Oxfam Dangerous Delays: East Africa Acute Hunger

According to FEWSNET, the ongoing La Niña is forecast to drive poor performance of the Gu rains over much of the Horn of Africa, especially in pastoral areas of Somali Region and Southern Oromia. International, regional, and national forecasts indicate below-average rainfall is likely between March and May 2018 in South Eastern Ethiopia, and Kenya following three poor rainy seasons.

Climatic shocks, conflict, insecurity and political instability continue to drive humanitarian needs in the Horn of Africa. While food insecurity decreased in January 2018, needs remain high with 2.7 million (Somalia) 2.4 million (Kenya) and 7.9 million (Ethiopia) people in need of food and humanitarian assistance.

The number of moderately acutely malnourished children under the age of 5 has reached 328,000 in Kenya, 301,000 in Somalia and 3.5 million in Ethiopia. Children who are severely malnourished has reached 71,500 in Kenya, 48,000 in Somalia and 350,000 in Ethiopia.

1.9 million people have continued to be displaced by drought and conflict in 2018. 47,441 people were displaced in Ethiopia and 106,000 people were newly displaced in Somalia due to water shortages and stress-induced migration of pastoralist communities in search of water and pasture.

Since mid-March, approximately 10,000 people have fled from the Oromia region of Ethiopia into Marsabit County in Northern Kenya after a clash between the military and regional authorities. More than 80% of people who fled to Kenya are women and children, nearly 1500 are under the age of 5. There are also over 600 expectant mothers.

Despite the number of Acute Water Diarrhoea cases decreasing towards the end of 2017, outbreaks have been reported in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. The total number of affected people since January 2018 currently stands at 2,444. Measles cases have also been on the rise with Ethiopia reporting 552, Somalia 2,853 and Kenya 24 cases.

OUR RESPONSE

KENYA

Oxfam has reached a total of 564,797 people including Moyale response beneficiaries in Marsabit.

WASH

A secured UNICEF grant of USD 193,000 will strengthen medium term resilience of communities affected by drought in Turkana and Wajir.

CASH TRANSFERS

Oxfam will provide a final round of cash transfers to vulnerable households in Turkana and Wajir, re-targeting within the existing caseload areas that continue to be at crisis levels of food insecurity. Oxfam plans to reach 16,920 existing beneficiaries in April.

DISPLACEMENT

Oxfam has deployed a rapid response team to Moyale with partners WASDA and Concern Worldwide to provide assistance to 10,000 asylum seekers. Clean water is being trucked daly, stored and distributed.

HYGIENE PROMOTION

51 latrines have been constructed to date in Moyale with 18 ongoing, 42 bathing areas are also under construction to enable women to wash with dignity. Drainage facilities and waste disposal pits have also been constructed.

ETHIOPIA

Oxfam supports a total of 1,055,077 people cumulatively in the Somali region of Ethiopia.

WASH

Water trucking reached more than 100 distribution sites including internally displaced person’s camps and institutions in more than 21 districts. 56 boreholes have been rehabilitated and will serve at least 300,000 people. Drilling of 14 boreholes is completed. Oxfam is advocating for the sector to invest in resilient water supply systems.

CASH TRANSFER

A total of 209,724 people have been reached through conditional and unconditional cash transfer program supported by ECHO, OFDA, GAC, GFO, DEC and Oxfam International. The cash transfer program mainly targeted by the most vulnerable and women headed households.

LIVESTOCK SUPPORT

701,202 people have benefited through livestock vaccination interventions in Afdher, Dollo, Fafan and Jarar zones of Somali Region in Ethiopia. A total of 118,608 beneficiaries have benefited through livestock treatment interventions.

HYGIENE PROMOTION AND COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION

Hygiene and sanitation promotion sessions were conducted at delivery sites reaching a total of 97,038 people. Construction of over 1,000 latrines was completed in all zones including IDPs centers and institutional facilities in the past year.

GENDER AND PROTECTION

The Mobile protection team visited the newly identified IDP site where new displaced arrivals are increasing with limited service provision. Gender training was conducted in Jigjiga town which was mainly focusing on Oxfam’s gender minimum standards.

SOMALILAND

101,016 people have been reached in Sool, Togdheer and Sanaag regions in March bringing the total beneficiaries to 231,811 in 2018.

WASH

The construction of 11 ponds (8 in Sool & 3 in Sanaag) have been completed and will serve 33,000 new beneficiaries with access to water through rain harvesting.

HYGIENE PROMOTION AND SANITATION

Construction of 119 latrines have been completed and 183 latrine cleaning kits have been distributed in regions. 2,306 hygiene kits have been distributed in 10 villages in Sool and 9 villages in Sanaag.

PUBLIC HEALTH PROMOTION

Three Oral Rehydration salts corners were established in Koosar, October and Hodan Qayo camps in preparedness of Acute Water Diarrhoea outbreak due to the ongoing displacement that is contributing to concentration in camps.

CASH TRANSFERS

Over 6,630 people have received unconditional cash transfers. 8,760 people have received cash for water. 33,000 people have received cash for work from construction of 11 ponds.

LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT

It is expected that 45,000 heads of livestock will benefit from rehabilitated land after regeneration of pasture with an estimated 5,400 people dependent on these livestock. Provision of medicines to support the Ministry of livestock treatment of 390,000 animals was completed in February and has benefited the livelihood of 78,000 people.