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 Welcome to OCHA Kenya Minimize

OCHA’s presence in Kenya dates back to early 2000 when it was established to coordinate drought response operations. In 2009, in response to the changing humanitarian needs in Kenya, OCHA has expanded to 20 staff, comprised of nine international staff and 11 national staff. Two field offices have been established in Nakuru and Eldoret hubs, complemented by a Humanitarian Affairs Officer who will provide roving support to the field. Click to view the OCHA Kenya Brochure.

 

Please refer to our weekly Humanitarian Updates for more information on the humanitarian situation in Kenya and ongoing response efforts.
  
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Week 27 of Sunday, June 28, 2009

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  Sun
6/28/2009 		Mon
6/29/2009 		Tue
6/30/2009 		Wed
7/1/2009 		Thu
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7/4/2009
9:00 AM   Gender Workshop IDRL Workshop     Kenya Humanitarian Forum  
11:00 AM      
1:30 PM       
2:30 PM        
3:00 PM   UN Country Team Meeting     
4:00 PM      
4:30 PM       

  
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 Internal Displacement Minimize

12 KEY MESSAGES IN KENYA

1) IDPs are Kenyan citizens who by force of circumstance may have special needs and vulnerabilities but still have the full basket of rights and entitlements of a citizen

2) IDP return must be completely voluntary and based on informed choice

3) There may be a need to establish or maintain camps or camp-like settings for a certain number of IDPs for whom durable solutions cannot be found.

4) The restoration of facilities and basic service provision must be a priority in the areas of return; these services must be availed to all, returning IDPs and surrounding communities.

5) Especially vulnerable groups will need particular attention and uninterrupted delivery of basic social services during and after displacement (e.g. PLWHA, widows, child-headed households, etc)

6) Not only farmers are IDPs; solutions must target various occupational profiles and family structures

7) Arbitrary or excessive use of force is a rights violation and must not be tolerated

8) Displacement does not end with return

9) Peacebuilding and community reconciliation are processes not events; they will need sustained efforts over a long period of time

10) Reconciliation and good neighbourliness is everybody’s business

11) Resettlement and recovery need continued and flexible resources

12) Internal Displacement can happen anywhere; it’s prevention is a priority because it’s occurrence can derail cherished developmental targets
  

Key Messages from the ERC

•In Kenya, 1.38 million people require food and other assistance due to drought, the continued effects of post-election violence and a 60% increase in food and non-food commodity prices since January

•According to UNICEF, over 95,000 children under the age of five and pregnant and lactating women are malnourished

•Failed rains have worsened food insecurity in northern and northeastern parts of Kenya. The drought-prone Turkana region in the northwest has experienced consecutive failed rains and Mandera in the northeast is experiencing the fifth drought in ten years

•Factors compounding food insecurity include the outbreak of a viral livestock disease known as Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) that is killing sheep and goats in Turkana, Mandera and Marsabit. This has led to an increase in malnutrition rates in those pastoralist households that derive 40% of their nutrition from livestock meat and milk

•Drought and water shortages in the north and northeastern regions have led to recurrent resource-based conflicts. The conflicts have in turn rendered parts of the districts of Mandera, Turkana, Marsabit, Cherangany, Marakwet and Samburu inaccessible. This also contributes to the rise in commodity prices

•Urgent interventions are required in Mandera in northeastern Kenya, including increased funding for ready-to-use foods and general food distribution to cover populations in need

•More resources are urgently needed to address livelihood and food security needs, as well as preparedness and early action measures
 Coordination Tools & Services

Situation Reports prepared by OCHA and its partners provide a succinct, up-to-date account of the current humanitarian situation, outlining the main issues, needs and partners' activities.

Who does What Where is the one product that is universally agreed to be the most important priority for any co-ordination activity.  Knowing which organizations (WHO) are carrying out which activities (WHAT) in which locations (WHERE) is essential if those organizations and activities are to be coordinated in a way that ensures that humanitarian needs are met.

The Contact Directory provides contact details of humanitarian actors in Kenya, including UN agencies and programmes, NGOs (national and international), Government offices and donors.

The Meeting Schedule is a simple yet useful coordination tool consisting of the timing, location and function of meetings to be held either during a specified period or on an ongoing basis.

The Map Centre comprises a range of maps produced by OCHA and its partners in Kenya.
  
This website was developed with the assistance of Thematic Funding from the Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission in 2004 and 2005