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Tharaka Nithi County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for October 2019

Countries
Kenya
Sources
Govt. Kenya
Publication date
Origin
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Drought Situation & EW Phase Classification

Biophysical Indicators

  • Rainfall Onset was on the 2nd week of October. Weather condition was wet and cold. Recharge of water sources was over 100% with floods been witnessed in selective areas which affected transport and swept away irrigated crops in Kamanyaki along River Tana banks.

  • There is need to intensify water treatment to avoid water related diseases. The 3months cumulative vegetation cover across the County still remained below normal but was improving except where the few cover were swept by flooding water from the rains.

Socio Economic Indicators (Impact Indicators)

Production Indicators

  • Livestock body condition was poor for cattle and fair for goats and it remain stable as of the previous month but it is expected to improve.

  • Food Stock at households’ level was low with a reducing trend due to high food commodity prices which continued to increase.

Access Indicators

  • Livestock prices continued to decrease while food commodity prices increased but this is expected to stabilise. Household water distance reduced across all the livelihood Zones due to high recharge level of both surface and underground water source from the ongoing rainfall.
    Milk production and consumption was low with a reducing trend leading to increased malnutrition cases.

Utilization Indicators

  • Percentages of children at risk of malnutrition increased due to low food stock at Household level. - Following all the above prevailing conditions, the overall drought phase in October was at Recovery and the trend was improving.