Highlights
• Preliminary findings from nutrition surveys between May and July 2016 indicate the situation in Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties remain critical, with Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates over 20 percent in parts of Turkana (over 15 percent emergency threshold).
• A total of 16,805 cholera cases with 256 deaths (Case Fatality Rate of 1.5 percent) have been reported in 30 counties out of 47 since December 2014. Two counties remain with active cholera outbreaks, with 11 cases reported in the last week of July. All age groups have been affected, with the majority of cases being between 6 to 15 years.
• Since the beginning of the year, 5,041 children (2,936 boys and 2,105 girls) have been received into Kakuma Refugee Camp from South Sudan. Of these, 1,274 (838 boys and 436 girls) are separated, 158 (84 boys and 74 girls) are unaccompanied. 40 percent of those under five years are acutely malnourished. UNHCR estimates that 15,000 new South Sudan refugees (60 percent children) could arrive in Kakuma refugee camp in 2016.
• The October to December 2016 short rains season outlook indicates rains are likely to be poor, driven by La Nina conditions.
• UNICEF’s Humanitarian Action for Children (HAC) appeal for Kenya is 44 percent unfunded.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
1.2 million # of food insecure population in Kenya (Kenya Long Rains Assessment, July 2016)
5,041 children # received into Kakuma Refugee Camp from South Sudan (UNHCR, 2016)
10,529 # of unaccompanied and separated South Sudanese children registered in Kakuma Refugee camp since December 2013 (LWF, 28 July 2016)
1,432 # of unaccompanied and separated South Sudanese children registered in Kakuma Refugee camp in 2016 (LWF, 28 July 2016)
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
South Sudan Refugee Influx: Political instability in South Sudan continues to trigger refugee influx into neighbouring countries, including Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. However, there have not been significant arrivals as expected; mainly due to insecurity en-route and allegedly the prevention of civilians crossing the border by military officials. In 2016, over 8,200 new refugees have been received, of which 5,041 are children (2,936 boys and 2,105 girls). Of these, 1,274 (838 boys and 436 girls) are separated, 158 (84 boys and 74 girls) are unaccompanied. 40 percent of the children under five that arrived in 2016, are acutely malnourished. Since December 2013, a cumulative total of more than 84,400 new arrivals have been received, of which 39,841 are children (17,291 girls and 22,498 boys), with 10,529 (3,767 girls and 6,762 boys) being either unaccompanied or separated.
Closure of Dadaab Refugee Camps: The government plan to close Dadaab Refugee Camp, where half of the refugee population are children. The high number of children requires having in place comprehensive child protection services, including family tracing and alternative family care arrangements, and Best Interest Determination procedures to inform decisions around relocation.
Concerns remain on the economic and social impact of the closure of Dadaab on the host community in Garissa. The region is already suffering from very low social indicators, and is partially dependent on economic benefits from trade with the refugees and from access to social services through host community interventions. It is estimated that 42,000 Kenyans are illegally registered as refugees as a means to accessing refugee services, and in this regard, the Government has started verification process for the refugees. There is a need to strengthen social service delivery’s capacities in the region for the host community.
Food Insecurity and Malnutrition: Although the overall food security situation has improved, some coastal counties are reported to have depleted food stocks at household level. FEWSNET predicts that parts of Isiolo and Garissa are likely to move to food insecurity Crisis level (IPC Phase 3) by September, as they received only 25 percent – 50 percent of rains compared to the normal in these areas. The October to December 2016 short rains season outlook indicates that the rains are likely to be poor, driven by La Nina conditions. Preliminary findings from nutrition surveys between May and July 2016 indicate the situation in Turkana, Baringo and West Pokot counties remaining at critical levels of over 15 per cent GAM, while Garissa, Wajir and Samburu remain between 10 and 15 percent GAM. The nutrition situation in Tana River also has shown deterioration compared to last year. Admission trends in the ASAL counties for Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) and Supplementary Feeding Programme (SFP) generally remain stable except for few counties like Turkana and Kilifi where SAM admissions have been higher than the past years. Further analysis is ongoing, however food insecurity, morbidity, inappropriate feeding and care practices, limited access to safe water and sanitation remain the key drivers.
Disease Outbreaks: The cholera outbreak in Kenya started in December 2014, affecting a total of 30 out of 47 counties, with a total of 16,805 cases with 256 deaths (Case Fatality Rate of 1.5 percent) being reported nationally by 25 July 2016. All age groups have been affected with majority of cases being within the age group of 6 to 15 years, affecting mostly school age children. Additionally, more than half of the cases are female, thus impacting on gender roles at family level. The outbreak has been declared contained in 28 counties, including Dadaab Refugee Camps, and it is now limited to Mandera and Tana River Counties. The Chikunguya outbreak, now affecting 70 percent of Mandera Town residents, is already spreading to rural areas in Mandera, with cases also being reported in Dadaab Refugee Camp. The outbreak has caused massive challenges in delivery of social services, with 40 percent of medical staff and up to 90 percent of teachers absent in some areas, further affecting access to education, as well as critical health and nutritional services for children and women. Dengue fever and yellow fever alerts are also ongoing. The main gaps and challenges in response to the twin outbreaks are weak health and WASH systems at county level in terms of resources allocation, technical capacity, and lack of policy guidance. In addition, communication and multi-sectoral coordination between county and national needs to be strengthen, as the outbreaks are viewed as a ‘health issue’ only. Response in Mandera is also particularly challenging due to insecurity and restricted access