Kenya: Floods - Dec 2009

Highlights of 2009

On 21st January 2009, Kenya Red Cross Society launched a Drought Appeal targeting Ksh1,870,648,275 to assist 2,627,909 droughtaffected populations for 12 months.

Fire Tragedies

The Nakumatt Downtown Supermarket in Nairobi was gutted down by fire on 28th January 2009, claiming at least 29 lives. Another fire tragedy hit Sachang'wan area in Molo, Rift Valley Province, on 31st January 2009, when a fuel tanker heading to the Great Lakes region overturned along the road and exploded into fire as hundreds of people were siphoning fuel.

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What is DFID doing?

Building climate knowledge and capacity

DFID is supporting programmes to improve knowledge of the impacts of climate change at the local level in Africa.

We were instrumental in facilitating the design of Africa's Climate for Development in Africa (ClimDev) programme. This programme, managed by the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Development Bank, aims to improve climate change analysis in Africa and identify how countries can become more resilient to its impacts.

1.0 Executive Summary and Key Recommendations

1.1 Summary of Key findings

Significant improvements in pastoral and marginal agricultural livelihoods

Sustained deterioration in food security after a succession of poor or failed seasons that began in 2007 has been reversed significantly, after improved short rains in many parts of the severely droughtaffected pastoral and marginal agricultural areas. In addition, the October – December 2009 short rains extended into January and February 2010 in some drought?affected areas in the northwest and southeast.

Period covered by this Preliminary Final Report: 13 October to 12 December 2009;

Appeal target (current): CHF 1,124,682 (USD 1,061,020 or EUR 749,788);

Final Appeal coverage: 18%;

Appeal history:

- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 13 October 2009 for CHF 1,124,682 (USD 1,061,020 or EUR 749,788).

- CHF 161,487 was initially allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support the Eastern Africa Regional office in responding by delivering assistance. The British Red Cross contributed CHF 42,180.

Summary: Intense, but sporadic, …

Humanitarian Emergency declared in Northern Burundi

Humanitarian Emergency (Phase 4 according to the food security Integrated Phase Cladsification - IPC) is declared in Bugabira and Busoni Provinces and parts of Kirundo Commune Northern Burundi Burundi. According to a joint mission (Gov, UN, NGOs) carried out on 16-18 February 2010, it is estimated that 35 710 households (i.e. about 178 50 people) are in Humanitarian Emergency and another 15 0 households (i.e. 75 0 Acute Food and Livelihood Crisis (Phase 3) in the same region.

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)

Kenya faces seasonal floods during its two rain seasons. The Long Rains Season is between March-June every year. This report is issued by OCHA Kenya with information received from the Government of Kenya, Kenya Red Cross Society, UN Agencies and media reports. It covers the period from 1-8 March 2010. The next report will be issued in accordance with developments on response.

I.

Contexte général

Durant les deux dernières semaines il y a eu des accrochages ethno réligieux au Nord du Nigeria et un glissement de terrain en Ouganda. Les tensions socio politiques en Côte d'Ivoire et au Togo se sont apaisées. La crise chronique dans l'est de la RDC aussi bien que plusieurs épidémies continuent. Les Etats Membres reçoivent l'appui de l'OMS pour la réponse principalement à travers les clusters santé.

General Context

In the past two weeks there have been ethno-religious clashes in Northern Nigeria and mud slide in Uganda. The socio-political political tensions in Côte d'Ivoire and Togo have eased. Protracted crises in Eastern DRC as well as several disease outbreaks are still ongoing. There is also high alert in Mozambique regarding the flood situation. Member states are receiving support from WHO for response mainly through the Health Clusters.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Floods affect nine districts at the onset on the Long Rains Season

- Drought conditions improve across Kenya after the short rains season

- Food beneficiary numbers set to reduce as food security conditions improve

- Pokots and Turkanas sign Peace Agreement

- Inter-Agency mission to North-Eastern highlights deteriorating security and humanitarian conditions

- Cholera continues to affect hundreds of Kenyans

The information contained in this report has been compiled by OCHA from information received from the field, from national and international …

Note: Document is 2 pages.

Kenya in the face of piracy in East Africa

Despite the efforts of the international community, piracy in East Africa continued to grow in 2009, seriously affecting the internal economic and political situation of countries in the area.

Kenya's economy is suffering from the displacement of international sea trade routes, because of its effects on import-export flows and employment; its judiciary system is overcrowded; signs of political tensions with the Somali community are also rising. In 2009 piracy attacks on ships and tankers in the Indian Ocean waters bordering Somalia and …

Key Messages

Cereal prices are still above average levels and hence deteriorating food access for low-income households.

The country suffers from internal tribal conflicts and natural hazards such as drought and floods.

There is consensus among agencies that the country is facing a serious problem of food insecurity with 3.8 million people in need of food assistance.

The government is implementing trade policy and consumer oriented measures to support people during the hunger season.

Ref. No. Met/ 7/23 Date: 24 February 2010

PRESS RELEASE

1. HIGHLIGHTS

- Near-normal rainfall is expected over most parts of the country during March-May 2010 "Long-Rains" Season.

- However, rainfall over the western and central districts is likely to be slightly enhanced while a few areas in the eastern sector are likely to experience slightly depressed rainfall.

- The highest rainfall amounts over most parts of the country are likely to be recorded during the peak month of April.

Pastoralists across the Horn and East Africa have called for support for secured and facilitated cross border movement for access of water and pasture as a drought response strategy in many forums organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA).

ShelterBox is continuing its vital work responding to disasters around the world while carrying on with its massive aid delivery to Haiti.

This week the international disaster relief charity is sending another 1,200 ShelterBoxes to Port au Prince, providing emergency shelter for up to 12,000 people.

SUMMARY

In January 2010, most parts of Northwestern Kenya, the western highlands, central highlands including Nairobi and parts of southeastern lowlands experienced high amounts of rainfall as opposed to generally sunny and dry conditions normally experienced in January. Several areas in Northeastern and the coastal strip however remained generally dry for most of the month.

The forecast for the month of February 2010 indicates a general dryness and sunny over most parts of the country (see Figure 2).