Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs View this email in your browser Partners' updates Week of 4-10 October This update compiles news and information on El Niño from Non-Governmental Organisations, UN, the Red Cross Movement and other partner organisations. It is not a comprehensive overview of impact and response. OCHA's monthly El Niño overview is available here. Highlights An estimated 40.62 million people in 13 countries in southern Africa region will be food insecure until March 2017, according to the Food and Nutrition Security Working Group. The nutrition and HIV situation is likely to deteriorate during the lean season. Food assistance coverage has been affected by funding shorfall. WFP scales up humanitarian response in Madagascar to respond to the rising level of hunger and malnutrition. Some US$92 million is required for the response in the south of Madagascar until March 2017, with $78.5 million of funding gap reported. Upcoming activities of the UN Secretary General s Special Envoys on El Niño and Climate Change 14 October: Amb. Kamau to take part in World Food Day commemoration in Rome 24-27 October: Amb. Kamau to visit Botswana and Mozambique 31 October: Amb. Kamau to attend the Global South-South Development Expo in Dubai Global
Nothing to report Africa East Africa Ethiopia FAO: The Government of Ethiopia, FAO, NGOs and other humanitarian agencies have distributed more than 32,000 tonnes of seeds to around 1.7 million food and nutrition insecure households across Ethiopia ahead of summer (meher) planting season. An estimated 85 percent of Ethiopia s food supply derive from the summer crop production. OCHA: The Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund (EHF), OCHA-administered multi donor pooled fund, has allocated $71.6 million for drought response to date. The largest allocation was made to nutrition ($21.5 million), followed by WASH ($17.9 million) and Agriculture ($14.2 million), according to the latest weekly Humanitarian Bulletin. Southern Africa Food and Nutrition Security Working Group: According to the latest Food & Nutrition Security Outlook, an estimated 40.6 million people (22.5 percent of rural population) in southern Africa will be food insecure at the peak of the season up to March 2017. It was estimated that over 513,000 children under five need treatment of severe acute malnutrition, while over 777,180 children in need of moderate acute malnutrition treatment until the end of 2016. USAID: The USAID s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance and the Office of Food For Peace have provided a combined total of more than $308 million in 2015-2016 to mitigate the effects of drought in southern Africa. Madagascar UNICEF : The sixth periodic malnutrition screening of 300,000 children under 59 months in August in eight drought-affected districts and an additional five districts under surveillance shows malnutrition rates decline in six districts and unchanging in two others. A national level workshop to evaluate humanitarian response to date and revise the National Humanitarian Response Plan for the South is scheduled to be held in mid-october, with the participation of all clusters, the National Office for Management of Risks and Disasters and the Prime Minister s Office. WFP: Following the Executive Director Ertharin Cousin's visit, the WFP is scaling up its humanitarian response to reach up to one million people in Madagascar with food and cash assistance. WFP is also expanding its nutrition program to prevent and treat acute malnutrition among over 200,000 pregnant and nursing women, and children under five. A total of $92 million is required for this humanitarian response in the south of Madagascar until March 2017, with $78.5 million of funding gap to date.
Executive Director Ertharin Cousin with a young recipient of WFP assistance in southern Madagascar. Cousin visited the country from 3 to 5 October. Photo: WFP/David Orr Mozambique IFRC: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) distributed drought-resistant seeds to help prepare villagers in Chibote district in southern Mozambique for the next cropping season in October, when rains are expected to fall again. The village was severely affected by the El Niño-induced drought which began in March 2015. Mothers and children wait in Changanine community, Chibuto District to collect their seeds from the Red Cross. (Photo: IFRC/ Aurélie Marrier d Unienville) IFRC: Thirteen people from the village of Chicongole in Mozambique had died due to prolonged drought, which also forced children out of school in search of food. Two years of failed rains have destroyed crops, killed livestock, dried up wells and left villagers struggling to survive. Children eat Tivha, a charred root, at Chichongole village in Mozambique. Two years of failed rains and unprecedented drought forced children to leave schools in search of food. Photo: IFRC/Aurélie Marrier d Unienville
Swaziland UNICEF: The urban water and sanitation situation continues to be major concern, especially in the capital city of Mbabane, according to the latest UNICEF situation report. The main water supply reservoir for Mbabane has been officially declared empty and another three urban municipalities have been identified as at risk of water system shutdown. The Mbabane municipal authorities are implementing contingency plans to respond to the situation. Parts of Shiselweni and Lubombo, which are the worst affected districts by drought, are forecast to receive normal to below normal rainfall from October 2016 to March 2017. Zimbabwe IFRC: The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society issued an Operations Update requesting a 3-month extension of the Emergency Appeal from December 2016 to March 2017. The remaining period is to ensure program activities meet the needs of vulnerable populations throughout the entire lean season. WFP: People in Zvishavane village in Midlands province, which is one of the worst affected by El Niño-related drought, can now use the WFP s smart card to purchase food and other basic needs. The card uses cash transfer technology that works like a debit card of a local supermarket chain. Bester Sikwira, 64, holds the smart card after purchasing food. (Photo: WFP/Tatenda Macheka) Asia and the Pacific Asia The Philippines FAO: The El Niño response in Mindanao is expanded to reach more affected farmers and fishers in four provinces in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao and Region XII-SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces plus General Santos city). Oxfam: Oxfam deployed perennial electronic transfer solutions to provide rapid response at scale in the form of cash transfers to disaster affected regions in the Philippines, including in Mindanao and those affected by El Niño. The agency work with the Central Bank, VISA Worldwide Limited, vendors and local governments for this program.
A beneficiary of the cash transfer program in the Philippines. Photo: Oxfam/Jerry Carreon Viet Nam UNDP: An analysis report on Viet Nam Drought and Saltwater Intrusion: Transitioning from Emergency to Recovery outlines the policy implications for recovery component. Short to long-term interventions until 2020 are recommended to promote recovery, preparedness planning and disaster and climate resilience building. The Pacific Caritas: A new report summarises the state of environment for Oceania, including the impacts of El Niño and extreme weather to the environment and the people. Recommendations include strengthening food and water security and emergency response capacity. Food Security Cluster: An infographic shows the partners presence in the island of Vanuatu and their activities. Central and Latin America and Caribbean Nothing to report Media Updates Southern Africa The Independent Online: Southern African countries need $2.1 billion to provide immediate humanitarian assistance for 28 million drought-affected people in 12 countries, an official from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) says. Following the launch of SADC appeal in June 2016, the region has only received confirmation of support amounting to $595 million.
Mozambique The Guardian: A photo essay from the IFRC captures the drought impact in Mozambique. A woman who is HIV-positive sits outside her home in Chichongole. People with the HIV virus, as well as the elderly and others with pre-existing health conditions, have been hit especially hard by the drought as they are unable to take their medication on empty stomachs. (Photo: IFRC/Aurélie Marrier d Unienville) To include your news in the update, contact Ivy Susanti (susantii@un.org). To leave or join the mailing list, use the links below. Share Tweet Share Forward I would like to join the mailing list for all El Niño updates. I would like to unsubscribe from the list I would like to update subscription preferences Copyright 2016 UNOCHA, All rights reserved. Learn more about UNOCHA - www.unocha.org