Situation overview
- Little amount of rainfall was received in the month while temporal distribution was poor. The rainfall received had insignificant impact on the grazing and water resources in area reported rainfall. A total of 18 mm average was received from 1 - recording stations, an average of 4 days.
- The quality and quantity of forage worsened in all the livelihood zones.
- Water availability for both human and livestock was insufficient in all the livelihood zones.
- Body condition of livestock is poor and deaths were reported due to the effects of drought stress in the pastoral, irrigated cropping and agro-pastoral livelihood zones.
- Milk production was low and only in camels. This was attributed to poor body condition of the animals due to insufficient pasture and browse.
- The average prices of livestock decreased in goats while it insignificantly increased in cattle and sheep. The increase in prices of cattle and sheep was attributed to availability of buyers and less number of animals in the markets during the month. Also prices in poultry decreased than in last month due to low demand.
- The average prices of food crops and other commodities decreased during the month owing to availability of supplies in the markets within the District and the neighboring districts, however, distribution of relief food has delayed for some months now.
- Sale of fish, casual labour, petty trade (local beer brewing e.t.c.) and sale of charcoal & sale of wood products was the other alternative sources of income for most sampled households during the month after the sale of livestock.
- The nutrition status of children below five years declined slightly during the month, with the percentage of those rated at the risk of malnutrition increasing to 21.9 % from 20.5 % the previous month. This was attributed to delay in distribution of relief food and lack of supplementary food for children at the household level in the EMOP relief food distribution during the month for three months now. This, however, is likely to worsen as milk production from the animals declined due to the drought effects.
- Cholera outbreak occurred in Kapnyunguny along the border of East Pokot and Turkana south districts and has claimed so far more than 26 lives.