Kenya Humanitarian Fact Sheet, Aug 2009 - Aug 2010

General Overview

The humanitarian situation in Kenya is influenced by different factors brought about by natural and man-made disasters. Millions suffer from consequences of rapid and slow onset disasters linked to seasonal floods, drought and social conflicts. External factors among them instability in neighbouring countries and the global financial downturn have converged with serious humanitarian consequences on millions of Kenyans. Animal, crop and human disease outbreaks have in the past year left thousands in need of humanitarian assistance, and led to hundreds of deaths. Urban poor populations live in inhumane conditions across Kenya.

Humanitarian Issues

- The severe drought of 2009 left 3.8 million Kenyans in need of food aid. However, following sufficient rainfall and good harvests after the Nov-Dec 2009 Short rains and the March-June 2010 Long rains, 1.6 million people remain food insecure in Kenya. Out of the 1.6 million food insecure, 1.1 million(1) are pastoralists who face other humanitarian challenges- among them conflict.

- Violent cattle rustling conflicts in pastoral areas have led to 63 deaths since January 2010. In 2009 more than 365(2) people died in cattle-rustling incidents and more than 10 000 people temporarily displaced summoning humanitarian response. Small arms proliferation is exacerbating these conflicts.

- Insecurity in Somalia forces thousands of people to flee for safety in Kenya. Kenya hosts one of the largest refugee camps in the world. There are more than 395, 708 refugees in Kenya of whom 277, 509 are in overcrowded Dadaab camps in north-eastern Kenya. There are 72,638 and 45,561 refugees in Kakuma and Nairobi respectively(3). Refugee camps have put pressure on host-communities through environmental degradation and competition for natural resources.

- There are still caseloads of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the 2007/08 post election violence. Out of 6,802 IDP households living in Self Help Groups, the Government has provided 2.25 acres of land for resettlement to 789 households(4).

- Evictions from the Mau Complex have left more than 30 000 people displaced to 11 camps. Humanitarian support to these families is needed as the Government facilitates sustainable resettlement.

- Chronic poverty, food price hikes, climate change induced migration, unemployment, and HIV/AIDS pandemic leave millions of Kenyans in urban poor settlements living on the brink of a disaster. Over 200 Slums have been counted in Nairobi alone(5). While the 200 Slums cover only 5 per cent of the total residential land area of the city, they are inhabited by at least 60 per cent of the city's population.

- Heavy rainfall in the last two rain seasons led to massive flooding across the country. The rains affected more than 125,000(6) households in 15 districts with displacement, loss of assets and livelihoods. More than 40 people died in flood-related incidents. Infrastructure [roads, bridges, electricity lines] suffered massive destruction.

- Cholera has cumulatively affected 34 Districts nationwide with 3235 cases and 63 deaths (CFR of 1.9%) recorded(7). The outbreak has been controlled in 32 Districts. In 2009, there were 11, 769 Cholera cases with 274 deaths recorded in 50 districts.

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1 Fews Net_ August 2010

2 OCHA Pastoralist Conflict Tracking _November 2009

3 UNHCR_ June 2010

4 Ministry of State for Special Programs _June 2010

5 UN-Habitat _Report on Strengthening Coordination in Kenya _October 2009

6 Kenya Red Cross Flood Appeal_ June 2010

7 Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation _July 2010

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UN OCHA Kenya, UN Complex Gigiri, Block P, Room 134, Telephone: +254 (0) 20 762 4443 Fax:+ 254 (0)207624173; Email: ochakenya@un.org, Web site: http://ochaonline.un.org/kenya