Oxfam Dangerous Delays: East Africa Acute Hunger

During the last few months flooding has displaced around 180,000 people whilst destroying tens of thousands of hectares of cropland.

Oxfam is responding to flood affected families in Turkana and Wajir counties in Kenya. Cash distributions are ongoing to 1250 HHs in Turkana and 600 HHs in Wajir. The total number of people reached by Oxfam flood response is estimated to be 38,788. This is the third rapid response that the Kenya team has been involved in this year.

Conflict-induced displacement is expected to continue disrupting food and income access among IDPs and drive increased humanitarian assistance needs. In Ethiopia, 1.4 million new internal displacements have already been recorded, surpassing both Syria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Somalia and South Sudan too are among the 10 worst-affected countries for new displacement.

The total number of moderately acutely malnourished children under the age of 5 currently stands at 3.5 million in Ethiopia, 328,000 in Kenya and 301,000 in Somalia while the number of severely malnourished children is at 350,000 in Ethiopia, 71,500 in Kenya and 48,000 in Somalia.

To date Oxfam’s response to the East Africa Food Crisis has provided:

• 1,926,658 people with access to clean, safe drinking water.
• 280,854 people with multipurpose cash grants, allowing people to purchase necessary food and hygiene supplies.
• 3,224, 356 animals with vaccinations and treatment.
• 589,919 people with public health and hygiene training.

Ethiopia

Somali Region Humanitarian and Resilience Strategy was developed and effective since April 2018. As of July 2018, Oxfam has reached 17,446 new beneficiaries.

• Oxfam has installed and is managing 28 emergency water points and serving over 99,000 refugees.
• 3500 households in 11 IDP camps received cash complementary kits. 797 beneficiary households received the last round of cash payment from conditional Cash transfer at Nguenyyiel camp.
• 395,816 heads of different species of animals received vaccination to ensure livelihood protection needs in Korahey.
• 3,045 people have been reached on hygiene promotion and awareness at 7 sites in Somali Region.
• Over 364 latrines doors and 82 bathing shelters were constructed with handwashing facilities and protection features.
• Jarar completed dignity kit distribution to 1750 vulnerable people in all 5 targeted IDP camps.
• 56 persons with disabilities have received mobility aids (crutches and White Canes) in this month bringing the total beneficiaries reached to 216 PWDs.

Somaliland

A total of 62,021 people were reached in Sool, Sanaag and Toghdeer in July 2018.

• 116 Households received the last distribution of LifeStraw filters in promotion of household water treatment through filtration.
• 4,477 house to house visits were carried out in Sool and Sanaag to promote good hygiene practices.
• 3,382 Households in Sool and Sanaag received first round of unconditional cash transfers. Verification of all beneficiaries was also completed in Sool and Sanaag sites.
• More than 3300 Households benefited from community animal health worker support (CAHWs) for animal treatment of internal and external parasites in Sool.
• The final 14 latrines were completed bringing the total to 26 latrines. 352 people will benefit from the newly constructed latrines.

Kenya

81,911 people remain affected by floods in Tana River county.

• 500 drought affected households received water treatment agents.
• 2798 drought affected households have received unconditional cash grant of Ksh 4000 in June 2018 to meet their food needs. 16,788 people receive cash distribution in flood affected areas in Turkana and Wajir counties.
• Construction of 46 separated bathing areas there reaching 4000 flood affected women in camps. 3507 people were reached with key hygiene messages in the Moyale Asylum Response.
• 137 emergency latrines constructed to benefit 10,000 flood affected people in Tana River county.
• 1050 dignity kits for women have been procured and will be delivered in the month of August 2018.
• By early July, an outbreak of RVF, which affects both humans and livestock, was contained in Wajir and significantly reduced in parts of Northern Kenya.

Fatuma’s Story

Fatuma Juma, 25 years, a mother of four children, three daughters and one son born and bred in Bakuyu village, Tana River County, Kenya is one of the people that has been affected by the severe flooding. Fatuma is a member of a women group locally referred to as chama with 12 members. They each contribute USD 0.49 and share it in a merry-go-round approach on a weekly basis. Currently the group is dormant because of the floods that distabilised their source of livelihoods.

“Once we recover from the effects of the floods, we will resume running our chama which will help us grow our businesses and improve lives,” Fatuma says. Fatuma’s two roomed family house was not spared during the March 2018 floods in Tana River County. “The roof and half the wall were all washed away together with our household items. I am now living in a tent with my husband and our four children,”

According to Fatuma, women were the hardest hit, such that while in the camps they had to wait for darkness to relieve themselves in the nearby bush. Others took extreme measures by avoiding meals to avoid the need to relieve themselves.

These toilets have helped us maintain basic hygiene and prevent diseases because before that we were helping ourselves in the nearby bush which is dehumanizing.”