KENYA FY 2010 DISASTER REDECLARATION.

UNCLAS NAIROBI 002081 AIDAC USAID/DCHA JBRAUSE DCHA/OFDA FOR PMORRIS; ACONVERY; KCHANNELL; MBEERS; APIYAKA DCHA/FFP JBORNS; JDWORKEN; SANTHONY; CMUTAMBA; DNELSON; USUN FOR DMERCADO ROME FOR HSPANOS GENEVA FOR NKYLOH BRUSSELS FOR USEU JADDLETON; PBROWN NSC FOR CPRATT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL PREF KE SUBJECT: KENYA FY 2010 DISASTER REDECLARATION. CORRECTED COPY -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. An estimated 3.8 million drought-affected individuals require emergency food assistance in Kenya, according to the joint Government of Kenya (GOK),U.N., and non-governmental organization (NGO) Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG). The poor performance of the February to June long rains, high staple food prices, localized conflict, and preceding seasons of below-normal rainfall have exacerbated existing chronic poverty conditions and resulted in deteriorated livestock conditions, significantly disrupting pastoralist livelihoods and contributing to increased food insecurity and malnutrition in affected areas. Humanitarian organizations are also expecting enhanced rains associated with El Nino conditions during the upcoming October to December short rains season to result in flooding, reduced access, and increased incidences of human and livestock water-related diseases. The current humanitarian emergency exceeds the capacity of GOK; the GOK will accept assistance from the U.S. Government (USG); and it is in the interest of the USG to provide humanitarian assistance. U.S. Ambassador Michael Ranneberger therefore re- declares a disaster for the complex emergency in Kenya and requests the continued provision of USG disaster assistance to respond in fiscal year (FY) 2010. End summary. -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶2. According to the KFSSG, an estimated 3.8 million drought-affected individuals require emergency food assistance throughout arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) of northern Kenya and southeastern and coastal lowlands, including Rift Valley, Eastern, Northeastern, and Coast provinces. In addition, the KFSSG has identified approximately 2.5 million chronically food insecure individuals located in urban areas, 100,000 persons displaced by post-election violence, 1.5 million drought-affected primary school students, and 2 million rural HIV/AIDS patients as food insecure countrywide and in need of humanitarian assistance. ¶3. In addition, limited GOK emergency response capacity for industrial accidents, fires, and infrastructure collapse frequently undermine effective GOK planning, assessment, and response and increase population risks. -------------- Agriculture and Food Security -------------- ¶4. Due to decreased crop production and limited water and pasture regeneration during the long rains, humanitarian agencies expect food insecurity to persist or increase for pastoralists until the onset of the October to December 2009 short rains and until the subsequent February 2010 harvest for farmers. According to KFSSG, the 2009 long rains performed poorly in most areas of the country, with four of the eight provinces of Kenya experiencing less than 40 percent of average rainfall for the season. As a result of poor or failed rains, KFSSG anticipates a 2009 long rain season maize harvest 28 percent below the five-year average. ¶5. In pastoral areas, drought conditions have also resulted in deteriorating livestock body conditions, increased incidence and risk of livestock disease, and early and extended livestock migration patterns. According to KFSSG, average staple food prices remain significantly above normal price levels throughout Kenya, exacerbating food insecurity and resulting in deteriorating terms of trade, particularly among pastoral, agro-pastoral, and marginal agricultural populations. In August, KFSSG reported maize prices 100 to 130 percent higher than normal levels. At the same time, relief agencies report livestock prices 30 to 50 percent below normal due to poor animal conditions and livestock migration. -------------- Health and Nutrition -------------- ¶6. Limited health care system capacity and highly mobile populations have contributed to disease outbreaks throughout Kenya, including cholera and the re- emergence of polio following 25 years of polio-free status, negatively affecting populations already vulnerable due to increased food insecurity and malnutrition. According to the U.N., recent disease outbreaks have occurred in the context of an overall decline in health indicators following the 2008 post- election violence. In late June, the U.N. reported that vaccination coverage had decreased from 77 percent prior to the outbreak of the 2008 violence to 66 percent, while disease surveillance capacity had declined from an estimated 74 to 35 percent. ¶7. Recent findings from USAID partner and U.N. Children?s Fund (UNICEF) assessments indicate critical and deteriorating nutrition conditions throughout the country, including in areas not previously experiencing significant global acute malnutrition (GAM) rates. In June, UNICEF reported approximately 250,000 children under five years of age as moderately malnourished, including more than 39,000 severely malnourished children countrywide. According to UNICEF, acute malnutrition affects approximately one in five children in drought-affected Turkana, Mandera, Marsabit, and Samburu districts in Rift Valley Province. -------------- Insecurity and Population Movements -------------- ¶8. Relief agencies continue to report concerns regarding increased inter-ethnic fighting and resource- related conflicts, particularly in West Pokot and Turkana districts, Rift Valley Province, and Isiolo District, Eastern Province. According to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),violence in pastoral areas killed 242 people between January 1 and August 21, an increase from the 222 reported deaths during the same time period in 2008. Increased incidence of livestock theft and inter-ethnic conflict have also resulted in displacement and depleted livelihood assets. -------------- Potential Flooding -------------- ¶9. El Nino conditions are expected to result in normal to above-normal rainfall during the upcoming September to December short rains season, according to the Kenya Meteorological Department. The USAID-supported Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) cautions that heavy rains are likely to result in increased livestock mortality among weakened animals in drought-affected areas, flooding, infrastructure damage, reduced humanitarian and commercial access, and increased incidents in human and livestock water-related diseases, such as malaria, diarrheal disease, and Rift Valley Fever (RVF). -------------- DISASTER RE-DECLARATION -------------- ¶10. In FY 2009, USAID/DCHA provided nearly USD 160 million in humanitarian assistance to Kenya, including more than USD 135 million in USAID Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) food assistance. In addition, USAID/OFDA assistance totaled more than USD 24 million in support of nutrition, economic recovery and market systems, agriculture and food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as local procurement and distribution of food targeting vulnerable populations in ASAL and marginal agricultural areas. ¶11. As a result of current and projected humanitarian needs resulting from the cumulative impact of consecutive seasons of failed or poor rainfall, localized conflict, and high food prices on increased food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable populations and potential flooding and associated disease outbreaks, I re-declare a disaster for the complex emergency in Kenya in FY 2010. It is beyond the ability of the GOK to fully address increased humanitarian needs. The GOK welcomes USG assistance and it is in the USG?s interest to assist affected populations and prevent a further deterioration in humanitarian conditions. Therefore, I request USG humanitarian resources to address urgent humanitarian needs and reduce the risk of vulnerable populations in Kenya. RANNEBERGER