Humanitarian. goalglobal.org

Transcription

1 Humanitarian goalglobal.org

2 Humanitarian Recent years have observed an ongoing increase in humanitarian need across the globe was no exception, with conflict, natural disaster and climate change leading to more people in need. According to the UN, the total number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide rose to over 67 million people by the end of The overall objective for GOAL s humanitarian function is to provide effective humanitarian response to rapid and slow onset emergencies within our countries of operation, while strengthening ongoing programming in humanitarian contexts. GOAL s humanitarian responses include health; nutrition; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); child protection and refugee and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) responses, as well as ongoing disaster preparedness and early recovery livelihood programmes. In 2016, GOAL continued humanitarian responses in existing country programmes, notably in Ethiopia and Syria. In response to increasing needs in Ethiopia, GOAL has implemented a multi-sectoral Humanitarian Response Programme (HRP) that aims to respond to sudden onset crises country-wide. Emergency nutrition programming is a key competency and in 2016 GOAL Ethiopia scaled up emergency nutrition programmes to 70 districts, a 300 per cent increase on typical programme coverage. GOAL established the North Syria Response Facility (NSRF) in 2015 to fill the gap in response capacity for large, rapid onset crises in the Syrian humanitarian response. During 2015 and 2016, the NSRF had been activated for 35 responses. More than 509,000 people affected by crises were provided with emergency cash and non-cash assistance during this period. Escalating conflict in South Sudan forced half a million people to flee to neighbouring countries in the second half of 2016 alone. GOAL continues to support South Sudanese refugees at Gambella, Ethiopia, and as well as refugees from the Central African Republic in Tongogara refugee camp in Zimbabwe. In 2016, GOAL also implemented targeted short-term responses in Yemen and established a country office and began programming in Iraq. In Yemen, GOAL worked with a local NGO to provide NFIs to recently displaced households. GOAL s country office in Iraq was officially opened in September and GOAL began working with communities and local officials to implement livelihoods programming with a focus on small business training, agricultural development and vocational training with both internally displaced and host community beneficiaries.

3 Syria In 2016, Syria entered the fifth year of the protracted conflict marked with ongoing extreme violence and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. Although the year saw two Russia and USA-brokered cessations of hostilities, which offered a relative reduction of violence in parts of the country, the collapse of both led to an upsurge in violence once more, with a devastating impact on civilians. In 2016, GOAL sadly lost a member of its logistics team in an explosion, a stark reminder of the environment that our staff work in. The civilian population of Syria continues to be targeted by all parties to the conflict, and remains at extremely high risk. On top of the increased violence, and the thousands of deaths over the year, there has been a marked increase in internal displacement and migration out of Syria. Over the course of the year, more than 6.3 million people were estimated to be internally displaced and 13.5 million people required humanitarian assistance, almost a million of whom live in besieged areas. Pockets of rapid onset emergencies continued to be created with the shifting dynamics of the conflict throughout GOAL s areas of operations. GOAL s humanitarian response in Syria continued to address both the larger humanitarian crisis, as well as localized crises. In total GOAL and its partners reached over 600,000 conflict affected people in Northern Syria with life-saving and life-sustaining assistance during the year. As one of the largest actors in the region, GOAL responded to the needs of host communities and IDPs through integrated humanitarian programming that included Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Non-food Item (NFI), and shelter and emergency response interventions. GOAL employed a total staff of 421 (including 12 internationals) and maintained three offices, one on the Turkish-Syrian border and two inside Syria. In September, GOAL and its partner played a vital role in responding to one of the most significant humanitarian crises of the year as eastern Aleppo City and rural Aleppo were targeted heavily by air strikes by both Syrian and Russian air forces. The bombing campaign intensified in November until ultimately, in December, a deal was reached to evacuate civilians and opposition fighters from Eastern Aleppo City to Idleb governorate. Through its North Syria Response Fund (NSRF), GOAL and its partner provided assistance to approximately 30,000 people through multiple supports, including the provision of cash, NFI kits and ready-to-eat (RTE) kits. GOAL also continued its work with Syrian refugees in southern Turkey. This work included the provision of staff and logistical support to five Ministry of Health-run public and migrant health facilities in Adana, with the result that GOAL reached more than 71,000 Syrian refugees with health care services. Other support work saw GOAL provide 17,000 refugees with legal support and community outreach services.

4 Ethiopia The El Niño-induced drought of 2016 was one of the worst that Ethiopia had experienced in the past 50 years. An additional 10.2 million people needed emergency assistance on top of the millions already receiving support through the country s Production Safety Net Programme (foodfor-work scheme). With funding, mainly from OFDA, UNOCHA and ECHO, GOAL scaled up its humanitarian response programme to cover up to 70 districts at the peak of the crisis (July) more than tripling our usual number of operational locations. GOAL reached more than 1.3 million individuals with health, nutrition, water, and livelihood activities, and played a vital part in bringing the drought and humanitarian crisis to the attention of donors and other stakeholders, and mobilising funding. Operational in six regions (Gambella, Oromia, Afar, Tigray, Amhara and SNNP), GOAL sought to improve the nutritional status of emergencyaffected food insecure communities through nutrition interventions and water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) activities: Nutrition: GOAL Ethiopia reached 31,450 children (under five) with severe acute malnutrition, while 193,172 moderately malnourished under five children and pregnant and lactating mothers were reached through its malnutrition programmes. A total of 8,055 government health professionals received trainings on the prevention and management of acute malnutrition, while almost three million people were reached through health and nutrition education. Refugee Response: a total of 51,374 South Sudanese and Eritrean refugees were addressed through nutrition intervention and WASH activities. Emergency Seed Response: in response to the drought, GOAL took part in the largest seed distribution project in the country s history in which 32,000 tonnes of crop seeds and 23 million cuttings were distributed between April and September, reaching over 1.5 million households. Emergency WASH: GOAL scaled up its WASH programming countrywide, implementing various activities including rehabilitation of water schemes, pipeline extensions, hygiene promotion activities and distribution of jerry cans and soaps. A total of 219,350 people benefited from GOAL s WASH interventions.

5 Malawi In Malawi, erratic rainfall, flooding and drought over several years have resulted in deepened poverty and a prolonged dependence on humanitarian assistance. In 2016, reduced productivity resulted in 6.7 million people (39 per cent of the country s population) being unable to meet their annual food requirements. In response, the Government of Malawi, with support from the humanitarian community, launched one of the most significant emergency responses in the country s history. With responsibility for facilitating monthly unconditional cash transfers to over 12,000 beneficiaries in the southernmost districts of Nsanje and Chikwawa, GOAL was an important partner in this response. Complementary resilience-building activities were also an important part of the intervention. These included the distribution of agricultural inputs, facilitation of cascaded training on the processing, storage and utilization/marketing of nutritious foods and high value crops, support for village savings and loans groups, and promotion of regular malnutrition screening. The response was implemented under the umbrella of the Malawi INGO Consortium, with funding from Irish Aid, ECHO and DFID. Honduras A severe drought hit the Dry Corridor of Honduras during GOAL initiated a humanitarian response project with funds from USAID/OFDA that involved a one-time cash transfer aimed to re-establish livelihoods for 10,000 families who were gravely affected by the drought in the departments of La Paz, Intibucá and Lempira. This programme is being considered by USAID as a model for in-cash-transfer capacity strengthening as a humanitarian response strategy in national risk management systems across Central America and the Caribbean.

6 Haiti Hurricane Matthew struck Haiti on October 4th, causing widespread damage, flooding and displacement. As a result, 1.4 million people required humanitarian assistance and an ongoing cholera epidemic worsened with 41,421 cases registered between January and December. The food security situation, which had been improving, was aggravated again by Matthew, leaving an estimated 1.5 million people food insecure, including 280,000 people who were listed as highly food insecure. After Hurricane Matthew, GOAL focused on responding to the cholera outbreak in Gressier. GOAL also distributed aqua tabs and chlorox to hurricane victims and distributed hygiene and kitchen kits to help ensure affected communities had access to safe drinking water. Niger During 2016, Niger faced a continued humanitarian emergency as a result of a complex mix of malnutrition, food insecurity, epidemic, flooding and armed violence. Approximately two million persons required humanitarian assistance. The national global acute malnutrition rate was 15 per cent, and malnutrition remains a major challenge in Niger. The country experienced several security challenges, especially in Diffa region due to the frequent attacks of Boko Haram. More than 230,000 people were displaced in Diffa during the year, contributing to a humanitarian emergency in an area already considered chronically poor. GOAL responded to this displacement by distributing NFI kits to affected households. GOAL also carried out emergency interventions in the health, nutrition, and shelter sectors and ensured healthcare was provided to the affected IDPs, refugees and host community members.

7 Nepal Iraq Nepal was struck by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in April 2015, the effects of which continued to be felt throughout last year. Most households whose homes were damaged were still living in temporary shelter and there were many temporary and permanent sites inhabited by thousands of displaced people. GOAL continued to deliver humanitarian relief, while also expanding its response to include the promotion of safer building techniques, the provision of technical monitoring support to households who were reconstructing and the provision of materials for transitional shelter. GOAL continued to work in the extremely remote and inaccessible rural communities of Ramechap and Rasuwa. While there was an understandable desire for communities to rebuild without delay, in reality most households would be facing the 2016 storms, monsoon and winter in their transitional shelters. As those dwellings were rapidly deteriorating, leaving the inhabitants to live in dangerous, uncomfortable and unhealthy conditions, GOAL supported the improvement of the structures through awareness campaigns, training, guidance and material support. Last year saw the third year of the current conflict in Iraq and the situation country-wide continued to deteriorate. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance increased to 11 million, while there was widespread internal displacement. Whilst the humanitarian response is focused on areas currently or previously occupied by ISIS, needs are prevalent throughout Iraq due to decades of conflict, social tension and poor governance. GOAL established a country office in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) in To address the immediate humanitarian needs arising from the on-going conflict and displacement, GOAL delivered several targeted emergency response programmes to those in critical need. With the help of partners, GOAL conducted an emergency WASH response at two sites in Salah ah Din, and implemented a three month NFI distribution project in Rabia district in Northern Ninewa. GOAL began livelihoods programming in late 2016 and expects to expand and strengthen its livelihoods programming in the coming years.

8 Ukraine South Sudan In 2016, the humanitarian emergency in Ukraine evolved from a hot war to a low intensity war of attrition along a clearly defined contact line, making it necessary for GOAL to redefine what the focus of the programme should be. As the emergency became a protracted crisis during 2016, funding from the humanitarian community began to reduce. During 2016, the people of South Sudan continued to suffer due to the civil war which had been ongoing since the country gained its independence in At the end of 2016, the conflict has led to the displacement of 1.8 million people while 1.3 million have fled the country to seek refuge from the war. Clashes internally between rival factions were observed in various areas of South Sudan in 2016 although it was relatively calm in GOAL field sites compared to previous years. One exception was Ulang, where intercommunal violence broke-out for several days in mid-april following cattle raiding. The result was widespread displacement of thousands of people, destruction and looting of several buildings, including a GOALrun primary health care facility, and the evacuation and closure of a GOAL healthcare unit for almost two months. During the year, GOAL continued to implement an emergency response programme in the Luhansk Buffer Zone of Ukraine, meeting humanitarian needs through cash assistance, the distribution of hygiene kits and the provision of psychosocial support, principally to elderly isolated individuals. Two outbreaks of measles were confirmed in Abyei (in February and October) and once in Twic (in April), spurring GOAL to activate its emergency preparedness and response plans. Almost 38,400 children aged between 6-59 months were reached with measles campaigns in Abyei and more than 87,500 children were reached in Twic. Between July and September, GOAL supported a response to a cholera outbreak in Juba alongside the Ministry of Health, providing transport to patients to reach the local health facilities for treatment.