KENYA: One million still in need of food aid

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NAIROBI, 5 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - An estimated one million people in Kenya will need food aid until February 2006 despite an improvement in food security in some of the areas that had been hit by drought, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said in its latest food emergency report.

The number of people experiencing food shortages was estimated at 1.6 million in July, according to WFP.

The agency said a joint assessment it carried out in July with the government in 26 districts had shown that some areas in the northwest had significantly recovered from drought.

"However, there has been significant deterioration in household food security in most parts of northeastern Kenya (Wajir, Garissa, and Tana River districts) and in a few localized areas (Kajiado, Moyale, Marsabit and Turkana districts) and farming households in the southeastern and coastal marginal districts," the report, released on Friday, said.

It noted that food security in pastoral households in northeastern Kenya was expected to decline significantly until the onset of the short rains in mid-October. Large livestock herds were gathering in the districts of Moyale, Isiolo and Ijara, WFP said, causing tension among communities and raising fears of renewed clashes.

Food prices in the drought-affected areas had continued to rise, it added.

An estimated 79,000 tonnes of food aid would be needed between September 2005 and February 2006, the agency said, adding that it had a carryover stock of 27,000 tonnes, leaving a requirement 52,000 tonnes, worth US $25 million.

Some $3.8 million would be needed to provide targeted feeding for malnourished and vulnerable children, as well as provide vitamin A supplementation, integrated immunisation campaigns, basic healthcare packages and also rehabilitation of water sources.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) projected that Kenya's total maize production for 2005/06 would be 2.8 million tonnes, up by 800,000 tonnes from last year's poor harvest, and 425,000 tonnes more than the five-year average of 2.38 million tonnes.

A total national crop yield of 1.65 tonnes per ha is estimated, which is above the five-year average yield, according to the USDA figures, arrived at by a joint mission of USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service and USAID's Famine Early Warning Systems Network, which conducted a crop tour in Kenya and Tanzania from 23 June to 5 July.

The USDA attributed the rise in production to better yields in Kenya's northern grain basket and an increase in the area planted with maize to 1.750 million ha, up by 250,000 ha from 2004.

Farmers planted more maize - Kenya's staple food - due to high local prices during the past two years and good rains at the start of the season, the USDA added.

[ENDS]