KENYA Impact of Food Insecurity on Women & Children

Transcription

1 KENYA Impact of Food Insecurity on Women & Children Briefing with Humanitarian Donors Geneva, September 22, 2009 Dr. Olivia Yambi, UNICEF Representative Kenya

2 OVERVIEW

3 New data* shows improvements The situation of women and children in Kenya has been improving Reduced infant mortality rate in infants per 1000 live births (from 77 per 1000 infants in 2003) Reduced child mortality rate 74 deaths per thousand births (from 115 per 1000 children under five in 2003) Low fertility rates at 4.6% (lowest since 1970s) High vaccine coverage rate: 68% in 2008/09 from 57% in 2003 Mother and child health in North Eastern Province improving: 70% more mothers receiving ante-natal care (from 25% in 2003) *source - Demographic Health Survey 2008/9

4 Realisation of Child Rights may slow down Nutrition concerns over levels of stunting, wasting and under-weight among children under five years of age, leaving children in a precarious situation whenever a disaster strikes (the current drought is a real threat to many children) Climatic three successive failed rainy seasons; shorter cycles of drought minimizing opportunities for recovery Diminished agricultural production Consistently high food prices: Maize % higher than 5 year average Diminished purchasing power for pastoralist communities

5 IMPACT of food insecurity 3.8m people require assistance to meet basic food requirements Approx. 280,000 children affected by acute malnutrition 2-6 L of water per person per day available in some districts. Distance to water has tripled to km in some areas Upsurge disease outbreaks: 4,300 cholera cases year, polio, TB, measles Children dropping out of school in areas without school feeding programmes (Equality of opportunity and results challenged). Urban populations severely affected given near total market dependence for

6 ACTION : Government Response & Challenges Concern with Government estimates of affected population $280 million of Government resources mobilized for next 6 months: requests $345 million from donors Government must also consider immediate measures with long term impact With declining revenues, how can critical issue be protected: health, child survival Significant constraints with Government human resources in Northern arid areas

7 UNICEF Response

8 UNICEF Response Support to emergency sector coordination with Gov t (cluster approach) in Nutrition, WASH, Education, Child Protection & Gender Based Violence Scaled up integrated management of acute malnutrition most affected districts Cholera response: water testing & purification, social mobilization & hygiene promotion, prioritization of drought response Expansion of use of ORS for treatment of cholera Social mobilization & child friendly education to promote access & retention of students in drought affected areas Cash transfer to most vulnerable families hosting orphans & vulnerable children

9 UNICEF Priority Actions Continued scale up of management of acute malnutrition: currently reaching only 35-40% of target population Repair & expansion of water supplies in most affected areas Further scale up of ORS use. Micro planning, preparedness for disease outbreaks in most affected districts Support to low-cost boarding schools in most affected districts to increase attendance Mitigate impact of resource based conflict on children UNICEF Humanitarian Appeal 2009: $24 million; 40% funded to date.

10 Humanitarian Outlook El Nino Enhanced rainfall Eastern & Western Kenya October to January likely resulting in flooding Most-likely scenario: 750,000 people in need of humanitarian assistance of which 100,000 will be displaced by flooding La Nina likely in early more pronounced drought conditions

11 Kenya s Multiple Emergencies : Situations of concern Somali Refugee influx 6,500 new arrivals in Kenya every month (av. 2008) Congestion in existing camps: designed for 90,000 now hosting 285,000 people Protracted negotiations with Govt yet additional land not allocated UNICEF supporting nutrition & child protection programmes in Dadaab camps Internally Displaced People 60,000 remain displaced due to Post Election violence Potential for additional displacement: eviction from Mau Forest watershed, inter-communal tensions

12 UNICEF Kenya Humanitarian Funding Appeal Sector Requirement by Sector Funds Received***** (US$) Unmet requirement s (US$) % Unfunded **** Health 3,090, ,927* 2,198,316 71% Nutrition 6,248,800 5,625,907** 622,893 10% Water, Sanitation & Hygiene () 4,176,000 1,722,641 2,453,359 58% Education 4,400,000 0*** 2,651,000 60% Child Protection 5,309, ,293 5,152,207 97% Cross-Sectoral Coordination (incl. NFIs) 1,200, ,565 1,020,435 85% Total 24,424,300 8,043,333 14,098,210 58%

13 Donors to UNICEF Humanitarian Programmes in Kenya 2008 ECHO, CIDA, USAID/OFDA, Australia, Japan, Korea, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 2009 ECHO, USAID/OFDA, Netherlands, Sweden, Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)

14 UNITE FOR KENYA S CHILDREN