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