3.2.

TARGETING DURING THE 1997/8 DROUGHT & FLOOD EMERGENCIES

3.2.a. Overview

It will be immediately obvious from Table 11 that the Kenyan drought and flood emergencies in

1996/7 and 1997/8 were longer and more eventful than those in Tanzania and Uganda.  Unlike its

neighbors, Kenya suffered a second full scale disaster (warranting a separate international EMOP)

with the El Nino  floods, probably with greater losses in lives and livelihoods than the preceding

drought. Ironically,  the normally arid and drought prone areas were among those worst affected

by the excessive rains.

Table 11:  Kenya ~ Chronology of Key Events

Normal 

RAINFALL

 periods      bimodal areas (Bi) Mar May (long rains) and Oct Jan (short rains);   Rift Valley [R] Mar Jun (long rains only);  Western (W) Jan  May

(long rains only)

Normal 

HARVEST 

periods (major food crops)     bimodal areas July (long rains) and Jan/ Feb (short rains);  Rift Valley Aug Dec;  Western July Sep

Bi

R

W

DROUGHT / FLOOD EVENTS

KEY INFORMATIION / DECISIONS

FOOD AID OPERATIONS

S

FEWS Vulnerability Update reports serious

GoK (OP) distributing relief maize 

ep 96

food insecurity in Eastern Province

 due to poor 1996

between 270 and 360 MT per district per

long rains harvest (following poor short rains harvest)

month (GOK drought relief operations started

Ministry of Agriculture estimates 1.4 million people

in July 1996)

in the Province may need food aid

Oxfam reports 30,000 pastoralists in Wajir at risk

of destitution

Oct 96

long rains harvesting continues in Western

GoK / UNICEF drought assessment mission

 to

Kenya's main maize growing area, but prices

the North East (Garissa, Wajir, Mandera, & Isiolo)

remain high due to expectations of national

recommends supplementary feeding program

production shortfall, plus reduced imports from

FAO / WFP 

field 

Crop and Food Supply

Uganda (where harvests are also poor)

Assessment Mission 

to Kenya

No

short rains in Eastern Province start late

FEWS Vulnerability Update

 warns that a failure

GoK

 distributions continue, but FEWS

v 9

but initially look promising

of the short rains could bring conditions similar to the

reports households receiving only 3 5kg per

6

no rain yet in pastoral districts

major 1992/3 drought in pastoral areas

month due to lack of targeting

Oxfam

 providing full relief ration to

36,000 people in Wajir

UNICEF 

plans to provide UNIMIX for

children in Isiolo, Wajir, Mandera & Garissa:

MSF Spain starts SF program for 12 15,000

in Mandera

De

short rains underway in agricultural and

FAO/ WFP Crop & Food Supply Assessment

c 9

pastoral areas, but significantly 

late

report, issued 16 December, estimates 1.6 million people

6

harvesting of long rains crops in

need immediate food aid until February harvest (to be

breadbasket districts continues

covered largely by GoK relief and WFP School Feeding),

and warns that another crop failure in the coming short 

rains season could have disastrous effects

Jan 97

short rains bring some relief to pastoral

FEWS Vulnerability Update

 warns of imminent

Area coverage of  

WFP's School

districts, but are interrupted by a 

prolonged dry

failure of short rains (main producing) season in Eastern

Feeding Programme

 expanded to cover an

spell

 in the east

Province   3

rd

  consecutive failed harvest

additional 79,000 children in ASAL areas

Joint Drought Assessment

 Mission to N.E.

Kenya (UNDP/ UNICEF / WFP / UNON / UNDHA/ GoK /

USAID)

FAO / GIEWS Special Alert 

revises FAO/WFP

mission findings in the light of short rains failure, and

urges donors to make additional food aid pledges

GoK declares current food crisis a national

disaster (Jan 28)

Feb 97

Ministry of Agriculture estimates 1996/97

GoK relief distributions increased

 in

maize production deficit at 761,000 MT

 (combined

scale and coverage, to 36 out of total 63

structural deficit and current year harvest shortfalls)

districts

duty on commercial imports of maize removed

NGO distributions ongoing in North 

UNDMT Mission 

to Rift Valley, Coast & Eastern

East & East (including some FFW)

Provinces estimates 1.4 million people need assistance

Ma

rainfall in late March signals late onset of

WFP Drought EMOP 5803 starts

,

r

critical long rains  (which provide up to 80% of

targeting  free food to 205,000 people in

 97

national maize production)

pastoral districts (Garissa, Mandera, Wajir,

Marsabit & Isiolo) for 6 months (Feb Jul)

GoK relief now covering 40/63 districts,

but impact hampered by blanket (non 

targeted) distributions

Ap

Upward pressure on food prices continues

GoK relief program expanded to 51/63

r 9

heavy rainfall recorded in most parts of the

districts: total monthly maize allocation 31,410

7

country

MT

GoK/ WFP  agree to divide

geographical responsibility (with government

distributions focusing around towns) to avoid

overlaps

A 34