AFRICA/KENYA - In 2011 increased food insecurity, epidemics and armed conflicts expected

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - According to official humanitarian sources, in 2011, Kenya will experience increased food insecurity, epidemics and conflicts, as well as the continuing influx of refugees from Somalia. Currently the number of beneficiaries of food aid has risen to 3.8 million from 1.2 million, due to the brief rain from October to December 2009 and the heavy rains during the months from March to May 2010. According to a report by the Deputy Minister of the State Ministry for Special Programmes, Mahmoud Ali, in the Country about 250,000 adults and 40,000 children under five years old suffer from moderate and acute malnutrition respectively. Drought and water shortages favouring outbreaks of cholera have continued to hit Kenya since 2006. In 2009 there were 8,000 registered cases. In addition, during periods of drought, conflicts increase over water and pasture, especially in the driest areas of the country, where it is estimated there are about 10,000 displaced people.
In the country there is also a need for contingency planning for the likely increase in asylum applications among the South Sudanese who may be 20,000 in the first half of 2011 and about 80,000 more in the second half. Currently, there are about 4,000 Somali refugees per month and the country is home to 412,193. According to the Government it is expected that by the end of 2011 that figure may increase up to 455,000. According to the Emergency Humanitarian Response Plan (EHRP), the refugees from Dadaab refugee camp grew from 60,000 to 100,000 due to the continuing conflict in Somalia, their weak government, and the proliferation of armed groups. Continuing humanitarian assistance is vital for Kenya, facing so many challenges, including population growth and lack of infrastructure, in addition to the frequent droughts and floods which have resulted in a state of cyclical poverty in the most arid areas of the country. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 04/12/2010)