jamhuri Park, where approximately 2,700 IDPs are settling. 9) As cluster lead for child protection, UNHCR is coordinating upcoming assessments on issues related to separated and lost children, safe play and sleeping areas, access to schools, and availability of psycho-social counseling and recovery activities. UNICEF has 405 emergency educational kits and 435 recreational kits, sufficient for education programs for 22,000 children. 10) The GoK Ministry of Health will serve as the health cluster lead. At a January 9 coordination meeting, the MOH proposed an USD 18.8 million budget covering activities for 300,000 IDPs for two months, including programs in 42 camps and 28 hospitals. The GoK plans to contribute USD 8.6 million, leaving a gap of USD 10.2 million. USG RESPONSE 11) On January 8, Ambassador Ranneberger pledged USD 5 million in USG humanitarian funding for persons displaced and otherwise affected by the ongoing emergency. To date, the US Government through USAID has provided an immediate USD 200,000 to KRCS for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including blankets and shelter material, for communities displaced by the violence. USAID is also airlifting 350 rolls of plastic sheeting, valued at approximately USD 168,000 including transport, to Eldoret on January 13. The plastic sheeting supplements existing shelter resources in the country, and will benefit at least 2,800 families. The remaining USD 4.6 million will address health, food security, additional shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. 12) On January 10, USAID staff began an eight-day humanitarian assessment of most-affected areas, including Nakuru, Molo, Eldoret, Kitale, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, and Kericho towns to evaluate humanitarian conditions and determine priority needs for additional programming. RANNEBERGER