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Kenya Lamu - Population Movement: DREF Operation (MDRKE064)

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Description of the Event

Date of event

14-12-2024

What happened, where and when?

On 11 Dec 2024 disturbances in Jubaland initated a displacement of people into Kenya, Lamu County, Kiunga Ward. Kiunga Ward (population 4,874), is located in Lamu County along the Kenya-Somalia border. The town is currently receiving refugees and Kenyan returnees as a result of the disturbance in Jubaland, Somali. The community are living in tension since there is disturbance in the neighborhood region of Kiamboni in Somalia.

The numbers of people crossing the border continues to increase on a daily basis and as of 23 December Kenya Red Cross had registered 164 families who have crossed in Kenya and are now hosted within approximate 150 households Kiunga Ward.

Since 12 December Kenya Red Cross Society has been supporting the displaced population. On the 16 December the Kenya Red Cross Society were requested to support the MoH in their response to support the displacement and the impact on the host community.

Scope and Scale

The people most aected include refugees, and Kenyan returnees. Vulnerable groups of children, lactating mother elderly individual and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The number of displaced families has been slowly increasing on a daily basis.

As of 21 December 2024, a total of 123 family units had been formally registered with 22 male-headed and 101 female- headed households of which 114 were male hand 158 were female, also registered are at least 5 lactating mothers, 5 elderlies, 51 children and 2 persons with disabilities (PWDs). However, from 23 December 2024 informal registration indicates this number has now increased to 170 family units and is increasing daily. It is estimated that the displaced family units are currently being hosted by at least 150 households Kiunga Ward.

These groups of displaced and host families are at heightened risk due to their limited mobility, poor access to essential services, and increased dependency on external support. The refugees and displaced communities, now live in overcrowded conditions with host families, facing challenges, including a lack of clean water, sanitation, and adequate protection from the harsh weather.

The host communities are now also negatively impacted. The limited resources the host families had are now significantly depleted. Host communities, particularly the Bajuni and Somali populations, also face increased pressure on their limited natural resources, leading to heightened competition and social tensions. Historically, similar conflicts and displacements have had long-term socio-economic impacts, including loss of livelihoods, food insecurity displacement, and a decline in community well-being.

The ongoing cross-border tensions along the Kenya-Somalia border, particularly in Kiunga Ward, Lamu County, have so far had severe negative impacts on local lives and livelihoods. Infrastructure, particularly markets, trading networks, and essential service points, have been adversely affected, further isolating affected communities and slowing any effort of self recovery.

Livelihoods have been signicantly aected, especially for local shing community. Fishing being the main economic activity — has been disrupted due to heightened insecurity and restrictions on access to shing ground.

The closure of the Ras Kiamboni market, compounded by the shutdown of the Hurmood network, has halted cross-border trade, aecting access to essential goods and limiting income for local businesses. These disruptions have destabilized the local economy deepening food insecurity and increasing dependence on humanitarian aid.

The health situation is also impacted due to shortages of medic supplies and non-operational dispensaries. Limited resources and disrupted community health services exacerbate the situation, leading to increased vulnerability to diseases. On 23 December dengue cases were reported with 17 cases treated by outreach services over the weekend. Skin diseases cases from the refugees raising of which CHA and the CO were also infected after contracting with patients who have been diagnosed by skin infection.

It's reported that levels of sanitation are low. There is limited access to soap and, washing material. The community are using rainwater harvested in djabias which is not treated. Diarrhea cases have been noted due to poor hygiene conditions. Women and girls cannot aord menstrual health services.

As the situation in Jubaland is still continuing there is an expectation that the number of people crossing the border to Kiunga will continue to increase. The main issue which controls the movement of refugees and returnees into Kiunga is the limitation on capacity of the boats to transport them - at the moment there is only one boat operating. Scenario for escalation, whenever there is tension on the Somalia side the border towns of Liboi in Garissa usually receive refugees and returnee. At this time Garissa has not been directly affected as the IDPs are held on the island of Kiunga. However, tensions are high along the border towns and KRCS teams are on standby and monitoring the situation in the border towns.

There is a high degree of complexity with regards working in Kiunga which is an coastal community. Access to Kiunga by the normal road and short boat ride is restricted due security reasons. The safest access to the island is now from the nearest port of Lamu which is 105km buy sea. This security risk has put a signicant impact on logistics including costs and time. This same challenge add to the risk of escalation of the situation with pressure on host communities in addition to the displacement. The inux of refugees from Ras Kiamboni, coupled with the disturbances in Jubaland, has and will continue to strain local resources and heightened insecurity.

There are no other non-government agencies in Kiunga, and the Government capacity is limited to security and health interventions only. However, there are signicant gaps in providing health services. There has been a direct request from MOH to support the health services.