Cablegate: Malnutrition in Kenya?S Tana River District

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 005247

SIPDIS

AIDAC

USAID/DCHA FOR WGARVELINK, LROGERS
DCHA/OFDA FOR GGOTTLIEB, MMARX, IMACNAIRN, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, SBRADLEY
AFR/EA FOR JBORNS, SMCCLURE
ROME FOR FODAG
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER
NSC FOR JMELINE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID KE EAGR SOCI
SUBJECT: MALNUTRITION IN KENYA?S TANA RIVER DISTRICT

REFS: NAIROBI 05074

Summary

1. Chronic food insecurity and drought in several
communities of Kenya?s northern Tana River District are
responsible for high levels of malnutrition,
particularly amongst children under five years and
pregnant women. A UNICEF nutritional assessment
conducted in October found malnutrition rates to be at
emergency levels. A USAID/OFDA assessment confirmed
that several factors, including drought, are
contributing to local nutritional problems; however,
several events since the survey, including a resumption
of humanitarian food distributions, improved rains, and
the return of livestock should lower malnutrition
levels in the short term. End Summary

Background

2. In November, UNICEF distributed results of a
nutritional survey for the northern Tana River area
that indicate global acute malnutrition rates of 18
percent and a severe acute malnutrition rate of 3.3
percent. The results were part of a multi-district
assessment that included Tana River, Garrisa and Wajir
Districts. To address this situation, UNICEF has
appealed for $900,000 to support supplemental feeding
programs targeting 45,000 children in the surveyed
districts. OFDA chose to assess Tana River District
following a donor coordination meeting with Britain?s
Department for International Development and the
European Community Humanitarian Organization who
indicated they will consider emergency problems in
Wajir and Garissa.

3. The northern area of Tana River District is a
sparsely populated semi-arid region and extremely
under-developed. August and September are
traditionally the driest months of the year for
populations continually struggling with water shortage.
The predominantly Muslim residents rely on livestock
(goats, camels and their milk) and some subsistence
agriculture for food security and livelihood.
Approximately 30 percent of the residents of the region
have been receiving humanitarian assistance, mostly in
the form of food distributions, regularly since 1985.

4. OFDA Regional Advisor visited the northern Tana
River on November 29-30 to ground truth the UNICEF
survey results. The Bangale, Bura, and Galole
divisions (highlighted in the UNICEF survey) were
visited, and included stops in affected households,
medical clinics and discussions with local officials.
Findings were shared with the Tana River District
Commissioner and the head of Arid Lands (Kenyan
Government emergency monitoring agency).

Current Situation

5. Although drought is blamed for the high levels of
malnutrition in the area, there are several other
contributing factors. According to the District
Commissioner, food security in northern Tana River has
actually been in decline since 1985 following the
collapse of two government sponsored irrigation
programs and the construction of hydroelectric dams
located above the affected communities (the dam
construction subsequently changed the Tana River?s
flooding patterns).

6. A contributing factor to the high malnutrition
rates recently found by UNICEF in northern Tana River
was the disruption of food distributions to vulnerable
populations in July, 2005. The World Food Program
(WFP) was unable to meet distribution targets for two
months (due to financial shortfalls). Vulnerable
groups already impoverished and with few coping
alternatives, began to become malnourished. WFP has
subsequently received new resources and food
distributions resumed in northern Tana River in
October. Residents confirmed the resumption of timely
deliveries and accurate targeting and noted that corn
soy blend (CSB), a fortified food, was being included
in the rations distributed.

7. Pastoral migration patterns have also contributed
to the spike in local malnutrition rates. Most of the
villagers who own animals do not receive food aid and
are coping by migrating to the Tana River Delta area in
the southern portion of the district for pasture and
water during the summer dry season (and were not
measured in the UNICEF survey). The migration of
animals and manpower from the north for several months
reduced the availability of milk and meat for
vulnerable groups left behind to survive on relief
assistance. The November start of the "short rains"
has improved pasture and water availability throughout
the district, prompting the return of a significant
number of pastoralists and animals to their northern
origin areas.

8. Cultural practices have also impacted local
nutritional levels. Mothers interviewed generally only
breast feed newborns for one or two months. Several
families spoken to were reluctant to sell livestock to
purchase food from well supplied local markets. Many
who had previously farmed were not planting drought
resistant crops such as millet or sorghum (which does
well in surrounding districts) because of the
preference to eat corn. UNICEF conducted the survey
during the end of the Ramadan period when fasting is
normal.

9. Finally, poor access to health care and the lack of
clean water are also common. Although clinics exist in
the villages, all had minimal levels of qualified staff
and medicines. Poor families told us they couldn?t
seek medical treatment for illness due to the
inadequate facilities and expense. Common morbidity
included malaria, upper respiratory infections and
diarrhea disease. Water is normally consumed directly
from local sources without treatment, and there is
little evidence of latrine use.

Recommendations

10. Short term emergency interventions will do little
to resolve the area?s food insecurity and persistently
high malnutrition rates. Sustainable improvements,
such as the introduction of drought resistant
agriculture, better education on nutrition, improved
health care and the provision of clean water are needed
to address the area?s chronically high nutritional
rates.

11. To alleviate immediate emergency nutritional
concerns, continuation of WFP emergency distributions
to the general population, which include CSB, is the
fastest, most effective way of reducing elevated levels
of malnutrition found by UNICEF. The WFP program has
already identified vulnerable groups, has distribution
infrastructure in place, and established good
relationships with the communities. USAID Kenya
continually liaise with WFP to ensure pipeline
continuity, and the area is scheduled to reassessed at
the end of the short rain period next March.

BELLAMY

© Scoop Media