POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA - USAID ASSESSMENT IN

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000196 SIPDIS AIDAC USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL, MBRENNAN DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, SANTHONY, CMUTAMBA, DNELSON AFR/EA FOR BDUNFORD STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM USUN FOR FSHANKS 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 - USAID ASSESSMENT IN WESTERN KENYA REFS: A) NAIROBI 000125 B) NAIROBI 000077 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- 1) A recent USAID assessment team found that while relief operations in Kenya's ongoing complex emergency are ramping up, several challenges exist. Continued population movements and fluctuating numbers and locations of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are complicating the delivery of emergency relief supplies and critical services (REF A). Many IDPs are seeking refuge in their ancestral homelands or with relatives and friends. While immediate needs are starting to be met in larger settlements, smaller sites have generally received much less attention and assistance. Priority needs identified include shelter material, water and sanitation facilities, and protection initiatives. In addition, future camp planning activities should address fire hazards from densely-settled sites, and comprehensive, systematic IDP registration and mapping would facilitate the humanitarian response. USAID staff anticipate prolonged humanitarian and economic consequences. End summary. -------------- ASSESSMENT FINDINGS -------------- 2) Between January 10 and January 15, USAID conducted assessments in the provinces of Rift Valley, Nyanza, and Western to assess priority humanitarian needs and inform additional program decisions. 3) Overall, the humanitarian response is in its early stages, but is ramping up (REF B). Initially, churches and other local groups were actively involved in assisting IDPs. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF),the Government of Kenya (GOK) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are working in close coordination with the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) to lead rapid response activities. District disaster committees have been activated and the UN cluster system is developing a comprehensive response plan. 4) Continued population movements and multiple, spontaneous settlements are complicating planning and logistics operations of the humanitarian response. The GoK, through the KRCS, is working to establish centralized settlements in areas including Nakuru, Eldoret, Burnt Forest, and Cherengani to ensure better security and easier provision of assistance. Smaller groups of IDPs, often in isolated areas, are receiving intermittent services to date. 5) Many IDPs have sought refuge in public places close to their original homes, such as police stations, schools, and church compounds, and others are moving in with relatives or friends. Many are still sleeping in the open air. IDPs, the majority of whom are women and children, reported reluctance to return to their homes for multiple reasons including continued threats, burnt and destroyed homes and property, as well as fears of renewed attacks. In addition, feelings of insecurity are heightened among IDPs who faced similar threats following the 1992 and 1997 presidential elections. -------------- PRIORITY CONCERNS -------------- 6) Due to the development of spontaneous IDP settlements, several challenges are arising. At present, IDPs require blankets and shelter material such as plastic sheeting. Water quality, storage, and access were also raised as problems. Most sites lack appropriate sanitation facilities and infrastructure like water taps and lighting. The GoK is trying to move IDPs to more appropriate locations with proper amenities, such as district agricultural showgrounds. 7) The sanitation situation is slowly improving as the humanitarian response becomes mobilized. Multiple agencies, including MSF, CARE, the UN Children's Fund, and World Vision, are addressing the lack of latrines. However, in some settlements, there are no latrines and in others the number of latrines is far below accepted international standards. In one settlement, there was one latrine for 3,000 people. While beneficial in the medium-term, efforts to consolidate IDPs in larger sites are complicating water and sanitation services in the near-term. -------------- ADDITIONAL CONCERNS -------------- 8) Health coverage is weak to date but improving as information becomes available and partners enhance coordination mechanisms. The Ministry of Health (MOH),MSF, and KRCS are providing mobile health clinics. However, the MOH reports that insecurity or the threat of insecurity is making it difficult for people to access health facilities and for health staff to go to work. 9) To date there are no reports of widespread disease outbreaks. The MOH reported 3 suspected measles cases in Eldoret and is planning a measles vaccination campaign for all camps. Respiratory infections and diarrhea are surfacing as common health problems. Very few deaths have been reported in camps from health problems associated with displacement. 10) IDPs repeatedly expressed concern for getting children back into school. Not only have schools been burned down and teachers displaced, but students and teachers do not want to return to schools in mixed ethnic areas due to insecurity. In addition, it is not easy for displaced children to register in schools near IDP sites and, as a result, many children are not going to school. Many IDPs interviewed said their children's books and school uniforms had been burned. 11) Food is reaching the displaced although not always in sufficient quantities and regularly. According to the UN World Food Program (WFP),there are sufficient stocks of food commodities in country, with WFP supplementing pulses, oils, corn-soya blend and high energy biscuits to GoK-donated cereals. Although WFP is borrowing food from its existing operations in Kenya to respond, the UN organization says this is not affecting its ongoing programs. The displaced said they do not have the means to cook whole kernel maize provided by the GoK nor the firewood to cook it properly and would prefer milled maize. The lack of milk for young children was another concern. 12) Beyond the immediate humanitarian impact, the post-election crisis has significantly impacted people's income-generating activities and resulted in substantial losses. Burnt fields and businesses, un-harvested crops, market disruptions, and looting are expected to have long-term consequences. Even those who are not displaced have lost jobs, market opportunities, and employees. Medium and long-term assistance will be needed to mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing crisis, particularly if the upcoming March planting season is missed. IDPs expressed a desire to restart their businesses pending improved security and access to loans. -------------- USAID RECOMMENDATIONS -------------- 13) While the GoK and KRCS have been responding well, their capacity is overstretched. USAID recommends that partners support and build their capacity. Priority needs identified include shelter material, water and sanitation support, and protection initiatives, particularly for smaller IDP locations that have yet to receive sufficient assistance. In addition, to prevent yet further disaster, future camp planning activities must address fire hazards from densely-settled sites. Comprehensive and systematic IDP registration and mapping would facilitate the humanitarian response. In the area of food, corn-soya blend (CSB) and other child-appropriate food should continue to be provided and milled maize should be provided where possible. Long-term economic livelihood initiatives will be needed for IDPs who have become destitute and lack economic safety nets. -------------- USG RESPONSE -------------- 14) USAID's Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has provided an immediate USD 200,000 to KRCS for the purchase and E distribution of emergency relief supplies, including blankets and shelter material for communities displaced by the violence. On January 13, OFDA airlifted 350 rolls of plastic sheeting for 2,800 families, valued at more than USD 173,000 including transport, to Eldoret to supplement existing shelter resources. OFDA is currently working to program approximately USD 4.6 million as pledged by Ambassador Ranneberger to address health, additional shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene needs, and protection. The USG is the largest donor to WFP in Kenya, and many IDPs are receiving USG-donated emergency food relief. Field staff continue to conduct assessments as security allows, and to liaise with UN, international relief agencies, and other donors to facilitate humanitarian response efforts. RANNEBERGER