Kenya. In response to. the drought, average in. conditions in. Food security. pastoral areas. livestock body five year. longer

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1 Kenya Update: September 2011 I. Highlights Food distributions in drought affected areas were severely hampered by inadequate supplies of cereals and delays in opening of bank accounts for cash-for-assets. New refugees continued to flow into Dadaab at an average of 1,000 per day. WFP provided assistance to a total of 537,000 refugees. Special nutrition products to treat or prevent malnutrition amongst the most vulnerable were distributed in Dadaab and pastoral areas of Kenya. In response to the drought, WFP distributed food to approximately 1 million peoplee in affected areas. Maize grain prices droppedd in harvesting areas but remained up to 100 percent higher than average in pastoral areas. WFP s six month shortfallss (October 2011 to March 2012) for the drought and refugee operations total US$151 million. Flexible contributions are required to leverage twinning opportunities and secure resources for planned cash interventions. II. Situation Update Food Security Situation Food security conditions in pastoral and marginal agricultural areas continued to deteriorate as the lean season progressed, following less than 10 percent of normal rains during the long rains season and less than 20 percent of normal short rains in Sedentary household members in pastoral areas (women, children and the elderly) were most affected, as milking herds at homesteads were largely unproductive. Food supply at the household level was severely constrained. Pastoral terms of trade deteriorated as livestock body conditions declined and cereal prices were up to 100 percent above the five year average. However, some improvement in food security conditions is expected after anticipated normal to above normal rainfall in pastoral areas in October. Livestock that migrated earlierr in the year are expected to return to areas of origin with the rains. Significant pasture regeneration willl take longer than one season becausee of extensivee land

2 degradation, and most livestock require several good seasons to consolidate the recovery process. Higher food and fuel prices in 2011 have been driving inflation to an all time high, reaching 17.3 percent in September. This hit the poor hardest as they spend a large share of their income on food. However, maize prices have declined by 15 to 30 percent in key growing areas in the Western, Nyanza and Rift Valley highlands after harvesting started in August. Prices are also beginning to decline in the southeastern and coastal cropping lowlands (Machakos, Mwingi, Kitui and Taita Taveta) attributed to increased supply from the harvests in western areas as well as cross-border imports from Uganda and Tanzania. In contrast, maize prices increased by 5 15 percent in the pastoral areas of Turkana, Marsabit and Mandera, with the exception of southern Turkana where prices have dropped by 50 percent following above average harvest. Maize prices nevertheless remain percent above average due to high transaction costs of moving maize to the pastoral areas. III. WFP Response in September 2011 Drought Operation (PRRO ) Food and cash distributions/transfers September 2011 Beneficiaries Reached Food Distributed (mt) Cash transferred (US$) Planned Actual Planned Actual Planned Actual General food distributions (GFD) 922, ,448 (37%) 10,904 4,229 (39%) - - Food-for-assets (FFA) 584, ,715 (23%) 6,500 1,510 (24%) - - Blanket supplementary feeding (BSFP) 362, ,764 (88%) 2,389 2,193 (92%) - - Targeted supplementary feeding (TSFP)* 100,000 95,226 (95%) (97%) - - Mother and child Health and Nutrition (MCHN) 40,000 28,092 (70%) (72%) - - Cash-for-assets (CFA) 246,000 54,804 (22%) - - 1,230, ,345 (59%) Urban Cash transfers 15,000 14,976 (100%) ,141 39,071 (100%) TOTAL 2,267, ,025 (44%) 20,946 8,803 (42%) 1,269, ,416 (60%) *Actual figures for TSFP are for August since September data is not available. It takes at least a month to receive and consolidate the reports from the field WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 2

3 In September, approximately 45 percent of targeted beneficiaries received WFP food or cash assistance. GFD and FFA activities in particular were affected by food pipeline shortages and some districts (Tana River, Malindi, Kilifi, East Pokot and South Turkana) were not able to carry out distributions. The two major problems faced in the delivery of food commodities involved food quality and delays of shipments. More than 10,000 mt of food received by WFP in Mombasa and Uganda did not meet WFP specifications and were rejected. Even though 10,000 mt of cereals were released from Tanzania after some bureaucratic processing, the shipment did not arrive in time for September distributions. Furthermore, the port of Mombasa was affected by a labour dispute resulting in a go slow and the waiting period to berth was longer than usual (7-8 days compared to not more than 2 days under normal circumstances). In addition, parts of shipments under WFP s Forward Purchasing Facility (FPF) had to be rebagged into donor specific bags adding to the time of delivery. This combination of factors seriously hampered dispatches to field locations and did not improve until the end of the month. Food distributions in most of the affected locations have commenced in October. The first cycle of blanket supplementary feeding proceeded well (start dates in targeted districts range between 22 August and 29 September). Partners are providing complementary treatment such as deworming, immunization and vitamin A supplementation as part of a comprehensive programme package. Individuals found to be malnourished are being referred to health facilities for treatment. In addition to pregnant and lactating women, the programme also targeted children below three years in August and September. As recommended by the Nutrition Technical Forum, all children below five years will be included starting in October. Cash transfers under the cash-for-assets activity have been delayed for the past four months because processing of new accounts has progressed slower than planned. Lack of cereal supplies in country made it impossible to substitute cash for food. In October, WFP will make payments to about 30,000 families (180,000 beneficiaries) who have been participating in the construction of household or community assets, but whose accounts were opened late in September. Following the release of the 2011 long rains assessment figures and the agreement with the government to implement a single food pipeline, WFP will scale up its activities to reach 3.75 million people from November. This excludes about half a million beneficiaries targeted through nutrition interventions. Whereas the food pipeline for the next two months is healthy, it is anticipated that distributions will be hampered by weather conditions, inadequate transport capacity to move food to the deep field, and late arrival of expected shipments from abroad. WFP has carried out a rapid market and feasibility assessment and found that cash transfers would be an appropriate modality for providing food assistance to an additional 647,000 beneficiaries in seven districts previously covered by government. These households will start receiving unconditional cash transfers starting in November; government will provide food assistance in the interim. However, the success of cash transfer activities is contingent on availability of untied cash contributions from donors. In November, WFP s Executive Board is expected to approve a budget revision that caters for the increased needs and spans from November 2011 to April Refugee Operation (PRRO ) As of 30 September, Dadaab hosted 454,000 mostly Somali refugees in already overcrowded and congested camps, which were established in 1991 to host 90,000 refugees. By month s end, UNHCR had relocated about 73,000 refugees from the outskirts of established camps into Ifo extension and Kambios to ease congestion. Total registered refugees in both Kakuma and Dadaab were 542,000. In Dadaab, the daily arrival rate in September was averaged 1,000 (mostly women and children) fleeing famine conditions and insecurity in southern Somalia. WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 3

4 Blanket supplementary feeding commenced in mid August in Dadaab and addressed the needs of all children aged 6 to 59 months (to prevent further deterioration in nutrition status). As originally planned, all children aged 6 to 23 months in Kakuma received Nutributter to promote growth. For the moderately malnourished children below five years, WFP has replaced super cereals and vegetable oil with Plumpy Sup, a ready-to-use supplementary food which has both curative and preventative properties. As thousands of refugees continue to flee Somalia's famine for Kenya's arid east, WFP has surpassed its planned targets for most of its activities. A budget revision to cater for the increased needs has been prepared for approval by the Executive Board in November. WFP is also rehabilitating and expanding existing food delivery infrastructure to cater for the increased number of beneficiaries in both Dadaab and Kakuma. The high influx of refugees is increasing tensions with the host communities who are also severely affected by the drought. WFP continued to implement food-for-assets activities focusing on Food distributions September 2011 Beneficiaries Reached General food distributions (GFD) Blanket supplementary feeding programme (BSFP) Targeted supplementary feeding programme (TSFP) School meals programme (SMP) Food-for-assets (host communities) Tonnage Distributed (mt) Planned Actual Planned Actual 420, ,392 (128%) 15,590 85,493 (566%) 7,700 34,000 (441%) 70,000 60,885 (87%) 54,000 85,986 (159%) 7,056 9,028 (128%) rainwater harvesting for agriculture, livestock and domestic use (200%) (396%) (87%) 762 1,212 (159%) Country Programme (CP ) WFP delivered food to the district headquarters in advance of the start of the third term for onward delivery to the schools by the government s District Education Officers. Food distributions September 2011 Beneficiaries Tonnage During the month, WFP installed 86 energy-saving stoves in WFP supported schools, bringing the total number of installed stoves in 2011 to 656 in 553 schools. The project aims to address climate resilience issues by protecting the environment. Up to 70 percent less firewood is used to prepare school meals which saves funds for assisted schools located in the poorest parts of the country. School meals programme HIV & AIDS programme Planned Actual Planned Actual 670, ,196 (101%) 78,000 62,069 (79%) 2,978 2,768 (93%) (79%) TOTAL 748, ,265 (99%) 3,739 3,369 (90%) WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 4

5 Purchase for Progress (P4P) In I September, Purchase for Progress focused on monitoring m the performance of forward delivery contracts c signed with farmer organizations and small-scale s traders in Rift Valley, Western and Eastern E provinces for supply of 4,333 mt of food. Farmers F in Transmara T inn Rift Valleyy delivered about a 300 mt of maize and beans too WFP and delivery d will continue intoo December when main harvests h are expected. Additionally, 111 farmers and a two traders secured loans of a total of nearly US$200,000 U using WFP contracts as bank collateral. c These loans offer opportunities for the farmers f to invest in agricultural inputs, marketing and a the construction of food stores. Training T of trainers sessions were organized for 36 participants p from the Ministry of Agriculture and local NGOs on post harvest handling, marketing, market m information systems and gender. The trainers t weree from WFP, Kenya Agricultural A Commodity C Exchange, Equity Bankk and the Ministry M of Agriculture. The participants were issued with training manuals for use when training farmer f organizations. Donor Missions to the Field Mr. Hunter Biden, in-coming Chair of WFP USA, visited WFP operations in Kenya between 19 and 22 September. Jonathan Blum, Senior Vice President of Yum! and Rick Leach, President and CEO of WFP USA accompanied him. The visit offered an opportunity to see WFP s work and to understand the important role of the organization in both emergency and longer-term recovery activities. Visits included the school meals programme in Nairobi, Dadaab refugee camps and food-for-assets activities in Turkana. On 15 September, Mr Peter Baxter, Director General of AusAID, visited operations in Dadaab and Wajir in northeastern Kenya. He was accompanied by Jamie Isbister (responsible for AusAID in Africa) and Sue Graves (Senior AusAid regional person from the Nairobi Office) among others. The purpose of the visit was to to review progress in responding to the drought emergency and to discuss longer-term recovery plans. WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 5

6 IV. Resourcing and Pipeline Summaries (Six Months Needs & Shortfalls) Since July this year WFP Kenya has received confirmed contributions of US$ 52 million for PRRO for drought response, and US$ 31 million for PRRO (and its predecessor) for Refugees. Unmet requirements for the drought and refugee operations over the next 6 months amount to US$ 151. While WFP Kenya is rapidly converting these contributions into food (and, in some cases, cash transfers) challenges in procuring good quality, non-gmo food, as well as adequate quantities of food, have plagued all operations since earlier in the year. This is mainly due to the regional scarcity which has also driven up food prices to record highs. The important goal of the Refugee Operation - to maintain a 3 month buffer stock of food in both Dadaab and Kakuma - has not been realised for over a year. Until August this had been due to a lack of a forward stream of funding. While buffer stocks are slowly accumulating in-country, given weather, transport and procurement challenges, it might be another few months before a 3 month's supply will be amass in warehouses in the camps. WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 6

7 PRRO Drought food distribution (mt) Oct 11 Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Resource shortfalls for food distributions over the next 6 months (Oct 11- Mar 12) are US$85 million, including unpaid advances. Needs Shortfalls US$ (Millions) PRRO Drought Cash Transfers (US$) Oct 11 Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Six months resource shortfalls for cash transfer activities are US$25 million. This is for both cash-forassets and unconditional cash transfers. Needs Shortfalls PRRO Refugees mt Oct 11 Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12 Six months resource shortfalls for the refugee operation are US$41 million, including unpaid advances. Needs Shortfalls WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 7

8 V. Maps of WFP Operations in Kenya WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 8

9 VI. Contacts Deputy Country Director, Kenya: Pippa Bradford, Drought operation: Koryun Alaverdyan, Romina Woldemariam, Refugee operation: Josephine Mahiga-Janabi, Sam Okara Vulnerability Analysis & Mapping (VAM)/Nutrition: Yvonne Forsen, Allan Kute, Reporting: Pauline Maingi, WFP Kenya Update: Sept October 2011 Page 9