Kenya Drought Response Dashboard (January to June 2023)

SITUATION UPDATE

Communities in the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) in Kenya are struggling to recover from five consecutive seasons of below average rainfall. Despite the March to May long rains, which yielded some improvement, needs remain high. Counties of Isiolo, Kwale, Marsabit, and Nyeri moved into the recovery phase as a result of the rains. However, Kitui and Taita Taveta counties remained in the alert drought phase in June, according to the Authority. Separately, the long rains triggered flash floods in various parts of the country including in ASAL counties causing loss of lives and livelihoods and heightened the risk of cholera outbreaks thus slowing down recovery. Over 5.4 million people (32 per cent of the assessed population) were projected to face acute food insecurity between March and June, of which 1.2 million people in Emergency, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis. The prevalence of malnutrition in the ASALs persists, primarily due to the time lag between drought recovery and the availability of food. This latest projection represents the highest magnitude and severity of acute food insecurity in the ASAL areas in years, according to the IPC analysis.

In addition, the depletion of water sources in some counties such as Marsabit is exposing women and girls to serious and increased risks of sexual gender-based violence, compelling them to take long journeys every day to reach water, according to a survey carried out by Plan International

Humanitarian organizations reached over 1.7 million people as of June, including local communities and refugees with life-saving and life-sustaining assistance from January to June under the 2023 Drought Response Plan for Kenya. More than 1 million people were reached with food and livelihood assistance and over 279,000 people have been reached with health services. At least 310,000 received access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene items or hygiene promotion activities. More than 300,000 people, including children, pregnant and lactating mothers received nutrition services. Humanitarian partners also reached over 158,000 children with education assistance and at least 129,000 with protection services, including 70,000 people who received awareness-raising messages on prevention of gender-based violence.

However, underfunding is constraining the response. By the end of June, only $149.4 million was received against $452 million required to assist 4.3 million people targeted under the Kenya Drought Response Plan 2023. Partners urgently require more funding to scale up response.

Insecurity in different parts of the country continued to hinder humanitarian operations. An upsurge in inter-communal conflicts and banditry attacks was reported in parts of Baringo, Samburu, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia and West Pokot counties during the first half the year. Additionally, a spike in non-state armed group attacks were reported in the counties of Lamu, Mandera and Garissa. These incidents have continually impeded humanitarian responses in the affected areas.