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World Vision Kenya: Hunger Response Situation Report No. 5 (25 May 2017)

Countries
Kenya
Sources
World Vision
Publication date

KEY MESSAGES

  • In early May, long rains arrived in parts of Kenya after a 2-month delay, as long rains usually begin in March. Heavy rainfall caused flooding in some areas of the country. The food security needs remain, since not all parts of the country received rain. The prognosis is that the long rains will have minimal impact on crop production.

  • Army worm infestation is destroying maize crops in Western, Eastern, Nyanza and Coast. Some 143,000 hectares of maize have already been affected and the figure is estimated, by FAO, to worsen to 800,000 hectares. The total area growing maize is 1.3 million hectares. The estimated cost of responding is $33 million USD for 800,000 hectares.

  • Action and assistance is needed to respond to 2.7 million people, including 700,000 children under age five, who are facing starvation and possible famine due to lack of food and water in Kenya. The government of Kenya estimates that the current number of people requiring humanitarian assistance will rise from the current estimate of 3 million to 4 million by July 2017.

  • Government in partnership with World Food Programme (WFP), World Vision and others have increased humanitarian interventions through unconditional cash transfer under the Food for community programme targeting 1.3 million beneficiaries for three months. World Vision Kenya is supporting unconditional cash transfers to help support nutrition, health, education and protection status of vulnerable children and families in five counties.

  • World Vision Kenya has already reached 205,619 people affected by drought through normal programming/early recovery supported by donors and World Vision support offices with nine million USD. An additional 16 million USD is required to provide and scale up life-saving humanitarian assistance to 252,000 more people facing starvation in 15 counties for the next 12 months.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION OVERVIEW

  • Heavy rains were received over several regions of Kenya in the month of May. The hardest hit regions are counties surrounding Mount Kenya, as well as, coastal areas near Mombasa and Garissa including Dadaab refugee camp. Some other parts of the country, mostly the ASAL regions, are still experiencing a prolonged dry spell with little or no rains received.

  • Consumer prices of basic foods in Kenya have sharply increased with inflation rate rising up to 11.5 per cent in April 2017 (highest since May 2012) compared to 10.3 percent in the previous month of March.

  • Kala-azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis) cases continue to be recorded in Wajir and Marsabit with Wajir West Sub County hardest hit with 51 cases listed, while dengue outbreak has been reported in the coastal region. Cholera and measles outbreak have been confirmed in Dadaab Refugee camp.

  • Conflict over resources and drought displacements continue in Baringo County. A total of 16,615 people are still displaced in IDP camps in Baringo North and Marigat Sub-Counties. The latest incident of insecurity has been reported in Kapedo on the Turkana and East Pokot border resulting in fatalities. 15 health facilities remain closed in East Pokot Sub-County due to ongoing security operation in the area, and access to children in need in East Pokot Sub-County remains a challenge.

  • Farmers in various parts of the country, particularly in Kenya’s grain basket, have reported Fall Army Worm infestation of crops. The worms have been sighted in Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Nakuru in the Rift Valley, Kakamega and Bungoma in Western Kenya, and Kwale at the Coastal region. In addition to affecting maize, sorghum, millet and wheat crops, the deadly pest also poses danger to the livestock sector as it attacks pasture and any green vegetation. Approximately 143,000 hectares (ha) of land in Kenya have been affected. The government projects that up to $33 million USD is required for a response. Currently, the land area growing maize in Kenya stands at 1.3 Million ha of which up to 0.8 million ha may soon become affected for Fall Army infestation. 252,000 people targeted for life-saving assistance 205,620 people reached through normal programming