Mali Crisis in Figures

Transcription

1 Crisis (, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger) Situation Report No. 15 Date: 28 March 2013 I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES In northern, with the approaching lean season (April-June), WFP continues to scale-up its presence and assistance as the situation remains of serious concern, particularly in Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, where WFP targets more than 310,000 food insecure people. There has been a significant deterioration of household food consumption in Timbuktu and Gao. In Gao, many households have indebted themselves to ensure the meeting of their basic food needs (Source: monitoring report for the North with partner AMRAD, January-February 2013). There are currently more than 260,000 IDPs in (CMP 1 report of 21 February). If the security situation improves, allowing for displaced persons to eventually safely return home, the provision of returnee packages will be considered by WFP in coordination with the humanitarian community in and in neighbouring countries. Depending on the security situation, market conditions and cash availability in the North, the use of cash may be looked into. Although access in Northern remains challenging, transport continues, allowing for the delivery of commodities by road and up the river from Mopti and Bamako to Timbuktu and Gao regions. So far in 2013, WFP has been able to deliver 4,400 mt of food to the North through the routes and the Niger cross-border route. Deliveries to Kidal have resumed with four trucks carrying 60 mt of food having successfully reached Kidal on 28 March (deliveries had been interrupted for more than three weeks due to insecurity on the road axis). Food and nutrition assistance in neighbouring Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger is ongoing; alongside food distributions, hot meals under the blanket supplementary feeding activities continue in the Including a summary of assistance to people affected by the crisis provided in February (Table 1 on page 2) Woman receiving food ration in. WFP/Rein Skullerud refugee camps and sites in Tillaberi and Tillia regions of Niger in support of children aged The nutrition situation among refugee children has been of particular concern over the past. Crisis in Figures Projects: In, the new emergency operation plans to support 564,000 beneficiaries throughout the country in Under the regional emergency operation, WFP plans to support up to 281,000 an refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger in : 260,665 internally displaced people have now been registered in (CMP Report, 21 February), the highest number since April 2012 (not including northern regions). On a monthly basis, WFP plans to support some 497,000 people in, including some 360,000 people in the North. Refugees: In neighbouring countries, 48,939 an refugees are registered in Burkina Faso (25 March) while some 50,000 are displaced in Niger (13 February) and 68,385 are registered in Mauritania (13 February). Source: UNCHR. WFP plans to support some 163,000 refugees on a monthly basis. Funding to support those affected by the conflict in and an refugees in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger is urgently needed to cover current shortfalls (USD 19.2 million to support an refugees and host communities in the neighbouring countries). 1 Comission Mouvement de Populations, centralized source for the tracking of IDP movements in.

2 III. WFP RESPONSE - 1. Summary of WFP activities in February 2013: Country Activity Planned (February) Actual (February) % reached Female Male Total Female Male Total March Plans Burkina Faso (200438) (food) (cash) 18,870 18,130 37,000 19,086 19,866 39, % 40,000 5,100 4,900 10, % 10, % N/A N/A 0 0% 165 Country Total 18,870 18,130 37,000 19,086 19,866 39, % 40,000 (200525) (food) (cash) Prevention of acute Prevention of acute 215, , ,328 61,455 60, ,694 29% 426,328 16,160 15,840 32, % 32,000 47,349 46,412 93, % 102,929 26,906 N/A 26, N/A % 26, , % 15, N/A N/A Emergency school feeding 36,600 33,400 70,000 15,870 24,130 40,000 57% 70,000 Country Total 251, , ,928 75,443 76, ,410 31% 517,489 Mauritania (200438) (food) Prevention of acute % 800,013 2,750 2,575 5, % 5, , , % 1, N/A N/A % 500 Niger Country Sub-total 33,683 38,910 72,593 33,424 38,766 72,190 99% 0 22,792 23,913 46,705 23,460 22,336 45,796 98% 47,799 Prevention of acute 3,132 2,353 5,485 3,104 2,445 5, % 6,223 Country Total 22,792 23,913 46,705 23,460 22,336 45,796 98% 47,799 Total 326, , , , , ,348 47% 605,288 Note: i) Activities should not be added up, as a person can participate in more than one activity; ii) Analysis of achievements is provided on page two.

3 Food and nutrition assistance in February context: Overall, more people could be supported in February compared to January given improved access to s northern regions, albeit at low levels (47% of the plan reached in February compared to 37% in January 2013). : In February, food and nutrition assistance could be resumed and/or scaled up across the country; the actual number of people supported however remains lower than planned given the current situation. Underachievement of nutrition activities is due to a combination of factors, including security issues that have impacted deliveries, treatment facilities in the North that are not yet operational, access constraints for cooperating partners to reach beneficiaries etc. WFP is scaling up its assistance with partners and expects to assist at least 60 percent of the plan by the end of March. The same applies for targeted food distributions which were scaled up compared to January, but remained below the plan as security challenges impacted on deliveries, particularly in Gao and Kidal regions. WFP continues to proactively plan alternative delivery options. Routes used in February include road and river transport within and cross-border deliveries from Niger to Menaka region. Under the emergency school feeding operation, in northern, WFP is currently expanding its assistance from 22 to 128 schools in Gao in coordination with the education cluster and UNICEF. No functioning schools were identified in Timbuktu region. In southern, emergency school feeding was undertaken in 290 schools in Mopti, Kayes and Koulikoro regions. As less than planned schools were assisted through the programme not all targeted children were supported with school meals. As the situation improves, more schools are expected to be included. Burkina Faso: While targeted food distributions to an refugees have been ongoing as planned, preparations for unconditional cash transfers as well as for the targeted supplementary feeding programme for children 6 59 and pregnant and nursing mothers with moderate acute malnutrition are ongoing to allow for the programmes to start as soon as possible. Assessments have shown that market conditions are favourable for the use of cash instead of food in certain locations. The nutrition situation among refugee children and women is of concern, hence the recognised need to provide treatment of moderate acute malnutrition. Mauritania: In the course of the month, newly arriving refugees were assisted alongside those already onsite. For the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition of concern in the camp since a few - six nutrition rehabilitation centres are operational in the camp, providing treatment to children aged 6-59 and pregnant women and nursing mothers with moderate acute malnutrition. At the same time, distributions under the blanket supplementary feeding programme are ongoing to prevent children from falling into malnutrition through standard screening of all children and women (PLW). Niger: alongside the food rations to all refugee households, all children aged 6-59 receive three daily hot meals under the blanket supplementary feeding programme. This programme aims at preventing children in this age group (the most vulnerable to malnutrition, disease and mortality) from falling into moderate acute malnutrition. Cooked meals have been introduced in light of the challenges faced by refugee households and to ensure that this ration is consumed by the targeted children.

4 Burkina Faso: A mother receives a monthly ration of Super Cereal Plus, and takes it home to prepare it for her child. WFP nutrition activities are aimed to prevent or treat moderate acute malnutrition amongst young children. WFP/Rein Skullerud III. WFP RESPONSE - 2. Operational update on activities undertaken from March 2013 FOOD AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE Since the occupation of northern by non-state armed groups in April 2012, the humanitarian and security conditions for populations in Northern and for those displaced across the country have been of major concern. Alongside support to people affected by the drought in Southern, WFP has been providing assistance to populations in the North through NGOs that have established presence in these areas, and working with a local NGO to carry out monitoring. Additionally, support was provided to internally displaced people (IDPs) settled across. The new EMOP targets a total of 564,000 beneficiaries throughout the country. In February, WFP assisted 152,410 beneficiaries throughout the country through food distributions and continues to scale-up assistance, out of which 88,030 were located in the North (58 percent). Data is being collected for March and WFP is scaling up its assistance. Northern Food distributions are ongoing in the four districts of Timbuktu region, supporting 118,100 beneficiaries. In the fifth district of Timbuktu they are on hold due to recent increased insecurity, where WFP assists 26,600 beneficiaries. Cooperating partners in Timbuktu region are CARE, Solidarités International, Handicap International, Islamic Relief and Africare. Distributions are ongoing in Gao region to assist a target of 86,000 beneficiaries with cooperating partners OXFAM, ACF, ACTED and MDM. Deliveries have resumed to Kidal where WFP targets 34,500 beneficiaries. To date, through targeted supplementary feeding activities, close to 2,700 children aged 6-59 were treated for moderate malnutrition in functioning health centres of Gao with partner ACF. A new partnership has been established with IMC in Timbuktu where targeted supplementary treatment activities are scheduled to start as soon as possible. Blanket supplementary feeding activities are ongoing in northern in Timbuktu and Gao. So far 20,600 children aged 6-59 and 4,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers have been supported with the help of partners Handicap International, ACTED, CARE and Solidarités International. Under these preventative nutrition activities, children are regularly being screened in the areas of Gao and Kidal. Screenings will soon begin in Timbuktu where prevention activities are ongoing and where there are functioning treatment facilities capable of assisting the children found to be malnourished. So far, emergency school feeding assistance has been provided in 22 schools for a total of 10,800 school children in Gao region. WFP is currently expanding the activity to an additional 106 schools in the same

5 region. Schools are being selected for assistance in Timbuktu region where the activity should start next month. Southern Food distributions continue for IDPs and host families in southern. WFP is augmenting its beneficiary numbers in Bamako and Mopti to ensure needs are being met. Distributions are ongoing in Bamako for 23,000 beneficiaries and in Mopti for 33,000 IDPs and host family members. Meanwhile in Kayes, targeted food distributions were launched for more than 4,000 IDPs and 1,900 host family members and in Sikasso for 9,000 IDPs. Unconditional cash transfer payments are ongoing in Kayes and Koulikoro to more than 35,000 vulnerable people and are scheduled to start in Bamako in early April for assist 23,000 IDPs and host households in partnership with Welthungerilfe, Orange and World Vision. WFP is scaling up cash-based activities under both its emergency and development programmes where markets allow it, and is exploring the possibility of implementing such activities in the northern regions if the security situation permits it. ASSESSMENTS/MONITORING The report on monitoring in the Northern regions of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal was finalized for January and February. Findings indicate that food distributions took place as planned with. Most beneficiaries found that the most vulnerable were assisted and consider the selection process to be correct and transparent. Household surveys indicate that 82 percent of beneficiaries used the food rations exclusively for the daily consumption of the family. Beneficiaries also confirmed that the composition of the food basket was consistent with their needs and habits. In regards to nutrition activities, group discussions and household interviews indicate that women were aware of the blanket feeding prevention activities and additionally learned something important about their child s nutrition through messages communicated during distributions. The level of satisfaction with the specialized nutrition products remains high at 70 percent. Analysis of the monitoring results indicates that the treatment of acute malnutrition of children through targeted supplementary feeding activities in the functioning health centres is effective. Regarding food security, market prices for key commodities in Gao and Timbuktu are much higher than the five-year average. As a result, there is a significant deterioration of household consumption in the northern regions. In both regions, over 70 percent of households do not have an acceptable food consumption score. There is a lack availability of meat and dairy products due to the absence of livestock on the markets. In Gao, nearly 60 percent of households surveyed indicated that they are forced into debt to meet their basic needs, particularly for food purchases. LOGISTICS Food commodities being loaded into pinasses in Mopti to be transported upriver to northern. WFP/Jean-Francois Cuche Security incidents in the main cities and along the logistics axes in northern continue to affect WFP operations as they disrupt the work of cooperating partners and transporters. Cooperating partner Handicap International has temporarily put distributions on hold in the zone of Gourma Rharous in Timbuktu as the area is of particularly high risk.

6 The main challenge for the northern operations remains access to Kidal region. There current stock of food commodities available in Kidal does not allow for a complete food basket for the 34,500 targeted beneficiaries and transporters have stopped deliveries since early March as a result of the insecurities along the road axis. Road transportation to Timbuktu will now have to be scaled-up as the water levels of river Niger are decreasing, diminishing the boat transportation that has been used to each intervention zones in this region thus far. Burkina Faso As of 25 March, 48,939 an refugees were registered in Burkina Faso (UNHCR). Refugees are hosted mainly across sites in the Sahel region in the north-east of the country and in the urban areas of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso. WFP provides general food distributions to refugees in close collaboration with the Burkina Faso Red Cross and IEDA-Relief Services and will start targeted supplementary feeding for children and pregnant women and nursing mothers with moderate acute malnutrition as well as blanket supplementary feeding. From 19 to 25 March, WFP assisted 18,286 refugees through food distributions, at the Sahel sites of Goudebou, Tin Edjar, Déou, Dibissi, Gorom-Gorom, Mentao and Sag-niogniogo. Over a three-day period, 300 refugees were relocated by UNHCR from the site of Damba to that of Mentao. WFP provided hot meals for these newly relocated refugees to allow them time to settle and be registered. Following registration, refugees receive a dry ration to provide for their food needs until the next monthly distribution. Niger As of 13 February 2013, some 50,000 an refugees are displaced in Niger, mainly living in camps and makeshift settlements in the severely food insecure Tahoua and Tillaberi regions of western Niger along the border with. Food assistance is being provided to an average of 45,000 refugees per month. Since the beginning of January 2013, the BSF programme for the prevention of acute malnutrition has been extended to all children aged 6-59, who receive three daily hot meals. Monthly distribution began last week across all camps and sites to support as many as 47,779 refugees. Complementary blanket supplementary feeding, in the form of hot meals, is ongoing. Distributions have since been completed in Abala, Tabarbare, and Agando and Chinowaren, and are ongoing this week in Mangaize. In February, 5,549 children aged 6 to 59 were assisted with hot meals under the blanket supplementary feeding activities. Meanwhile, 3,953 children were screened by partners for acute malnutrition using the MUAC. Of the children screened, six percent were found to be moderately acutely malnourished and two percent severely acutely malnourished. As such, they were referred to the nearest health facilities for treatment. In addition to the planned support for March, WFP has urgently delivered food commodities to support an estimated 2,800 refugees who have recently arrived and settled in Mentes and Midal areas of Tessara department in Tahoua. The distribution of these commodities is being undertaken in coordination with UNHCR and ICRC. In April, in coordination with UNHCR, WFP plans to transfer from food distributions to voucher assistance in Mangaize camp. In preparation, WFP has trained staff in the operational plan for vouchers, and a logistics mission was undertaken to assess appropriate retailers around the camp. This voucher initiative will be implemented by cooperating partner Islamic Relief, in coordination with UNHCR.

7 Mauritania As of 24 March 2013, 75,845 refugees were registered in the Mbera camp according (UNHCR), most of whom are vulnerable women and children from pastoralist or trader households. The refugees are mainly settled at the Mbera camp. As of 24 March, up to 75,845 refugees are registered in Mbera camp. From 28 February to 10 March, 72,190 beneficiaries were assisted in the camp. The next round of food distributions began on 25 March and will deliver assistance to a planned caseload of 80,013 beneficiaries. The latest round of blanket supplementary feeding distributions, for the prevention of malnutrition among children aged 6 to 24, has been completed as of 24 March and more than 4,000 children have been assisted. This activity was conducted jointly by WFP and the Ministry of Health. Six nutrition rehabilitation centres for the treatment of moderate acute malnutrition continue to be operational in the camp. From 1 to 15 March, 1,625 children aged 6 to 59 and pregnant women and nursing mothers with moderate acute malnutrition were assisted. ASSESSMENTS/MONITORING The cash and voucher market assessment and feasibility study mission to explore the possibilities of a cash transfer operation within the Mbera camp is ongoing. This transfer modality would allow refugees to access certain food commodities such as milk and meat. IV. RESOURCING UPDATE AND PROJECT OVERVIEW MALI EMOP : This EMOP s short term pipeline situation has improved significantly during the last few weeks, thanks to new contributions, local purchases of cereals and advance financing. Cash & Voucher activities have started and are more than 50 percent funded (of the US$5.4 million requirements). In order to expand WFP's ability to reach planned beneficiaries in Northern, a separate pipeline corridor through Niger to complement delivery to the north is being used. This project remains a priority for the region. Serious food and cash pipeline breaks are expected in July Regional EMOP : Due to the lower than expected number of refugees from arriving in the neighboring countries, original requirements exceed actual requirements. WFP thus needs US$19.2 million to sustain the current operations for the rest of 2013, should the situation remain as it is now. It should be noted that the resourcing table below indicates the higher project shortfall (USD million) established based on contingency plans at the beginning of the year. For the moment, the project s budget will not be decreased, so as to ensure that WFP is able to assist more refugees if the situation on the ground should change rapidly. WFP s UNHAS operations still require additional financial support. UNHAS Special Operation with requirements of US$4.5 million and 30 percent shortfall; the ETC and Logistics Cluster SO with requirements of over US$3.4 million with a shortfall of 11 percent; UNHAS Mauritania SO with requirements of US$11 million and a shortfall 38 percent; UNHAS Niger SO with requirements of US$7.2 million and a shortfall of 59%.

8 WFP is grateful for the donors that have already supported WFP s Crisis Response: Multilateral Donors, African Development Bank, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Private Donors, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, UN CERF, United States of America. Country Regional EMOP (Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger) Project Number EMOP Regional EMOP Project Duration 1 Jan Dec 13 1 Jun Dec 13 Targeted Beneficiaries (2013) Key Funding Figures Total Requirements (USD Mio) Current Project Shortfall (USD Mio) Current Shortfall (%) 564, % 281, % UNHAS SO 1 Jan Dec 13 N.A % ETC and Logistics 1 Jan Cluster SO Dec 13 N.A % Niger UNHAS SO 1 Jan Dec 13 N.A % Mauritania UNHAS SO 15 Mar Dec 13 N.A % TOTAL 845, % V. CONTACTS Regional Bureau for West Africa, Senegal: Claude Jibidar, Officer in Charge, Dakar: , claude.jibidar@wfp.org Felix Gomes, Deputy Regional Director, Dakar: , felix.gomes@wfp.org For further information: