OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Kenya: Floods
22 November 2006


SITUATION

1. Affected population: According to the Kenya Red Cross, the overall 
estimates for the populations affected by the floods remain at 300,000, 
but this will certainly change as more assessment information comes in.

2. Overall flooding situation: The initial heavy rains experienced in 
the months of October and November have slightly subsided at the coastal 
region, although their impact has been devastating.  Heavy rains are not 
only occurring in the northeastern and coastal parts of Kenya but also 
in the western parts. However, northeastern Kenya experienced once more 
exceptionally heavy rains on Saturday, 18th November, causing flash 
floods in Mandera, Marsabit, Moyale and Garissa districts. The new 
floods again particularly affected the refugee camps at Dadaab, which 
host the Somali refugees.

3. Release of dam waters: Following the release of waters from the 
Kiambere and Kamburu dams (upstream the River Tana from Garissa town) 
late last week and over the weekend, the lower parts of the River Tana 
were heavily flooded up to 3-5 kms from the riverbanks. In Garissa 
District, 3 villages were evacuated; yet, 6 other villages in the same 
district remain at risk. In Tana River District, 4 villages were 
evacuated. The Kenya Red Cross conducted a "loudspeaker" campaign over 
the weekend warning people to move away from the river. However, not all 
communities heeded the warnings and over 80 people were marooned in 
trees south of Garissa on Sunday, 19th November. The Kenyan Police 
assisted in the rescue of these people.

4. Relocation of refugees at Dadaab: UNHCR received Government approval 
to start the relocation of refugees from Ifo camp to the higher ground 
of Hagedera camp. Nearly 60,000 people will have to be relocated from 
Ifo camp. 400 families (2,000 refugees) were moved on 20th November and 
given accommodation in the new shelters. Kenya Red Cross has availed 5 
of their trucks to assist in this process.

5. Situation in Dadaab refugee camps: The flash floods of 18th/19th 
November caused the severely affected the Dadaab refugee camps, in 
particular the Ifo camp where the hospital was almost completely 
flooded. UNHCR reported though that, since the weekend, water levels 
have dropped in the camps. Emergency aid teams are again able to reach 
the worst hit camps to assist in aid supply distributions. Health and 
sanitation remain serious concerns. The general health of the refugee 
population and the surrounding communities has suffered due to severe 
living conditions; i.e. lack of food, sleep and difficult in accessing 
medical care.

6. Health (cholera and malaria): The Ministry of Health reported that 
cholera cases in Moyale in the north, where 2 cases were confirmed, and 
on the coast had been recorded since October 2006. However, they felt 
that hygiene campaigns and the distribution of chlorine and Aquatabs 
have kept the problem under control. It is expected that malaria is 
likely to be more severe in the coming months after the rains subside. 
More efforts will be needed to concentrate on preventative health 
measures in the flood-affected areas.

7. Schooling and national examinations have been badly disrupted in the 
North-east Province.

Flooding situation in the districts

8. In Isiolo District (central-eastern Kenya), floods affected people 
and livestock due to the heavy downpours in the Meru Hills. Residents of 
Ngarmara, Malkagala, Merti and Gafarsa were made homeless after the 
Ewaso Nyiro River burst its banks.

9. In Mandera District (north-eastern Kenya), floods affected 
populations in the area of El Wak.

10. In Moyale District (northern Kenya), according to the Kenya Red 
Cross, floods caused the displacement of populations. In Moyale town, 
latrines were damaged and houses destroyed.

11. In Garissa District (eastern Kenya), populations the following areas 
were affected by flooding: Garissa town, Dadaab, Hagadera, Ahantabak, 
Alikune, Jarirot Amuma and Boralgi. Many roads remain impassable in the 
distict.

12. In Kajulu, East division, Kisumu District (western Kenya), the Kenya 
Red Cross reported that heavy winds and rains were creating floods. 
Houses were destroyed. Water levels in Migori and Nyando were increasing 
rapidly.

13. In Busia District (western Kenya), people were displaced by flooding 
in Maduma, South Bunyala and Budalangi and were forced to move to higher 
grounds.

14. In Thika District (central highlands, northeast of Nairobi), about 
90 people have been displaced in Kilimambogo.

Weather forecast

15. The November climate outlook has been based on models developed from 
the expected evolution of global Sea Surface Temperature (SSTs) and sea 
surface temperature gradients - at the moment standing at +2 and +3% in 
the Equatorial Pacific and Central Indian Ocean, thus affecting the rain 
trends. This data confirms the moderate El Nino trend affecting eastern 
Africa.

16. The forecast indicates that most parts of the country are likely to 
experience enhanced rainfall during the month ranging between 40-100 mm 
per week, except in a few areas in the south-eastern lowlands, where 
rainfall may be slightly depressed. The 7-day forecast for the period 
19th -26th November indicates increased rainfall in western parts of the 
country as well as in north-east Kenya, parts of the coast and marginal 
agricultural areas in the east and the central highlands. Some areas 
such as the central highlands may receive between 100mm and 150mm of 
rain over the next seven days.

17. Despite these rain projections being higher than the normal average, 
they remain significantly below the severe rains of 1997. However, with 
the increase in population, worsening poverty in the pastoralist areas 
and widespread problems of de-forestation, they could have an equally 
severe impact.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

Coordination

18. The Kenyan Government through the Office of the President has 
re-iterated its primary role in charge of natural disaster coordination 
with the main national coordinating structure being the Rapid-Onset 
Disaster Committee. At the district level, the Government's District 
Steering Committees are the key coordination structures for humanitarian 
action. The Government is being supported by the Kenya Red Cross, UN 
agencies and NGOs.

19. The Government of Kenya is setting up coordination centres in 
Garissa, Wajir and Mombasa.

Pre-positioning and distribution of relief items

20. The Kenya Red Cross has pre-positioned relief stocks in the 
districts of Garissa (eastern Kenya), Kwale (south-eastern Kenya) and 
Kisumu (western Kenya).

21. The Government of Kenya has also pre-positioned food stocks - 10,000 
bags of maize, 41,085 bags of rice, 10,640 boxes of vegetable oil (1 
box= 6 x 3 ltr), and 4,800 bags of beans along with other commodities - 
in the following districts:

a) in western Kenya: Kisumu, Migori, Nyando, Busia and Bondo
b) in north-western Kenya: Turkana
c) in the coastal parts of Kenya: Kwale, Kilifi,
d) in eastern Kenya: Garissa, Ijara   .


22. The Kenya Red Cross has distributed 7,000 blankets, 3,500 kitchen 
sets, 7,000 jerry cans, 3,500 tarpaulins, 280,000 Aquatabs and nearly 40 
tonnes of UNIMIX to flood-affected communities in the districts of Kwale 
(south-east), Wajir, Garissa, (east) Isiolo (central-east) Moyale 
(north), and Lodwar (north-west).

Infrastructure repairs

23. The Kenyan Army and the Ministry of Public Works have been active in 
repairing roads and bridges along the coast, particularly near the 
Kenya/Tanzania border. The road at Lunga-Lunga is now open. Construction 
work also began to rebuild a new bridge across the River Mriva in Ramisi 
on the Mombasa - Tanzania highway. Last week, the Government announced 
that it had set aside more than 500 million Kenya shillings (7 million 
USD) for this process.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Funding support

24. On Friday 17th November 2006, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Jan 
Egeland, approved the requests for funding through the Central Emergency 
Relief Fund (CERF) submitted last week by UN agencies in Kenya. A total 
amount of USD 11.8 million was allocated to Kenya for emergency support 
in food and nutrition, logistics, protection, health, water, refugee and 
livestock sectors. The agencies benefiting from this money include 
UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, WHO and FAO.

25. OCHA also provided an Emergency Cash Grant of USD 50,000 through 
UNDP to the Kenya Red Cross for NFI, health and water interventions.

26. The Kenya Red Cross received an allocation of CHF 150,000 by IFRC 
through its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).

Coordination support

27. UNDAC have seconded a coordination expert to assist the work of OCHA 
and the UN Resident Coordinator.

Assessments

28. On 16th and 17th of November, a joint Government/UN/KRCS aerial 
assessment was carried out in the worst affected districts in Coast 
Province and North-east Province. It was noted that many roads were cut 
off in the north-east (Dadaab, Garissa, Wajir) and in Tana River. The 
Dadaab-Garissa road had been intercepted by at least 20 temporary 
rivers.

29. On 21st November, a rapid assessment team comprising of WFP, 
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Public Works and FAO left by helicopter 
on a 3-day assessment. The assessment team will concentrate its survey 
on flood-affected communities in Tana River, Ijara, Garissa, Wajir and 
possibly Isiolo.

Food distributions

30. WFP is using funds received from the Central Emergency Response Fund 
(CERF) to hire two helicopters, which will be based in Garissa. The 
helicopters will be used for assessments as well as for airlifts of food 
and non-food items, since most of the roads in the area remain 
impassable. As part of the current emergency operation (EMOP), WFP has 
to distribute between 8,000 - 10,000 MT of food aid each month to the 
north-east. At most, only 20% of food aid could be moved by air, so the 
opening of roads remains the most important priority.

31. WFP will intensify its efforts to distribute food to flood victims 
in Garissa and Tana River Districts. They plan to move the 100 MT of 
high-energy biscuits, (which arrived from Brindisi today) to Garissa 
District for distribution to flood-affected people, including the 
refugees. They will import in all 170 MT of high-energy biscuits.

32. WFP Somalia and WFP Kenya will have a cargo aircraft based in 
Mombasa to assist in airdrops to flood-affected communities in both 
countries. WFP have stated that 40 commercial trucks hired by the agency 
to deliver food have been stuck on the Garissa- Wajir road for several 
days.

33. Kwale District: WFP continue with their substantial emergency food 
distributions in Kwale. Last week, WFP moved by road 194 MT of food by 
road to various locations in Kwale. However, due to impassable roads, 
30,000 to 40,000 (30% to 40%) of beneficiaries of the emergency 
operation (EMOP) had not received food under the October allocation.

34. Dadaab refugee camps: WFP have carried on their distributions to the 
refugees at Dadaab, where they have had access. On the 18th and 19th 
November, in both Hagadera and Dagahaley camps general food distribution 
continued as planned. In total, some 20,831 people were provided food 
rations in Hagadera camp, while 8,271 beneficiaries were fed in 
Dagahaley camp. In Ifo camp, 7,748 refugees were supplied with a 7-day 
ration and 17,719 refugees, who had missed their food distribution due 
to the floods, were given 7.2 MT of high-energy biscuits to sustain them 
until their re-scheduled distribution day. Regular fortnightly general 
food distributions to all refugees in both Hagadera and Dagahaley camps 
were concluded. Both WFP and UNHCR remain very concerned about firewood 
shortages in Dadaab.

35. Mandera District: On the 17th November, WFP reported that they had 
finished the October food distribution in Mandera and had 40% of the 
November requirements in place. In Wajir, 80% of beneficiaries had 
received their October distribution; a total of 51,000 beneficiaries had 
not yet been reached due to inaccessibility. WFP had 40% of November 
requirements in place. In Garissa district, 58% of the beneficiaries or 
69,950 had not received food under the October allocation. WFP had more 
than 60% of a month's worth of stock in place, but roads accessibility 
in the District remained a serious constraint.

Supplies of non-food items and rehabilitation of water and sanitation 
facilities

36. Dadaab refugee camps: UNICEF has sent 30 medical kits, 250 kg of 
chlorine, 1,200 jerry cans, 6,000 purification sachets and 8,400 ORS 
(oral re-hydration salt) to Dadaab camp last Sunday.

37. Dadaab refugee camps: UNHCR and its partner agencies in Dadaab such 
as UNICEF, WFP, GTZ and CARE are involved in distributions of emergency 
food and of non-food items, i.e. plastic sheets, mobile clinics. They 
are also involved in the rehabilitation of water and sanitation 
facilities as well as in the repair of dykes. UNHCR airlifted supplies 
including fuel into Dadaab.

38. Dadaab refugee camps: NGOs such as MSF (Medecins Sans Frontires) 
- Swiss, who have a presence at Dadaab, will focus on water and 
sanitation activities and also plan to distribute non-food items. 
OXFAM and UNICEF are negotiating the secondment of OXFAM technical staff 
to assist in public health management in Dadaab.

39. Kwale: UNICEF also sent 8,614 water purifying tablets, 96,000 
purification sachets, 1,000 buckets, 2,000 filters, 1 emergency basic 
health kit, 24 cartons of ORS (oral re-hydration salt) and 386 mosquito 
nets to Kwale.

MAIN CONCERNS AND PRIORITY AREAS

Access

40. Roads accessibility remains the biggest constraint to humanitarian 
access. In some of the flood-affected areas in North-eastern Province 
and Coast Province roads are still impassable, including the following 
roads: the road from Isiolo to Moyale and Isiolo to Wajir; and most 
roads in Ijara.

41. The Government has been requested to make emergency road repairs as 
well as to place construction plants on key roads in North-east Province 
to remove trucks, which are stranded.

Shelter, sanitation and water provision

42. Shelter, sanitation and water provision have to be rapidly improved 
in Dadaab and other affected areas. The provision of safe water supplies 
is essential and agencies such as UNICEF will be working with its 
Government counterparts in containing water contamination in both Dadaab 
and the flood-affected parts of Kenya.

Health

43. Emergency health provision and surveillance have to be urgently 
supported particularly in malaria treatment and diarrhoeal control. The 
threat of widespread diarrhoeal disease remains.

44. Animal health interventions will be critical in safeguarding 
ruminants in the flood-affected areas from Rift Valley Fever. Kenya 
suffered from an 8-year livestock export ban after the 1997 floods, 
which brought Rift Valley Fever to livestock herds. The ban was only 
lifted this year.

Management of dam water releases

45. Flood levels on the Tana River and the management by KenGen (the 
leading electric power generation company in Kenya) of dam water 
releases need to be monitored intensively in order to forewarn 
communities living close to the Tana River.

Coordination

46. The Rapid-Onset Committee will meet on a much more regular basis 
(possibly every two days) to ensure an adequate flow of information. 
More information is required on beneficiary numbers and what agencies 
are doing.

47. Coordination at district level needs to be intensified and daily 
flows of information from District Steering Groups to the Office of the 
President need to be captured on daily situation reports.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers
  GVA - Mr. Alfred Nabeta
    E-mail: nabeta@un.org
    Direct Tel. +41-22-917 22 40

  NYC - Mr. Christophe Schmachtel
    E-mail: schmachtel@un.org
    Direct Tel. +41-22-917-1684

  NYC - Ms Olla Hassan
    E-mail: hassano@un.org
    Direct Tel. +1-212-967-4331

Press contact
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Tel. +41-22-917-2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1-917-367-5126

OCHA Kenya:
  Mr. Andrew Timpson
    E-mail: timpsona@un.org
    Direct Tel: +254-20-762-5155

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