ACT Update: Kenya 1/99 Tana River Flood Rehabilitation * AFKE92

Geneva, 13 August 1999 - An arid, disaster prone and under-developed area, Tana River District is subjected to recurrent floods and droughts. Having barely begun to recover from the El Niño related floods of 1997, the current drought gripping neighbouring Ethiopia and Somalia has cast its shadow on this region of Kenya too. Although the drought was already forecasted earlier in the year (refer ACT Appeal AFKE92 dt. 13 April 1999), its current severity was not anticipated.
Based on the prediction, certain drought mitigation measures had been planned in the above mentioned ACT Appeal. Unfortunately however, most of the activities could not be undertaken due to lack of adequate support. This has now seriously jeopardised continuation of the project by the two ACT members, the Lutheran World Federation/Department of World Service * Kenya and the National Council of Churches of Kenya.
Reports from agencies operating in Tana River and surveys done by other agencies including UNICEF, WFP & Govt. of Kenya - Drought Monitoring Unit, indicate a very grim situation, which has been deteriorating since February this year. Factors responsible are: erratic short rains; crop failure; diseases and lack of sufficient food among the three distinct groups of populations (Pastoralists, Farmers and Riverine Communities) staying in the district.

In February/March, surveys done by UNICEF indicated that 80,000 people were threatened with starvation, 16,000 children needed food supplementation and several incidences of diseases outbreak required intervention.

The report also indicated that:

The malnutrition rate among the pastoral communities was 9% with 20% of the children at risk.

The malnutrition rate among the riverine communities was12% with 41% of the children at risk (this is where some of LWF*s social rehabilitation programmes were based).

Among the farming communities (who depended on the collapsed irrigation schemes formerly supported by the World Bank and GoK), the malnutrition rate was 16% with 28% of the children at risk.

These numbers have been changing with time and the latest figures, compiled by the Dutch funded drought-monitoring unit, indicate the following:

The animals* body conditions have deteriorated and indicated a lot of stress. Consequently, the livestock prices plummeted, dealing a severe blow to the people as their livelihood depends largely on livestock.

Of the cultivated crops, only 3.2% was harvested, which has drastically reduced the food supply.

High incidences of diseases (skin, respiratory track infestation, etc.) among the population, while medical supplies continue to be grossly inadequate.

The nutritional status indicated the following:

• Moderate malnutrition was 16.9%.
• Severe malnutrition was 5.4%, up from 1.8% two months ago
• The number of under 5 children with mild and severe malnutrition in Bura division was 64.3% and 28.6% respectively. In other centres the percentages were: Galole - 33.9 and 4.9; and Garsen - 9.8 and 7.6%.

The situation in Bura is particularly alarming. A dispute between the donors and the Government of Kenya has stalled an irrigation scheme, thereby affecting the livelihoods of some 20,000 people living in the area. Unfulfilled promises have left the people hungry and in despair.

As the situation is serious, the GoK and WFP have dispatched teams to the area for further assessments.

While many of these agencies recommendations for action match those proposed already in ACT Appeal AFKE92, lack of financial support has however created a situation where the two ACT members will have to close down their activities in this highly vulnerable and needy area. And this would be a betrayal of the hope given to the people of Tana River during the past one and a half years.

A summary of funds received and the shortfall is as follows:

INCOME RECEIVED TO DATE:

Note: Of the US$ 156,534 Total Cover, only US$ 33,000 has been received following issue of the Appeal to the ACT Network. The difference of US$ 123,534 was sourced by the implementors prior to issue of the Appeal.

In a concluding remark, ACT members in Kenya have said *We are all aware of other pressing disasters that have filled the media during the first half of 1999, but urge our members to bear in mind the less publicized catastrophes which also merit due consideration*.

For further information please contact:

ACT Co-ordinator, Miriam Lutz (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055)
or ACT Appeals Officer, Neville Pradhan (phone ++41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone ++41 79 285 2916)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org

ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.

The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.