UNICEF Philippines Situation Report

Transcription

1 Highlights UNICEF Philippines Situation Report Date 31 July 2013 The UNICEF Philippines Country Office has just concluded it s nearly 7 month emergency operations in Eastern Mindanao devastated by Typhoon Bopha (locally known as Pablo). UNICEF with the Philippine Government provided leadership in organising clusters/subclusters for a coordinated humanitarian response on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition, Education and Child Protection at the sub-national and local levels. Along with implementing partners, UNICEF initiated life-saving and nurturing interventions for children, women and their families and strengthened the capacities of Local Government Units (LGUs) in sustaining these initiatives. UNICEF, along with its cluster members averted the spread of acute malnutrition by putting in place a programme for community management of acute malnutrition that reached more than 50, months children; prevented the breakout of epidemics and waterborne diseases through provision of safe water to 318,000 affected people and sanitation facilities to 70, 000; brought back to school 114,000 schoolchildren and provided safe access to community spaces for socializing, play and learning 22,300 children. UNICEF made sure that LGUs and other concerned agencies would have the knowledge and skills to continue the programme services through capacity building activities like training on Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) for more than 1,000 health staff; training of 545 rural sanitary engineers and inspectors on water quality monitoring and hygiene promotion; training of over 300 teachers from the Department of Education (DepEd) and social workers from the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD) and the LGUs on administration of basic psychosocial support; and training of 259 teachers and teaching volunteers on education in emergencies, including psychosocial support. UNICEF response for Bopha also spurred the development of programme interventions that have profound and long-lasting benefit for children and women beyond this emergency. Among them were the firming up of the Department of Health (DOH) protocol on Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition; the recognition and adoption by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of the strategies for Child Protection in Emergencies including use of Child-Friendly Space (CFS) and Child Protection Rapid Assessment (CPRA); the development of a 5-year Strategic Framework plan for WASH in Emergencies; and the integration of psychosocial support and risk reduction in the competencies of the Education sector. The situation in Central Mindanao remains critical even though the Philippine Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have reached milestone agreements in the ongoing peace process. The Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom movement (BIFM), a breakaway faction of the MILF who oppose the peace pacts, continue to stage sporadic attacks triggering massive displacements of communities. On top of this is the flooding that adds to the misery of the populace caused by the swelling of the heavily silted Rio Grande River in central Mindanao. UNICEF received approximately US$5.5 million or about 43% of its requested funds of US$12.9 million for the Bopha operations. Contributions came from 8 donors and funding sources. WASH received the biggest share of US$3.4 million which was 51% of their budget request and 63% of the total contribution received. By comparison, the Country Office received no contributions for the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) for Central Mindanao despite the continuing humanitarian situation caused by intermittent armed conflict and seasonal flooding. 1

2 2

3 Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs The Philippines is currently confronted with major humanitarian situations in two fronts and both are in Mindanao. One is the prevailing complex emergency in Central Mindanao that emanated from the long-standing armed conflict between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF); and the other is the natural disaster that struck Eastern Mindanao because of super Typhoon Bopha last December Central Mindanao has been the scene of intermittent cycle of forced displacement and insecurity because of armed conflict, clan feuds and generalised violence from non-state armed groups which of late have been exacerbated by flooding in large areas. The on-going peace process and ceasefire between the government and the MILF has brought relative peace in most areas. This has already achieved a breakthrough with the signing of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement that provides for the roadmap for political settlement. However, a breakaway faction of the MILF, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) as well as warring clans and various armed groups have sporadically waged violence against the government and also amongst each other. From January to April 2013, some 315,500 displaced persons in Central Mindanao have returned home although 9,200 others were displaced anew by armed conflict involving state and non-state forces and 5,000 fled because of clan violence. Typhoon Bopha was one of the most destructive storm and the southernmost that has ever hit the Philippines. It was a Category 5 typhoon that wrought havoc in two administrative regions, Davao and Caraga, on the eastern side of Mindanao. These regions were long held as typhoon-free as tropical cyclones very rarely venture deep down south. Local governments in these regions had no experience in handling large-scale emergencies and they were not among the priority areas of the national government for disaster preparedness. Bopha affected 6.2 million people and left 1,146 dead, 834 still missing and 230,000 homes destroyed. Over 933,000 persons remain without permanent 3

4 shelters and 80% of agricultural livelihoods in the area were damaged. Total cost of destruction to public infrastructure, agriculture and private property is estimated at US$950 million or roughly 0.4 % of the country s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in Water, sanitation and hygiene in these affected communities remain a serious concern. In Central Mindanao, 46.5 % of assessed communities have unsafe water sources and 56.5% of the families still practice open defecation which pose high health risks. In the Bopha-affected provinces of Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, 25% of the affected population still need to restore their sanitary facilities while 23% in Davao Oriental need permanent safe water services. More than 120,000 children 0-59 months and 46,000 pregnant and lactating women in Central Mindanao and Bopha-affected areas are at a high risk of malnutrition because of loss of income and livelihood, lack of access to health and other services and general impoverished conditions. Furthermore, only 50% of children 0-6 months are exclusively breastfed and adequate and appropriate complementary feeding is low in these largely rural areas. Nearly 500,000 schoolchildren in these two emergency areas need support to ensure their continued access to quality education and restoration of their learning environments. In the Bopha-hit areas, more than 2,500 classrooms need to be rebuilt while in Central Mindanao schools are often disrupted by violence perpetrated by armed groups. In these situations, the need to capacitate teachers to provide psychosocial support for students and also among themselves becomes very essential. Communities in Central Mindanao remain fragile and insecure because of chronic displacement triggered by sporadic armed conflicts while some remote communities affected by Bopha have received only minimal humanitarian assistance. These areas have also historically recorded grave child rights violations in situations of armed conflict, transnational trafficking and child labour. With the continuing displacements and loss of livelihood, these risks have invariably heightened making the strengthening community protection mechanisms a necessity. Key Information for Typhoon Bopha affected areas (Estimates calculated based on initial figures from [NDRRMC Update, SitRep No. 38, 25 December 2012, 6:00 AM]) Start of humanitarian response: State of National Calamity declared 7 December 2012 via Proclamation No. 522 Total Male (49%) Female (51%) Total Affected Population 6,243,998 3,059,559 3,184,439 Children Affected (Under 18)- (42% of 2,622,479 1,285,014 1,337,465 population) Children Under Five (12.5% of population) 780, , ,055 Children 6 to 23 months (29% of Children 226, , ,436 Under-5) Pregnant women (6.5% of population) 405,860 Total displaced population* 933, , ,044 Children displaced (42%) 392, , ,938 People targeted in Bopha Action Plan** 933, , ,304 Children in the target population of BAP 392, , ,934 *Data from DSWD DROMIC 30 April 2013 ** Mindanao HAP 2013 Mid-Year Review 4

5 Key Information for Central Mindanao (based on figures in the Philippines (Mindanao) Humanitarian Action Plan 2013 Mid-Year Review) Total Male (49%) Female (51%) Total Affected Population 6,500,000 3,185,559 3,315,000 Children Affected (Under 18)- (42% of 2,730,000 1,337,700 1,392,300 population) Children Under Five (12.5% of population) 812, , ,375 Children 6 to 23 months (29% of Children 235, , ,169 Under-5) Pregnant women (6.5% of population) 422,500 Total displaced population 945, , ,950 Children displaced (42%) 396, , ,419 People targeted in Humanitarian Action Plan 530, , ,300 Children in the target population of HAP 222, , ,526 Humanitarian leadership and coordination The Philippine Disaster Management system integrated the cluster system following several memorandums issued by the National Disaster Coordination Council (now National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council-NDRRMC). Government assumes leadership in all clusters with several government agencies acting as cluster leads. The Government has replicated clusters at subnational level for Central Mindanao (complex emergency) as well as in Eastern Mindanao (typhoon emergency). UNICEF co-leads with the Government the clusters on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition, Education (with Save the Children) and the Child protection Working group (CPWG). The Department of Health (DOH) is the lead for WASH and Nutrition, the Department of Education (DepEd) for Education, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for Child Protection. Sub-national clusters have been operating in Central Mindanao since 2008 while for Bopha they were convened and organised within the first few weeks of the disaster in Regions XI and XIII. Cluster responsibilities in Eastern Mindanao are now been integrated in normal functions of the LGUs and concerned national agencies, e.g. DepEd, DSWD. The UN Resident Coordinator acts as the Humanitarian Coordinator and leads the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), which is composed of UN agencies, IOM and other international organisations. UNICEF is also part of the NDRRMC-HCT Technical Working Group at the national level which acts as the main liaison between the government and the UN with regards to humanitarian action. A Mindanao Humanitarian Team (MHT), composed mainly of UN agencies operating in Mindanao, was also established to coordinate humanitarian response in that region. OCHA acts as the secretariat and the convenor of the HCT and the MHT. The Humanitarian Country Team led the development of the Humanitarian Action Plan for Mindanao which included the Typhoon Bopha/Pablo Action Plan for Recovery (BAP). The HAP and the BAP were meant to provide urgent and time-critical humanitarian assistance to the most affected communities in support of the Government response effort. UNDAC (UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination) teams were in Manila on standby for a rapid needs assessment for Bopha. The NDRRMC requested a Joint Needs Assessment on Day 2 of the disaster. Three teams were immediately organised and deployed by the NDRRMC and OCHA to Regions X, XI and Caraga (XIII). UNICEF staff participated in all three teams. The teams submitted their findings, resulting in humanitarian focus on Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur provinces. UNICEF Programme response UNICEF humanitarian response for the first half of 2013 was mainly devoted to Typhoon Bopha where substantial contributions were received. UNICEF has not received any contribution specific for the HAP for Central Mindanao although development programmes are continuing for its priority areas in Mindanao under the current Country Programme for Children. The figures indicated in the targets are 5

6 the original numbers indicated in the HAC These have since been down scaled following the Mid-Year Review of the HAP that cut the budget of UNICEF programmes and the recent termination of the Bopha operations. Nutrition Results Status Estimated Number/Percentage coverage UNICEF and Sector / Cluster Target results ( #) Number of children 0-59 month old screened 240,000 69,268 Number and percentage of children 0-59 months with SAM admitted in 8, therapeutic feeding programs PLW reached by IYCF counselling activities receiving multimicronutrient supplement (or iron and folic acid) 47,000 22,188 UNICEF supported partners contributing to the above results: Merlin UK; Save the Children; Plan International; DOH and its regional offices; LGUs at the provincial and municipal levels Analysis of Results The Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) placed the overall prevalence of under-nutrition among children in the Bopha-affected areas of Davao (Region XI) and Caraga (Region XIII) regions at 21.9% in 2011, which was higher than the 20.2% national average. This, by itself, was already a cause of concern considering the deep impact the disaster would have on the already fragile nutrition status of children. It was anticipated that acute malnutrition will rise due to limited food-aid rations in hard to reach and remote areas, sporadic incidence of diarrhoea and pneumonia in children, and limited access to primary health care services because of extensive damage to health facilities. Around 68,000 The MUAC (mid-upper arm circumference) was introduced as a tool to screen children with acute Philippines/2013/K.Palasi children 6-59 months old (33,000 boys and 35,000 girls) and 39,700 pregnant and lactating women are estimated to be at high risk of under-nutrition in the Bopha-affected regions. Social services in the Philippines, including health and nutrition, are essentially operating in a decentralized system. Local government units (LGUs) at the provincial, city and municipal levels are mainly responsible for the delivery of social services and provision of emergency relief. The capacity of local governments in these areas to undertake emergency response especially Nutrition in Emergencies was low to start with. While Rural Health workers have been doing regular nutrition programmes like Operation Timbang (weighing) and Garantisado Pambata (micronutrient supplementation), they were not familiar with the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) in Emergencies. IMAM and IYCF were originally not part of the regular programme of Rural Health Units (RHUs) and the initial emergency response of LGUs. UNICEF and the Nutrition cluster mobilized partner NGOs like ACF International, Merlin UK, Plan International and Save the Children to assist government in initiating nutrition in emergencies response to prevent further deterioration of nutrition status of children. IMAM and IYCF with new anthropometrical tools were introduced to government health workers to improve the efficiency of screening and ensure conformity with global standards. OTP (Out-patient Therapeutic Programme) sites were established in 41 barangays in Davao Oriental, 5 Rural Health Units (Main Health Centers) 6

7 of Compostela Valley, and 12 clustered barangays in Agusan del Sur. At least one day in every week has been designated as Community Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) and OTP days where mothers and their children troop to the OTP sites for IYCF counseling and regular follow-up of SAM and MAM cases. Particular attention was given by the Cluster in reaching indigenous people s communities in the hinterlands. The initial default rate for SAM (Severe Acute Malnutrition) cases was found to be high at 34% and for MAM (Moderate Acute Malnutrition) at 20%. These were addressed by the Cluster by encouraging timely follow-up visits to the communities by health workers, the establishment of more OTP sites in contiguous areas and implementing regular CMAM days. The Regional Office of the Department of Health (DOH) in Davao found the nutrition interventions critical that it issued a memorandum to all health offices in their jurisdiction to follow the draft protocol for the Philippines IMAM (PIMAM), initiate IYCF and strictly observe restrictions in milk donations. UNICEF and the DOH were active in reminding government and humanitarian agencies of the Milk Code that bans the distribution of infant formula and milk products during emergencies. Milk Code violation reports were forwarded to government for action. The Nutrition Cluster coordination has been established down to the provincial and municipal levels led by local government authorities in Bopha affected areas. Part of their early recovery plan is to adapt and continue the nutrition cluster coordination in the 3 affected provinces by integrating it with their regular monthly provincial nutrition sessions. In Central Mindanao, the Nutrition Cluster was able to implement a few activities even without fund support by integrating them in routine hospital seminars in the affected areas. Despite training and updating skills of 376 health and nutrition workers in the management of acute malnutrition and infant and young-child feeding (IYCF) in emergencies, Out of 19,019 children 5-59 months old, 384 were detected to have moderate acute malnutrition and 64 with severe acute malnutrition. These children were given therapeutic feeding. Lactating women and caretakers of children 6-23 months old with detected acute malnutrition were enrolled in IYCF counselling and education. Pregnant and postpartum women are also availed of micronutrient supplements from the government routine antenatal and postnatal services. WASH Results Status for Bopha Estimated Number/Percentage coverage UNICEF Target UNICEF results ( #) Cluster Target Sector / Cluster results ( #) Number of people provided with safe drinking water 266,000 86, , ,715 Number of people provided with sanitation facilities 266,000 50, ,800 69,180 Number of people reached with hygiene messages 266, , , ,345 UNICEF Supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: Accion Contra Famine (ACF), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), DOH, Humanitarian Response Coalition (HRC) and Save the Children International, DOH, DOH- CHDs, IPHOs, MHOs Analysis of Results The WASH Cluster registered an over-all 96% accomplishment of its life-saving interventions and targets, mainly in the areas of water supply, water kits, hygiene kits and hygiene promotion. UNICEF and its programme partners have contributed significantly to this achievement through the restoration of 13 water systems, rehabilitation of 88 wells, installation of 23 bladders and distribution of water kits to 15,328 families. UNICEF partners have also completed 4,014 water tests in the affected areas or 79 per cent of the target. The results have been shared with government authorities for appropriate action. The municipalities of Compostela, New Bataan and UNICEF Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi testing water taps in an evacuation centre in Cateel, Davao Philippines/2013/K.Palasi 7

8 Boston have the highest percentage of drinking water sources with low risk whereas Cateel and Baganga towns have the most contaminated sources. To sustain this intervention, 545 rural sanitary engineers and inspectors from 25 affected municipalities were trained on water quality monitoring and hygiene promotion. UNICEF sanitation interventions have far exceeded their target because implementing partners have expanded the scope of their activities to the communities. Fewer latrines were required in evacuation centres and temporary relocation sites since most families opted to stay in their own communities even if their houses were damaged or destroyed. Some 752 gender segregated latrines, including 157 communal latrines that served as demonstration units for households to construct their own latrines, and 167 bathing and hand washing facilities were constructed. Cleanup and debris clearing campaigns were conducted in 13 communities while de-sludging was done in 54 sites in the municipalities of New Bataan and Compostela benefitting a total of nearly 6,000 families. More people were reached by hygiene promotion through the mix of old school communication methodologies like through the use of Barangay (Village) Health Workers in promoting key health messages as well as other communication for development strategies like through caravans and hygiene education during distribution of hygiene and water kits. UNICEF gave priority to WASH in Schools. Some 51 schools with some 8,388 students were covered by hygiene promotion especially on hand washing with soap as well as repair and rehabilitation of drinking water and sanitation facilities. Cluster co-leads and partners identified specific activities to cover a 5-year strategic framework plan such as advocating for mainstreaming WASH in Emergencies in the rights-based water and sanitation governance, capacity development, knowledge management and research and development on WASH in Emergencies. All local WASH cluster meetings are now being converted into mainstream water and sanitation institutional set up in the form of councils, committees or task forces. Local governments (either thru the RSI-Rural Sanitary Inspector or the MHO-Municipal Health Officer) are leading the transition with the support of the municipal focal agencies. The cluster partners are now organizing their respective lessons learned workshops and hand-over sessions with the affected municipalities and provinces. Some of the important highlights include accurate and real-time information exchange and analysis, rapid needs and gaps assessment and the presence of WASHtrained local government personnel and officials to support humanitarian action. Child Protection Results Status for Bopha UNICEF Target results (#) Cluster Target results (#) Number and percentage of children with safe access to community spaces for socializing, play, learning, etc. 171,000 19, ,000 22,311 Number of children who benefit from the rehabilitation package of the United Nations-MILF Action Plan on 14,000 3,000 NA NA CAAC Percentage of survivors of grave child rights violations provided with access to child protection services 80% 97% NA NA UNICEF supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: Community and Family Services International (CFSI), Balay rehabilitation Center, Save the Children, Plan International, DSWD, LGUs, Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA), Non-violence Peaceforce (NP) Analysis of Results UNICEF supported three NGOs to establish child-friendly spaces and organise protection mechanisms in the affected communities. Targets were downscaled because of limited funding received by Child Protection (CP). Only 22% of the budget proposed by UNICEF for CP in the Bopha Action Plan was funded. Nevertheless, the distribution of pre-positioned emergency stocks like the CFS kits, Community Welfare Volunteer Kits and Youth Focal Point Kits enabled partners to quickly initiate psychosocial activities in some communities. CP is part of the larger Protection Cluster but it also maintains a smaller Child Protection Working Group (CPWG) led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with UNICEF as co-lead and composed of child-focused organisations. 8

9 UNICEF Philippines Representative Tomoo Hozumi in one of the Child-Friendly Spaces in Boston, Davao Philippines/2013/K.Palasi UNICEF supported a large part of the activities of the CPWG member agencies. A total of 53 Child- Friendly Spaces (CFS) were set-up in Pablo affected areas, 38 were through UNICEF assistance and 15 by other CPWG partners. Seven CBCPNs (Community-based Child Protection Network) were also established. A training package for CFS recently-developed by the Global CPWG was rolled out in the Philippines as one of the three pilot countries. 70 staff of the DSWD and NGO partners were trained on how to organise and manage CFS. In view of these experience on implementing activities on Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE), the DSWD issued a Special Order (No Series of 2013) constituting a Technical Working Group on Child Development and designating a senior official as focal person for child protection and CPiE including CPWG and CFS strengthening. This was also in response to the need for a DSWD focal person that will liaise with LGUs and local partners through the Core Group of Specialists for Children's Sector related to CP. Among the major challenges that were experienced were on the management of information on Child Protection-GBV concerns, the activation of local protection mechanisms and the lack of knowledge and skills of service providers in facilitating psychosocial support (PSS). The government maintains a separate sub-cluster under Protection for Gender-Based Violence that is led by DSWD and another sub-cluster on psychosocial support under the Health Cluster which is led by the Department of Health (DOH). The coordination link with the PSS sub-cluster had not been firmly established although in practice the PSS sub-cluster is focused more on health workers while the CPWG targets the social workers and communities. The link of CPWG with the GBV sub-cluster is more solid as both are under the leadership of the DSWD. The CPWG also worked closely with the Education cluster for introducing PSS in schools and temporary learning centres. Joint trainings on PSS were done by the CPWG and the Education cluster for teachers, day care workers and social workers. The low number of separated and unaccompanied children and children needing further psychosocial support recorded by the CPWG was consistent with the findings of the Child Protection Rapid Assessment (CPRA). The strong filial bond in an extended family structure is seen as one of the major reasons for the low number of such cases in the Philippines. The study however raised concerns with regards to certain risks like trafficking and gender-based violence that children continue to face in the typhoon-affected areas. The loss of income, destruction of their properties and continuing hardship pose threats to the psychosocial well-being of children and their families and may fuel GBV and trafficking. In the light of this emerging situation, the national government s IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking) with UNICEF and UNFPA went to the Bopha areas to pursue collaboration with local actors to address trafficking. This resulted in a series of follow-up activities through supporting another NGO to boost the campaign on GBV and trafficking, among them were CP and GBV orientations given to female police officers, local NGOs and training of trainers for community educators. Regional and provincial workshops were also held to initiate the development of strategic action plans to address GBV and trafficking for Under the UN-MILF Action Plan, rehabilitation 'packages' are inclusive of all children in a community and take into account inherent challenges of identifying a specific target group on the issue of the recruitment and use of children. Child Protection programming in this regard has adopted a more holistic strategy to mitigating the dynamics of recruitment and use - as well as strengthening the overall protective environment for children - using a model of Community Based Child Protection Networks (CBCPNs). Piloted initially in six core conflict-affected MILF communities across six different Bangsamoro ethnic groups, the CBCPNs represent a cross-section of the community, acting together to prevent and respond to all forms of abuse, exploitation and violence. These stakeholders include children and youth themselves, as well as MILF committee members, and members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces. From 1 January to 30 June 2013, the Philippine Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting recorded 50 incidents of grave child rights violations affecting 1,050 children. Of these, 20 cases were 9

10 verified to facilitate response for at least 1,015 children. Most of these verified cases involved attacks on schools and hospitals. The number of recorded cases represents a decrease from the previous reporting period of 2012 which recorded 87 incidents. Data recorded by the country task force show an annually decreasing number of reported cases, which may be partly attributed to heightened advocacy on Monitoring and Reporting by the Country Task Force. Education Results Status for Bopha Estimated Number/Percentage coverage Number and percentage of school-aged children including adolescents attending schools (including schools in affected areas still functioning, re-opened schools and/or temporary facilities established) UNICEF UNICEF Target results ( #) Sector / Cluster Cluster Target results ( #) 286,000 41, , ,480 UNICEF Supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: Department of Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Community and Family Services International, Balay Rehabilitation Center, Inc. Analysis of Results Even from among the humanitarian community in the Philippines, many still see Education as a longer-term development work and not as a part of emergency response. There was little recognition or acknowledgment that Education is a lifesaving intervention for children during emergencies. This was reflected in the level of funding that Education received for the Bopha emergency. Education received no funds from the CERF notwithstanding its own guidelines which give due recognition to Education as part of emergency response. This cluster received substantial external funding only on the third month of the emergency and even then it only reached 29% of its projected budget requirements. Emergency feeding in a Temporary Learning Space in Baganga, Davao Philippines/2013/K.Palasi Targets had to be downscaled and prioritization had to be employed given the limited resources available. Pre-positioned emergency education supplies were distributed to pupils in the affected areas during the first few weeks of the disaster as a way for teachers to track them down and encourage them to go back to school. Despite the massive devastation in some of the affected areas, the Department of Education (DepEd) resolutely stuck to the scheduled resumption of classes on 3 January 2013, following the Christmas holiday break. The decision initially met resistance from some sectors but they were eventually convinced that bringing children back to school facilitated the closer tracking of children in terms of who were in need of psychosocial well-being and protection amidst the difficult environment. This enabled the Education Cluster, in collaboration with other clusters, to organize child-friendly spaces or temporary learning spaces and arrange for convergence of services in schools consisting of learning sessions-cum psychosocial support (PSS), promotion of WASH in Schools and provision of, supplementary feeding in schools and evacuation centers.. NGO partners supported the DepEd by initiating psychosocial support services for affected children and teachers. Priority was given for the immediate training of teachers to enable them to provide psychosocial support (PSS) to their students and fellow teachers. 259 teachers and volunteer educators were given orientation and training on the conduct of emergency education and extension psychosocial support services. UNICEF also provided technical support in the training of trainers on basic psychosocial help for a total of 63 education personnel from Regions 11 and 13. A total of 79 other senior DepEd officials from both regions, who are in a position to provide policy and program support, were oriented on PSS and care for caregivers. A total of 105 day care workers were also 10

11 trained on ECCD in emergencies. A teacher s guide on psychosocial support is currently being developed by the Education Cluster with support from UNICEF. Disaster Risk reduction (DRR) in schools was also introduced. This involved enhancing DRR in school improvement plans and training the teachers and school heads in organizing School-based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committees (SDRRMCs) where student leaders and community stakeholders also participate in decision-making and planning process. Communications for Development (C4D) The most notable communications for development activities implemented in the Bopha operations were the ones that involved the convergence of services and complementation of interventions for children. Programmes organized joint campaigns such as the Mothers against Malnutrition campaign with Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and the Health is in our Hands campaign with WASH, Education and Child Protection. Launch of Mothers Against Malnutrition Campaign, Cateel UNICEF Philippines/2013/M.Bhandari The 20th anniversary of UN World Water Day on 22 March was celebrated in Cateel, Davao Oriental with the launching of Health is in Our Hands campaign participated in by hundreds of Typhoon Pablo affected children from 17 schools. Among other activities, the children participated in a poster making competition that best depict the key message that hand washing with soap can save lives and protect people from illnesses such as diarrhoea, Acute Respiratory Illness (ARIs) and prevents conditions like malnutrition and cholera. Humanitarian Performance Monitoring (HPM) The Philippine Country Office adopted the HPM at the onset of the Bopha operations. It was initially conducted by a lone HPM specialist from the Bolivia Country Office who worked under the supervision of the M & E section. It was later developed into an electronic system conducted by a research team of a third party institution. This electronic HPM makes possible real-time integration/automation of the three stages of data chain data collection, collation, analysis and sharing through the use of handheld tablets, computers and the web (through DevInfo). It has the potential to quickly provide immediate feedback and information from the field to programme managers and implementers thereby reducing turn-around time and reporting burden at the height of the humanitarian response. The Bopha operations provided the platform for this innovation although it was not fully utilized during the response as it is still under development. It is still a work in progress that is intended to be an integral part of the humanitarian response of the Philippines Country Office. As part of the preparedness plan, the M & E section is envisioning to form a network of trained HPM monitors across the country for quick deployment during the height of humanitarian response through zero-sum agreements activated upon engagement. Supply and Logistics UNICEF delivered to implementing partners in the Bopha operations more than 1,530 cubic meters of emergency supplies worth more than US$ 1.2 million. About 77% of the volume or 52% of the value are WASH supplies composed of hygiene kits, water kits, tarpaulins, water bladders, etc. The delivery of supplies coming from Manila faced a few challenges. The bulk of the supplies had to be shipped as air cargo was too expensive and the access provided by government to their military planes was too limited. Commercial vessels bound for the ports near the affected areas only travel once a week and large volumes of supplies usually cannot immediately be accommodated. Food stuff and medicines were given the priority for emergency shipping. The pre-positioning of UNICEF emergency supplies in Cotabato City within in Mindanao allowed us to immediately deliver relief 11

12 without waiting for the shipment from Manila. Shipments from Manila were also delivered from the port directly to partners for single handling of materials and to shorten delivery time. Partners were alerted well beforehand of the delivery so they could already make the preparations with the communities. Supplies delivered to partners during Bopha operations: Supply Sector Volume Value Type CBM % US$ % WASH 1, , Hygiene kits, water kits, tarpaulins, water bladders Education , Student packs, ECCD kits, library sets, cooking utensils, tarpaulins Nutrition , Scales, retinol, resomal, tents, weight-height measurement, Human Resources Consignees DOH, CRS, ACF, HRC, Save the Children DepEd, DSWD DOH, ACF, Save the Children, Plan International, Merlin Health , Emergency Health Kits, DOH, Merlin Child Protection , CFS kits, CFS Volunteers Kits, Youth Focal Point Kits CFSI, Save the Children, MTB, Plan International, Hope Worldwide, World Vision Total 1, ,210, UNICEF Philippines has already closed its temporary office in Tagum City in Davao Region as it basically phases out of the emergency operations for Bopha. Except for the GBV consultant who is doing coordination work until September 2013, there are no more staff or consultant working exclusively for Bopha operations. Residual activities on WASH and Education are being supervised and monitored by staff from the Manila office. There are no recruitment being undertaken specific for the implementation of the HAP but UNICEF Cotabato Field Office is being beefed up by recruitment of national officers for Child Protection, Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) and Monitoring and Evaluation for its development programmes for LGUs in Mindanao. These will be in addition to the 11 staff now doing work development and humanitarian work in the Cotabato field office (4 programme and 7 operations). Security Central and Eastern Mindanao, except for Davao City and General Santos City, are under Security Level System (SLS) 4 which means the security situation in the areas is substantial. In Eastern Mindanao, this is because of the activities of non-state armed groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) as well as incidents of rido or violent conflicts between clans and communities. Of late, the BIFM renewed its armed attacks in some communities in Central Mindanao triggering the displacement of thousands of families. Many believed it was meant to derail the on-going peace negotiations between the Philippine Government and the MILF. Last 26 July 2013, an IED (improvised explosive device) attack killed 8 people and injured hundreds in a shopping mall in Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao. These incidents heightened the security level in some areas including Cotabato city where the UNICEF as well as other UN field offices are located. In Eastern Mindanao, the threat comes mainly from New People s Army (NPA) where it is most active. There have been sporadic clashes although they were more contained in the hinterlands and usually do not trigger massive displacements. Travel restrictions were also imposed in some areas at certain times when the security threats became palpable. The Sulu Archipelago and parts of the Zamboanga peninsula in Western Mindanao are SLS 5 or security risks are high because of terror and kidnap for ransom threats. Travel to these areas would need special approval and briefing from the DSS. 12

13 Funding Funding Requirements Appeal Sector Adjusted HAC 2013 Requirements (US$)* Revised HAP Requirements (US$)** Funds received (US$)*** Funding gap with HAC $ % Nutrition 2,127,068 1,159, ,120 1,602, Health 500, ,000 0 WASH 5,276,260 4,423,740 3,422,168 1,854, Child Protection 2,324, , ,219 1,703, Education 5,655,510 1,130, ,078 4,883, HIV/AIDS 24, ,000 0 Cross-sectoral: Program Support/ Cluster 200, ,382-5, Coordination/ Comms/ M&E Total 16,107,575 7,639,000 5,544,967 10,562, *Adjusted with the HAP MYR, as of 13 June 2013 **Including Bopha projects ** Only funds for Bopha were received. Funds received does not include pledges Funding Total UNICEF Funding Needs For the Adjusted HAC 2013 (Including HAP for Central Mindanao but excluding Bopha): $10,562,608 Received: 34% For HAP Central Mindanao (excluding Bopha): US$ 2,421,666 Received: 0% For further information, please contact Tomoo Hozumi Representative UNICEF Philippines Tel. (632) thozumi@unicef.org Abdul Alim Deputy Representative UNICEF Philippines Tel. (632) aalim@unicef.org Michelle Borromeo (OIC) Communications UNICEF Philippines Tel. (632) mborromeos@unicef.org 13