UNICEF Burkina Faso SitRep 21 March 2014 Highlights An additional child friendly space in Selbo, a village at 10 kms from Dori was inaugurated on 12 March 2014. This is for 197 children for the host community (121 boys and 76 girls) close to Goudebou refugee camp, bringing to 928 the total number of children benefitting from recreational activities and peaceful coexistence with refugee children. As part of a cholera prevention project, 18,379 people were sensitized (9,185 women, 5,062 children and 4,132 men) on how to protect themselves against cholera and on the use of hygiene kits. Hygiene kits were also distributed to 9,500 households in 21 host villages where UNICEF is currently rehabilitating 39 existing water points. From January to February 2014, UNICEF support continued to provide access to quality education for 12,263 children and adolescents in the refugee camps and surrounding host communities. As the number of refugees drops and with the interruption of the school feeding programme by WFP for lack of funds meaning that many parents have chosen to keep their children at home, there is a reduction in the number of children reached. The results of the biometric registration of refugees by UNHCR became available at the end of February. They confirm that the total number of refugees is 32,170, of which 22,605 are in the three refugee camps (Goudebou, Mentao and Sag-nioniogo). These results also confirm that out of a total of 19,174 children, 1,398 (659 boys and 739 girls) are separated (in the camps) and 4 children (3 girls and 1 boy) are unaccompanied (not in the camps). Out of these 1,402 children, only 271 children (268 separated and 3 unaccompanied) children are documented on files and being followed up. CHILDREN AFFECTED BY SAHEL NUTRITION CRISIS 514,000* MALIAN REFUGEES 32,170 UNICEF FUNDING GAP US$ 9,430,222 Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs President Hollande announced that French military forces in neighboring Mali would be reduced from nearly 2,500 to 1,600 by mid-february, then to 1,000, the level necessary to deal with any threat that could reappear from terrorist groups that are still present in northern Mali. In Mali, the Mouvement Nationale de Liberation de l Azawad (MNLA) has declared it will not disarm, citing "non-compliance" by the Malian government of its commitments in the implementation of the Ouagadougou Peace Agreement, signed on 18 June 2013. Rocket attacks were reported in Gao in January and on 6 February 30 Tuaregs, including 2 women, were killed in intercommunal clashes in the Gao region. In March, a split in the MNLA was announced, with the departure of one of its leading members. Based on the biometric registration figures recently published by UNHCR, the number of people in Burkina Faso affected by the Mali Crisis by age group is as follows: Malian refugees in Burkina Faso registered by UNHCR as of 25 February 2014 Total Male Female Children Affected (0-4) 5,025 2,533 2,492 Children Affected (5-11) 7,365 3,737 3,628 Children Affected (12-17) 6,784 3,310 3,474 Affected Population (18-59) 11,681 5,292 6,389 Affected Population (over 60) 1,315 698 617 All ages 32,170 15,570 16,600 Number of households 9,362 1
UNICEF/Burkina Faso/2013 Children going to school in the Goudébou refugee camp in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. Behind them is a Child-Friendly Space, operated by the Croix Rouge Burkinabe with the support of UNICEF. The food insecurity and the malnutrition crisis affecting the Sahel region has continued to have a lingering effect on Burkina Faso in 2013. The time needed for affected families to recover from the drought and acute food crisis in 2012, compounded by chronic problems such as poor infant and young child feeding practices at home, insufficient access to health services and poor access to water and sanitation, have continued to expose the most vulnerable households to a wide variety of risks affecting their nutritional status. Located in the African meningitis belt, the country has faced a series of outbreaks since 1996, with 2,808 cases and 324 deaths reported in 2013 as of 15 December; a fatality rate of 11.5%. Although no cholera case was registered in 2013, the northern Sahel region remains at high risk of this epidemic. New meningitis and cholera outbreaks are possible in 2014. For UNICEF s 2014 response to the Sahel Nutrition crisis and prevention of possible epidemic outbreaks, estimated numbers of beneficiaries and overall UNICEF targets are as follows: Estimated Affected Population planning figures from January 2014 Number of people targeted* TOTAL Women Men TOTAL Women Men Children Under Five with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) 144,000 74,880 69,120 115,000 59,800 55,200 Children Under Five with SAM and medical complications 17,000 8,840 8,160 Children Under Five with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) 370,000 192,400 177,600 315,000 163,800 151,200 Children aged 6-23 months 374,000 194,480 179,520 Pregnant and lactating women 130,000 130,000-72,266 72,266 - Numbers of people at risk of epidemics (meningitis, measles, cholera) 5,372,919 2,793,918 2,579,001 5,372,919 2,793,918 2,579,001 Source : UNICEF Nutrition SMART Survey, National Support Plan for vulnerable populations, 2014 * The sector has targeted 80% of children Political tensions continue to affect Burkina Faso as the President, Blaise Compaore, is due to reach his maximum tenure possible under the constitution in 2015 and the country is coming to a crossroads in its political development. Large-scale public protests organized by the opposition parties have taken place in again on 18 January 2014. A new political party, the Mouvement du peuple pour le progrès was created by those leaving the ruling party on 25 January while the ruling party, together with 40 political parties, created an alliance called the Front républicain. On February 4 public sector unions observed a 48-hour strike across 2
the national territory. By March, an attempted mediation involving players in the sociopolitical crisis has not succeeded in resolving the contentious issue of amending section 37 of the Constitution. Inter-agency collaboration The management teams of UNICEF and UNHCR met in Ouagadougou in January 2014 to finalise a Letter of Understanding outlining the respective roles of each agency in various sectors, information sharing and management, and mechanisms for coordination and implementation. UNICEF is looking into having a stronger presence in the North, East and Sahel Regions both to strengthen its involvement in early warning and early action but also to link relief, rehabilitation and development towards more resilient populations, in line with the UN Strategy for the Sahel. Response MALI+3 MALI+3 CRISIS Sector Nutrition WASH Health Child Protection Education Estimated # / % coverage Children <5 with Severe Acute Malnutrition admitted to therapeutic care UNICEF & operational partners UNICEF % of Cluster Sector / Cluster % of 500 21 4% 500 21 4% * The annual target of 500 is based on estimates until the final data from the Nutritional SMART Survey is available at the end of March. UNICEF Operational Partners: Ministry of Health, Directorate of Nutrition and NGOs Medicins du Monde Espagne, Medecins du Monde France, Terre des Hommes, Save the Children, Médecins Sans Frontières, Helen Keller International, Progettomondo MLAL, OCADES Caritas, Croix Rouge Burkinabe # and % of refugees who have improved access to drinking 22,605 22,605 100% 22,605 22,605 100% water* # and % of refugees with access to adequate gender sensitive 22,605 22,050 97% 22,605 22,050 97% sanitation infrastructure* * UNICEF supports UNCHR to cover gaps of drinking water for 22.605 in 3 refugee camps (Goudebou, Mentao and Sag-Nioniogo). Children <5 receiving measles vaccination among Malian 3,517 0 0% 3,517 n/a 0% refugees Children aged 0-11 months received the doses of DTCP- 951 126 13% 951 126 13% HIB-Heb PNO Tota 3 vaccine* Pregnant women receiving at least two doses of tetanus 1,130 124 11% 1,130 124 11% toxoid vaccine (TT2+) * Estimation 0-11 months 4.21% of refugee population. UNICEF Operational Partners: Médecins Sans Frontières, WHO, Médecins du Monde, Red Cross Burkina Faso, Children with safe access to community spaces for 8,750 3,311 38% 8,750 3,311 38% socializing, play and learning Separated Malian refugee children assisted supported for their family reunification Unaccompanied Malian refugee children assisted and supported for their family reunification 1,398 268 19% 1,398 268 19% 4 3 75% 4 3 75% Partners are working to support the operation and updated figures will be hopefully be shared by mid-february 2014. UNICEF Operational Partners: Terre des Hommes, Plan Burkina and Red Cross Burkina Faso. # and % of school-aged girls and boys including adolescents with continued access to formal and 10,900 12,263** 125% 15,405 12,786** 83% non-formal basic education 3
C4D * The target includes 4 schools in the refugee camps and 65 schools in the host communities within range of the camps. **The current total number of beneficiaries reached in the reporting period, which is now decreasing over time as the overall number of refugees drops. UNICEF Operational Partners: Terre des Hommes, Fondation pour le Développement Communautaire, Plan Burkina, Save the Children, Red Cross Burkina Faso # and % of persons in refugee camps who were sensitized on hand washing, breastfeeding, HIV and cholera prevention, 4,000* 0 0% n/a n/a n/a hygiene, malaria prevention and treatment and peace building within communities *C4D specific activities for the 2014 Malian refugee emergency response have not yet started. The planned 2014 target for sensitization activities with people affected by the Malian crisis has been revised, based on the new UNHCR figures for the number of refugees. Implementing C4D partners will be identified. Nutrition In addition to the care of malnourished children, nutrition activities in the camps will be progressively strengthened in 2014 through preventive interventions. The focus will be on combatting anemia through micronutrient supplementation and conducting promotional activities on good Infant and Young Child Feeding practices. To fully identify the number of children affected by malnutrition, a nutritional survey was conducted in the refugee camps (Goudebou, Mentao and Sag-nioniogo) in 2013. Pending the results of this survey due by the end of March, the number of severely malnourished children was estimated at 500 children. The cumulative number of SAM children admitted to nutrition treatment centres in refugee camps in January to February was 21 cases (5 children in Mentao and 16 in Goudebou). Activities have not yet started in Sag-nioniogo. since a Programme Cooperation Agreement between UNHCR, who manage the activities in the camp with supplies from UNICEF, and the Red Cross has just been signed. As part of the letter of Understanding with UNHCR, UNICEF s support helped to ensure the continuing availability of essential medicines (deworming, vitamin A, therapeutic food, etc.) for the care of all severely acutely malnourished children. UNICEF will support the technical capacity of community health workers who conduct activities in the camps as well as capacity-building support to NGOs working in both the screening and management of severely malnourished children according to national protocol in the camps. WASH The cholera prevention project conducted by Oxfam is on-going. In total during the period January to February, 18,379 people were sensitized (9,185 women, 5,062 children and 4,132 men) on how to protect themselves against cholera and on the use of hygiene kits. Hygiene kits were also distributed to 9,500 households in 21 host villages where UNICEF is currently rehabilitating 39 existing water points. To strengthen the leadership of the local health office of Dori, 35 members from local health services and NGOs operating in the Sahel region were trained on key actions of cholera prevention, the alert system and the coordination mechanism. Then 144 members of community health networks (41 women and 103 men) were trained and equipped to carry out hygiene promotion and cholera prevention activities in their villages. No cholera case has been reported in the period January to February. The water provision in the 3 refugee camps are: 20l/per/day in Goudebou and 121l/pers/day in Mentao and 25 l/pers/day in Sag-Nioniogo (standard is 20). The sanitation coverage is: 14 pers/latrine in Goudebou and 20 pers/latrine in Mentao and 31pers/latrine in Sag-Nioniogo (standard is 20). Oxfam is rehabilitating the existing WASH facilities. The major challenge remains the lowering of the water table in boreholes during the upcoming dry season. Health From January to February (week 9), a total of 957 cases of measles and 97 deaths (equal to a lethality rate 10.1 per cent), were reported in Burkina Faso. Of these, 5 percent of cases and 7 deaths were reported in the Sahel region. No measles, meningitis or cholera cases were reported in refugee camps. Two Measles campaigns for children under 5 are planned for 2014; the first campaign is planned for May. Routine vaccination, including measles vaccination, is ongoing in the camps but only incomplete coverage data is not yet available for January and February 2014, showing 126 children and 124 pregnant women reached with vaccination. 4
Child Protection A Child Protection sector coordination working group including government counterparts has been established. Two coordination meetings co-chaired by UNICEF and DRC have been conducted to agree on next steps. Sensitization sessions have been conducted to improve the protective environment within communities for the best interests of the child: - 376 people, including 178 girls and women, participated in sensitization sessions related to child rights, hygiene, the causes of divorce, the importance of child protection, child abuse and domestic violence, early marriage, harmful traditional practices and birth registration. - Another 196 community members and child protection social workers, including members of the police and National Commission for Refugees (CONAREF) agents (63 women, 47 men and 86 children) benefited from sensitization sessions that helped them adopt more responsible and friendly attitudes while dealing with both refugee children who do not speak local languages and children outside camps. - Moreover, 125 women caring for children aged 0-8 were sensitized on themes related to child protection, health, nutrition and education. - 48 children have been trained in media techniques (19 girls and 29 boys). Thanks to this training they are able to conduct some sensitization and advocacy sessions using radio for the respect of children s rights in Mentao. To date, a total of 271 children (254 separated children identified by the biometric census in Goudebou and 14 children in Mentao) and 4 unaccompanied children (1 girl and 3 boys) have been documented respectively by UNICEF partners Terre des Hommes and Plan. A new caseload of 40 at-risk children under analysis led to the identification of another 35 separated children to be documented and another 5 children to be followed up for further identification. Though not yet fully operational, 2 new hearing centres in Goudebou camp to follow up on children with specific post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) have been set up. Such activity opened the way to strengthen referral mechanisms for children with specific needs: 178 children went through the referral pathways mechanism. 113 children (56 girls and 57 boys) were referred to Plan Burkina for education by Terre des Hommes, and 20 children (9 girls and 11 boys) for medical assistance. Out of a total of 928 enrolled children (731 in Goudebou with 388 boys and 343 girls; 197 in Selbo host community: 122 boys & 75 girls), 760 children are participating on a regular basis in occupational and recreational activities thanks to the Education and Protection joint project under implementation. This gives an 82% overall attendance rate, with boys representing 51% (388) and girls 49% (372) in this project. An additional child friendly space has been constructed in Selbo, a village hosting 196 children (121 boys and 75 girls) close to Goudebou refugee camp, bringing to 928 the total number of children benefitting from recreational activities and peaceful coexistence with refugee children. 3,114 children (1465, 705 boys and 760 girls, in Mentao and 1649 in Goudebou and Selbo) benefited from sport and other recreational activities including football, volleyball for girls and creativity activities in refugee camps and host villages. 15 child protection stakeholders (12 men and 3 women), 47 members of women clubs (40 from Goudebou and 7 from Selbo), along with 27 School Management Committee COGES - members benefited from a 3 day refresher session on child protection referral mechanisms and GBV reporting. Health booklets for general medical follow up have been distributed to 596 children to ensure the progressive health referral mechanism is underway in Goudebou and Selbo, benefiting 337 boys and 259 girls. With UNICEF support, the Red Cross Burkinabe established a 10 member child protection committee in Selbo village under the supervision of the local elected advisor and working hand in hand with the Director of Social Affairs. 134 children (47 girls and 87 boys) have been trained and empowered in life skills. To respond to the colder weather in January and February, UNICEF partners distributed mattresses, tarpaulin, blankets and clothes in Goudebou and Mentao refugee camps and the host community thanks to funding from CIDA and BPRM. Education UNICEF and Cluster targets for 2014 have been revised down to take into account lower numbers of expected refugees in 2014. Fifty children previously enrolled in primary school are known to have returned to Mali since the last Situation Report. 5
In January to February 2014, UNICEF support continues to provide access to quality education for 12,181 children and adolescents in the refugee camps and surrounding host communities: - 1,500 preschool children, 48% of whom are girls, in the 3 camps of Goudebou, Mentao and Sag-Nioniogo and two host villages participate in Early Childhood Development (ECD) activities. Five ECD structures have been rehabilitated and equipped in Goudebou and host villages. - 2,181 children, including 940 girls, attend primary school in Mentao and Goudebou camps. - In the 65 primary schools in host communities supported by UNICEF, 7,188 children are still in school while 20 per cent of children stopped attending due to a lack of food in the canteens. - 563 children, including 322 girls aged 9 to 14, have returned to school in bridging classes. - 749 persons, including 585 adolescents and 284 women from Goudebou and Mentao camps and 164 adolescents including 108 women from 4 host villages, participle in literacy courses. UNICEF provided eight tents, equipment and 10 schools-in-a-box for literacy courses. - Additionally, 82 young people are registered for vocational training in Mentao refugee camp, which will start in April. To strengthen quality in education, UNICEF s implementing partners trained 155 teachers in February in Dori and Mentao camps on several topics including the child to child strategy, school management by children, pedagogical approaches and psychosocial support. 9,000 printed school bags have been distributed to 9,000 children of refugee and host communities. UNICEF/Burkina Faso/2014 Children with printed bags in a bridging class in Goudébou refugee camp in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. 230 members of community associations, including 148 women, were trained on conflict resolution and on referral mechanisms for Gender-based Violence on women s and children s health needs and on the importance of WASH, using parental education materials. UNICEF provided local education authorities with 6 motorcycles, teaching materials and office furniture. SAHEL NUTRITION RESPONSE Sector Nutrition Estimated # and % coverage Children <5 with Severe Acute Malnutrition admitted to therapeutic care UNICEF & operational partners UNICEF % of Cluster Sector / Cluster % of 115,000* 4,760 4.2% n/a n/a n/a 6
Sector Estimated # and % coverage Pregnant women and women with children aged 0 23 months participate in monthly learning sessions on Infant and Young Child Feeding scheduled monthly** UNICEF & operational partners UNICEF 145,786 pregnant women and 235,876 mothers with child aged 0-23 months 145,786 pregnant women and 235,876 mothers with child aged 0-23 months % of 100% 100% Cluster Sector / Cluster % of n/a n/a n/a WASH Child Protection Health *Nationwide target. **For prevention activities (IYCF), the UNICEF target is for the 4 regions of intervention Plateau Central, Nord, Est and Cascades. The number of pregnant women and women with children aged 0 23 months is gathered from village level registers. The results given here are not cumulative, but a monthly figure. Data will be available every 3 months from partner reports. UNICEF Operational Partners: Ministry of Health, Directorate of Nutrition, Regional Health Directorate, Health Districts and NGOs Progettomondo MLAL, AMMIE, SEMUS, IBFAN/ APAIB. Nutritional centres delivering the WASH minimum package 1,180 500* 42% n/a n/a # and % of children admitted for SAM treatment using hygiene kits provided with key hygiene 78,000 4,312 68% n/a n/a messages/behaviors counseled to parents/caregivers * Coverage for 4 out of 11 regions WASH is working on extension of the coverage of the monitoring system. UNICEF Operational Partners: Oxfam, Red Cross Burkina Faso, Red Cross Monaco, UNHCR, Association Paix et Solidarité, Plan Burkina, Help, Ministry of Agriculture and Hydraulic, Ministry of Health, CONAREF, IEDA Relief # of children with SAM who received psychosocial care 12,000 0 0 through Child Friendly Spaces Cholera cases will be managed properly at health facilities and the community level * 300 0 0 * This estimate is based on a possible caseload in case of an outbreak Nutrition According to data from the latest National Nutrition Survey in 2013, the prevalence of global acute malnutrition was 8.2%, and severe acute malnutrition 1.7%. Based on this data, the estimated expected burden of SAM in 2014 is 144,000 and the target caseload is 115,000 (80%). For treatment of SAM, in 2014, UNICEF and the Ministry of health are scaling up the management of SAM in the 3 last regions: Centre, Centre Sud and Sud Ouest. The number of new admissions in 2014 from January to February is 4,760 representing 4.2% of the annual target of 115,000 across the country. The results cited above represent those of only three regions (Centre-Ouest, l Est and Sud-Ouest). Weak completeness of the data to inform results can be explained in part by the fact that since November 2013, the Ministry of Health has set up a computerized data collection of health and nutrition data. Currently this system is not efficient for various reasons (poor internet coverage and low mastery of the tools by the people in charge of health information in the regional health directorates). The government plans to improve the internet network in each district and region and provides training on use of the software for health and nutrition data collection. As part of prevention activities in 4 other regions, 145,786 pregnant women and 235,876 mothers of children aged 0 23 months have so far participated regularly in monthly learning sessions on Infant and Young Child Feeding. 7
WASH 4,312 WASH kits were distributed in five regions, Sahel, Nord, Est, Centre Nord et Plateau Central, to support the management of SAM in children by improving hygiene practices and drinking water quality. An additional 3,661 new WASH kits were prepositioned to further support mother of malnourished children in four regions. Health 1,307 cases of meningitis with 131 deaths were reported in all 63 districts of Burkina Faso since the beginning of the year up to the last epidemiologic report (week 11-10-16 March). The lethality rate was 10%. The total number of cases is lower in comparison to 2013 with 1,317 cases registered. No meningitis outbreak has been declared so far in 2014 In the period from January to February 2014, no case of cholera has been notified. Funding of the 2014 HAC for Burkina Faso (as of 24 March 2014) Sector Initial HAC 2014 requirements in US$ Income through 28 February 2014 Funding gap (%) Nutrition 8,000,000 1,000,705 87% Health 68,000 0 100% Water, Sanitation & Hygiene 1,882,000 0 100% Child Protection 500,000 199,019 60% Education 400,000 0 100% Cluster/Sector Coordination 150,000 369,408-146% Total 11,000,000 1,569,132 86% Error! Not a valid link.the total includes a standard recovery rate of 7% calculated in accordance with UNICEF Executive Board Decision 2006/7 dated 9 June 2006. UNICEF wishes to express its deep gratitude to all public and private sector donors for the contributions and pledges received which have made the current response possible. UNICEF would especially like to thank National Committees and donors that have contributed un-earmarked funding, which comprised 14 per cent of the funds contributed. Un-earmarked funding gives UNICEF essential flexibility to direct resources and ensure the delivery of life-saving supplies and interventions to where they are needed most especially in the form of longer-term and predictable funding and in strengthening preparedness and resilience building. Continued donor support is critical to continue scaling up the response. Across Sahel, UNICEF received financial and material contributions from: Andorra, Australia, Canada, CERF, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission/EC, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States of America; the Bulgarian, Chilean, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hong Kong, Iceland, Japanese, New Zealand, Slovenian and UK UNICEF National Committees and US Fund for UNICEF. For further information, please contact: Marc Rubin Representative UNICEF Burkina Faso Tel: (+226) 5049 0737 E-mail:mrubin@unicef.org Sylvana Nzirorera Deputy Representative UNICEF Burkina Faso Tel: (+226) 5049 0736 Email: snzirorera@unicef.org Colette Boughton Planning and Monitoring Specialist UNICEF Burkina Faso Tel: (+226) 5049 0476 Email: cboughton@unicef.org 8