R 111127Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 4169
USMISSION UN ROME 
NSC WASHDC
CJTF HOA
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS NAIROBI 000125 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
 
USAID/DCHA FOR MHESS 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, GGOTTLIEB, ACONVERY, KCHANNELL, MBBRENNAN 
DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN, SANTHONY, CMUTAMBA 
AFR/EA FOR BDUNFORD 
STATE FOR AF/E, AF/F AND PRM 
USUN FOR TMALY 
BRUSSELS FOR PBROWN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH 
USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM PREL KE
 
SUBJECT:  POST-ELECTION VIOLENCE IN KENYA - HUMANITARIAN UPDATE 
 
REF:  NAIROBI 00077 
 
SUMMARY 
 
1)  The humanitarian situation remains critical in the flashpoint 
areas of Rift Valley, Western, and Nyanza provinces, as well as in 
slum areas of Nairobi, following election-related violence in recent 
days (REFTEL).  Despite reports of continued small-scale rioting on 
January 8 and 9, UN and relief agencies note overall improvement in 
security and access, allowing increased transport of fuel, 
commercial goods, and relief commodities.  Humanitarian 
organizations are conducting initial assessments throughout affected 
areas, identifying priority needs, and establishing coordination 
mechanisms.  A USG team departed Nairobi on January 10 to survey the 
humanitarian situation and determine emergency response priorities. 
End summary. 
 
CURRENT SITUATION 
 
2) Estimates of the number and locations of internally displaced 
persons (IDPs) continue to fluctuate based on access and available 
information, as well as continued population movements.  As of 
January 9, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian 
Affairs (OCHA) estimated that the violence has displaced 
approximately 255,000 people, primarily in Rift Valley, Western, and 
Nyanza provinces, as well as Nairobi.  The Government of Kenya (GoK) 
is relocating IDPs currently sheltered at police stations, churches, 
and schools to other public areas to allow routine security, 
religious, and educational activities to resume, and to decrease the 
number of scattered settlements so that aid agencies can better 
provide assistance and ensure protection. 
 
3) As of January 10, UN agencies report improved access along major 
road networks, leading to increased commercial and humanitarian 
transport and alleviating previously-reported fuel shortages within 
Kenya and bordering countries.  The Kenyan military and police are 
facilitating access to affected areas by providing escorts and 
clearing roadblocks.  Officials at Mombasa port are working to clear 
the backlog of accumulated shipments from the past two weeks.  In 
addition, the UN World Food Program (WFP) has deployed a helicopter 
from its southern Sudan program to aid emergency operations in Kenya 
for at least 10-14 days and is reviewing the need for additional 
logistics support. 
 
4) It remains difficult to assess priority needs as the initial 
round of assessments is still ongoing.  In general, relief staff in 
affected areas indicate that vulnerable and displaced populations 
require food, emergency relief supplies, shelter material, and 
water, sanitation, and health services.  UN planning figures 
estimate that approximately 250,000 people will require assistance 
for at least three months.  The UN Resident Coordinator for Kenya 
has asked UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to 
coordinate assessments, and OCHA is working to identify common 
assessment tools for each sector cluster. 
 
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE 
 
5) The GoK's Ministry of State for Special Programmes is 
coordinating response activities with other government ministries, 
UN agencies, the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) and other NGOs.  As 
the food and nutrition sector cluster lead and the primary responder 
for emergency food aid, WFP is working closely with KRCS to conduct 
needs assessments and distribute WFP and GoK-provided food relief. 
WFP notes that food stocks currently being re-directed to meet 
emergency food needs of newly displaced populations will need to be 
restocked quickly in order to resume planned operations, such as 
school feeding programs scheduled for the week of January 14. 
6)  As of January 9, WFP had provided 259 metric tons (MT) of food 
aid to 45,600 beneficiaries, and KRCS had distributed 529 MT of food 
in two-week rations to 70,692 beneficiaries.  On January 10, WFP 
reported dividing one-week rations intended for 500 families in 
Nairobi into smaller portions in response to additional 
beneficiaries at distribution points. 
 
7) The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has 
pledged to provide basic household commodities, including blankets, 
mats, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, soap, and plastic sheeting for up 
to 100,000 people displaced by the current crisis.  On January 9, 
UNHCR and KRCS completed an initial distribution of basic household 
commodities to some 200 displaced families within Nairobi, and are 
preparing approximately 10,000 family kits for IDPs in Rift Valley 
Province.  UNHCR is considering options to procure additional 
supplies via local purchase or from emergency stockpiles in Dubai 
and Tanzania. 
 
8) Relief agencies report that sanitation is a major challenge as 
most settlement areas do not have sufficient facilities.  USAID 
field staff note that haphazard assessments and coordination gaps 
are hampering relief efforts. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is 
slated to lead future assessments via staff based in Nakuru, 
Eldoret, and Kisumu, following requests from the GoK Ministry of 
Water. Action Against Hunger is preparing to begin construction of 
20 permanent latrines at Jamhuri Park, where approximately 2,700 
IDPs are settling. 
 
9) As cluster lead for child protection, UNHCR is coordinating 
upcoming assessments on issues related to separated and lost 
children, safe play and sleeping areas, access to schools, and 
availability of psycho-social counseling and recovery activities. 
UNICEF has 405 emergency educational kits and 435 recreational kits, 
sufficient for education programs for 22,000 children. 
 
10) The GoK Ministry of Health will serve as the health cluster 
lead.  At a January 9 coordination meeting, the MOH proposed an USD 
18.8 million budget covering activities for 300,000 IDPs for two 
months, including programs in 42 camps and 28 hospitals.  The GoK 
plans to contribute USD 8.6 million, leaving a gap of USD 10.2 
million. 
 
USG RESPONSE 
 
11) On January 8, Ambassador Ranneberger pledged USD 5 million in 
USG humanitarian funding for persons displaced and otherwise 
affected by the ongoing emergency.  To date, the US Government 
through USAID has provided an immediate USD 200,000 to KRCS for the 
purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including 
blankets and shelter material, for communities displaced by the 
violence.  USAID is also airlifting 350 rolls of plastic sheeting, 
valued at approximately USD 168,000 including transport, to Eldoret 
on January 13.  The plastic sheeting supplements existing shelter 
resources in the country, and will benefit at least 2,800 families. 
The remaining USD 4.6 million will address health, food security, 
additional shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene needs. 
 
12) On January 10, USAID staff began an eight-day humanitarian 
assessment of most-affected areas, including Nakuru, Molo, Eldoret, 
Kitale, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii, and Kericho towns to evaluate 
humanitarian conditions and determine priority needs for additional 
programming. 
 
RANNEBERGER