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Wajir County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for June 2014

Countries
Kenya
Sources
Govt. Kenya
Publication date
Origin
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SITUATION OVERVIEW

  • The county drought situation is at alert stage on worsening trend following the depressed rainfall which was poorly distributed in both time and space.

  • Some parts of the county such as Diff and Griftu received little showers with no impact on the natural vegetation. Most days of the month were characterized by cloud cover, marking the beginning of winter season. In addition traces of rainfall were experienced in most livelihood zones but only in few days over the month under review. (Source; Meteorology dept).

  • The general condition of pastures and browse is poor in most parts of the county. The worst hit livelihood zone is the pastoral all-species livelihood zone in Wajir East, West, Eldas and Sabuli cattle pastoral zone. Only a small proportion of the county has forage in a fair condition and mostly in parts of the agro-pastoral livelihood zone.

  • Body conditions of all livestock species ranges from fair to good. Livestock in agro-pastoral livelihood zone have shown signs of recovery while those in all species, camel and cattle livelihood zones shown slow rate of recovery due to pasture and water related stresses.

  • Availability and accessibility of water resources is a major challenge in all the livelihood zones.
    Currently the county government of Wajir is water trucking 75 settlements as the water pans did not impound water. Water scarcity is likely to worsen as the dry season progresses till October when the short rains are expected.

  • Average household return distances to water points increased from 4.1Km to 7.2Km.This is above the average return distance of 4.5Km as recorded during the same period in the previous year.

  • Average distance from grazing areas to watering points increased to 13.6Km from 9.8Km the previous month as more of the partially-filled water pans, natural ponds and other temporary water collection points got exhausted.

  • Top prevalent diseases in the county are; other diseases of respiratory system, diseases of the skin (incl. wounds), pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTI) and malaria (confirmed and clinical) both in persons over 5 years and children under 5 years of age. Diarrhea was more pronounced among children under 5 years of age. (DHIS, May2014).

  • The proportion of children at risk, that is, children below 5years of age for M.U.A.C. <135mm increased slightly to 13.41% from 13.2% the previous month.

  • There were 400 new OTP admissions, an increment from 227 in the previous month. 607 new admissions into SFP as compared to 523 in April. A total of 24 children severely malnourished with complications were admitted as In-patients. (DHIS May 2014).

  • Migration of livestock from the conflict areas of pastoral camel livelihood zone to the agropastoral in the north, pastoral cattle in the south and Somalia was observed. In addition pastoralists migrated from Wajir West, Tarbaj and Eldas all species livelihood zone to Wajir South, Isiolo and Marsabit Counties in search of better pastures and water.

  • Insecurity cases in Tarbaj and Wajir Central were reported and about 12,100 persons have been displaced and are in various camps in Tarbaj, Elben, Sarman, Kutulo, Waradey and Eldas.