KENYA* (1 June)
Crop prospects for the 2005 “long rains” (March-June) season have generally improved following recent good rains. However, extended dry spells in the eastern marginal agricultural areas from March to early April have resulted in crop failure and reduced production in many areas. Pastoral areas in the south and northwest have also benefited from recent heavy, well-distributed rainfall despite earlier dry conditions. Recent heavy rains and floods have resulted in loss of assets and displaced large number of people.
Food shortages in some of the drought-affected marginal agricultural districts of Eastern Province have eased following a relatively improved short-rains harvest. However, in the lowlands of Kitui and Makueni and most of the coastal districts significant food insecurity persists. Pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, in particular, face serious food shortages despite recent beneficial rains. The impact of successive poor seasons has left a large number of households highly vulnerable and unable to cope with continued losses of livestock and livelihood options. A revised Emergency Operation (EMOP) was jointly approved on 26 April 2005 by FAO and WFP worth about US$42 million, for food assistance to about of 1.6 million people affected by drought for a period of 8 months (1 March 2005 to 31 October 2005). The Government of Kenya together with its humanitarian partners are currently organizing the long rains assessment, which will take place in July. Following this, food security conditions will be re-evaluated.