Informing humanitarians worldwide 24/7 — a service provided by UN OCHA

Kenya

Meru County: Drought Early Warning Bulletin for August 2017

Attachments

Drought Situation & EW Phase Classification

Biophysical Indicators

  • August was generally dry across all livelihood zones. Vegetation conditions worsened with the County registering a vegetation Condition index of 45.03.  Pasture and browse conditions were poor especially in the grazing areas of the Agro-pastoral livelihood zone.

Socio Economic Indicators (Impact Indicators)

Production indicators

  • Livestock body conditions were poor in the Agro-pastoral livelihood zone and fair to poor in the Rain-fed cropping livelihood zone.

  • Migration of livestock to areas around the Meru National Park, Lower Imenti Forest, and lower areas of Igembe South, Tigania East and Tigania west that border Tharaka County noted this month.

  • In-migration of camels and goats from Isiolo, Laikipia and Garissa counties noted. Conflicts reported over grazing area and water leading to at least three deaths in Igembe Central and closure of five primary schools. Households have relocated to safer areas near markets and towns

  • Late harvesting of dry maize, dolichos, and pigeon peas reported in few pockets of the Rain-fed cropping and the Mixed Farming livelihood zones Land preparation is currently ongoing

Access indicators

  • Watering distances for households was 17 km compared to 20km last month while livestock trekked 26km compared to 11.5 km last month.

Utilization Indicators

  • 39 percent of sampled children were at risk of malnutrition compared to 23 percent last month.