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Kenya |
Disaster Assistance at a Glance
Recent Disaster Declarations:
Drought, Pipeline Explosion, Food Security Crisis
OFDA Response:
Agriculture and Food Security, Economic Recovery and Market Systems, Humanitarian Coordination and Information Management, Logistics Support and Relief Commodities, Nutrition, Protection, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
OFDA Preparedness:
Flood mitigation
Latest OFDA Reports:
Horn of Africa Fact Sheet #15 (418kb PDF) and map (1.01mb PDF)
Humanitarian Assistance in Review, FY 2002-2011 (275kbPDF)
East and Central Africa Region Fact Sheet #1 (293kb PDF) and map (203kb PDF)
Kenya Drought Fact Sheet #2 (191kb PDF) and (map)
Kenya: Building Pastoralist Resiliency (55kb PDF)
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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Drought, 10-28-2011
Consecutive seasons of poor rainfall have resulted in continued food security deterioration among populations in Kenya, particularly in the nation’s northern and eastern arid and semi-arid lands. Affected populations are experiencing a loss of livelihoods, a lack of food and agricultural resources, and limited clean water necessary to maintain adequate health and nutrition standards. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, unfavorable rains resulted in a severe shortage of grazing resources for livestock, and deteriorating livestock health and livestock deaths contributed to livelihoods losses among vulnerable pastoralists. Lower-than-expected yields and complete crop failures in some agricultural areas increased market prices for agricultural products, and levels of acute malnutrition increased in areas of northern, eastern, and northwestern Kenya. The October to December 2011 short rains are expected to be near- to above-average in most drought-affected areas, although a single rainy season will not be sufficient to ensure a full recovery among affected populations. Therefore, significant humanitarian assistance and food needs will persist into 2012. As of September 8, approximately 4.3 million people in Kenya required humanitarian assistance, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
On October 28, 2011, U.S. Ambassador J. Scott Gration renewed the Kenya drought disaster declaration for FY 2012. In FY 2011, USAID/OFDA provided more than $26.6 million in humanitarian programming, including support for agriculture and food security, economic recovery and market systems, humanitarian coordination and information management, nutrition, protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as the provision of logistics support and relief commodities.
Additional Disaster Declarations:
Pipeline Explosion, 09-16-2011
On September 13, approximately 100,000 liters of fuel from a major pipeline in Nairobi, Kenya, leaked through storm drains under the densely populated Sinai settlement into the Ngong River. Following the accident, pressure in blocked sewer lines triggered an explosion that caused fire to spread through residential areas. According to the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), the accident resulted in 101 deaths, destroyed approximately 300 homes in the settlement, and caused at least 100 burn injuries. In response, KRCS and the Government of Kenya (GoK) conducted search-and-rescue operations and provided medical, psychosocial, and shelter assistance; however, KRCS noted the need for additional medical supplies to treat burn victims.
On September 16, U.S. Ambassador J. Scott Gration declared a disaster due to the effects of the pipeline explosion and resulting fire. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 through USAID/Kenya to KRCS for the procurement and delivery of medical supplies to treat critical injuries.
Drought, 1-28-2011
Following unfavorable October to December 2010 short rains, food security among pastoralists in northern Kenya and rain-dependent marginal agricultural areas has sharply deteriorated. Most affected districts include Garissa, Mandera, and Wajir in North Eastern Province ; Isiolo and Marsabit in Eastern Province; and Tana River in Coast Province. A severe shortage of grazing resources, particularly water, has resulted in abnormal migrations, whereby pastoralists travel long distances and group livestock in areas of limited remaining pasture and water. Humanitarian partners report that livestock prices have fallen and body conditions have deteriorated markedly, with milk production declining significantly for the majority of affected households. USAID’s Office of Food for Peace, USAID/OFDA, and USAID/Kenya Agriculture, Business and Environment Office staff conducted assessments of drought-affected areas from January 12 through 28, finding almost complete failure of the maize crop in assessed areas. In addition, assessment results in pastoral areas further confirmed the need for humanitarian assistance to mitigate the effects of failed rain on food security and livelihoods.
On January 28, U.S. Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger declared a disaster due to the effects of the drought. Priority needs include water, food security, and livelihoods assistance. USAID/OFDA staff in Washington, D.C., and Nairobi, Kenya, continue to monitor humanitarian needs and work to develop appropriate response options in coordination with USAID/Kenya and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
Food Security Crisis, 10-1-2009
The collective impact of recurrent seasons of failed or poor rainfall, sustained high food prices, continuing environmental degradation, disease outbreaks, localized violence, and flooding have led to deteriorating food security conditions. According to the Kenya Food Security Steering Group (KFSSG), a joint U.N., government, and non-governmental organization consortium, approximately 3.8 million people throughout Kenya require emergency food assistance through the end of 2009. Although the majority of individuals displaced by post-election violence in 2008 have subsequently returned to areas of origin, vulnerabilities among remaining internally displaced persons (IDPs) and disruptions to agricultural production in affected areas have contributed to increased food insecurity.
According to KFSSG, the 2009 long rains performed poorly in most areas of the country, with four of the eight provinces experiencing less than 40 percent of the average rainfall for the season. As a result, KFSSG anticipates the 2009 long rain season maize harvest to yield 28 percent less than the five-year average. In pastoral areas, drought conditions have resulted in deteriorating livestock body conditions, increased livestock disease incidence, and early and extended livestock migration patterns. In addition, resource-related conflict due to drought exacerbated inter-ethnic tensions in northwestern Kenya has hampered relief activities.
On October 1, 2009, U.S. Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger redeclared a disaster due to food insecurity in Kenya. In Fiscal Year 2009, USAID/OFDA provided more than $24 million for humanitarian programming in response to food insecurity, including programs designed to strengthen livelihood opportunities, protect and diversify household assets, and increase agricultural productivity.
For information on additional USAID disaster responses, please see OFDA Annual Reports.
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