ANGOLA Humanitarian Situation Report February 2018

Transcription

1 ANGOLA Humanitarian Situation Report February 2018 UNICEF/2018. Cholera prevention. Community mobilisation. Uige SITUATION IN NUMBERS Highlights A total of 751 suspected cases of cholera were reported in Uige including 13 deaths up to 10. A total of 447 children under 14 were affected of which 264 were girls and 183 boys. Additionally, 18 suspected cases of cholera and 1 death were reported in Cabinda province. Over 130,000 people have been reached with messages on cholera prevention, through community engagement and participation. Additionally, an average of 5,000 people in communities across Uige are reached weekly with cholera response and prevention messages through partnerships with Faith Based Organizations. 1,970,000 water treatment tablets were distributed by UNICEF and partners in most affected areas in Uige reaching 67,000 people. It is estimated that 39,400,000 liters of water were treated at household level with water treatment tablets provided with the support of UNICEF in Uige. In addition, 8 water bladders were set up in most critical residential areas, providing access to safe water to 40,000 additional people. UNICEF is currently supporting Ministry of Health to map out cholera hotspots in a concerted effort to activate early response and cut transmission in the most at risk areas of the country. UNICEF s Response with Partners 751 Suspected cases of Cholera (includes 13 deaths (10 March Cholera Bulletin Ministry of Health) 700,000 people estimated to be in need in 2018 (Vulnerability Assessment Committee SADC 2017) and 35,411 refugees (Biometric Registration Update as of 26 February 2018, UNHCR) 408,100 Children estimated to be in need (Vulnerability Assessment Committee SADC 2017) including 14, 133 refugee children (Biometric Registration Update as of 26 February 2018, UNHCR 43,000 Children under 5 to be admitted for severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment (Based on MOH data) Status WASH: Number of people with access to safe water as per agreed standards WASH: Number of people reached with key messages on hygiene practices UNICEF Target UNICEF Cumulative results (#) 125, , , ,000 Carry-forward amount: $0.9 m Requirement: $14.7 m Gap: $13.8 m *Funds available include funding received for the current appeal year as well as the carry-forward from the previous year. 1 Access to safe water through aquatabs distribution to target population in the cholera outbreak covering needs for one month period

2 Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs Southern Angola is experiencing a chronic nutrition crisis stemming from the combined impacts of economic shock, limited rainfall and the deteriorating quality and outreach of basic services. Access to water remains limited, with twothirds of water points non-operational in affected areas, and over 700,000 people in need of clean drinking water. Belowaverage rain during the past month has resulted in large moisture deficits and below-average vegetation conditions in north western Angola. Although food security has improved, higher prices are constraining access to food and increasing the risk of malnutrition for thousands of children. Many of these children are still experiencing the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, which left 756,000 people in need of food assistance. The rainy season, often associated with displacement and extensive flooding, has given rise to outbreaks of water-borne diseases, particularly cholera. To date, two provinces in Angola have reported suspected cases. In this reporting period alone (i.e. January and February 2018) 751 suspected cases of cholera have been reported including 13 deaths (Case Fatality Rate of 1.7 per cent). in its preparedness efforts, has identified and ranked 7 out of the 18 provinces as being at high risk of cholera outbreaks. Prepositioning supplies and partnerships for those areas is key. Instability and potential for violence in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to remain a matter of concern. 35,411 DRC refugees have been registered in Lunda Norte province since start of the refugee influx until the last quarter of By the end of 2017, the situation of refugees improved with their relocation to a new settlement area in Lovua. Nevertheless torrential rains and limited access to basic health services continue to pose heightened risk of disease outbreaks. Instability in the DRC could cause a new refugee influx into Angola during 2018 and will require continued monitoring and preparedness. UNICEF continues to support direct refugee interventions through a number of partner organizations, and has simultaneously signed an agreement to support capacity strengthening of key provincial government entities for better delivery in Health and Nutrition, Child Protection, Education and WASH and resilience strengthening, focusing on the emergency response and development nexus beyond the refugee population. Humanitarian leadership and coordination The national emergency and disaster management group coordinates partners support and long term emergency response planning. A high level inter-ministerial commission, led by the Minister of Defence provides overall coordination for the refugee response in Lunda Norte continues. Under this commission, the Ministry of Social Assistance and Women (MASFAMU) leads the humanitarian response in Lunda Norte. Provincial coordination mechanisms led by provincial Governments facilitate local level inter-sectoral coordination involving local authorities and partners. A central level inter-sectoral mechanism was also established under the leadership of the Ministry of Health for coordination of health-related emergencies, notably cholera and malaria. The UN Disaster Management Team also supports the Government s response to urgent lifesaving needs, while provincial coordination mechanisms were established for Cunene, Uige, Huila and Namibe to ensure joint coordinated emergency response in the cholera and drought affected areas. Humanitarian Strategy Through rapid deployment and provision of pre-positioned supplies, UNICEF delivered support for life-saving interventions while building local capacity to support emergency response and preparedness in Uige, Cunene, Huila, Bie, Namibe and Lunda Norte. In addition, the humanitarian development link through UNICEF regular programme supports resiliency building and further prevention. In all affected provinces, UNICEF supported the establishment of Government led coordination mechanisms to integrate synergies and joint efforts in, notably in the response to cholera outbreaks and impact of droughts. The implementation of the cholera outbreak preparedness and response plan has been coordinated by the Government of Angola under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Directorates, with support from UNICEF, WHO and partners. UNICEF continues to support the provincial and central Government in Dundo, Lunda Norte province, and is working closely with UNHCR and partners and civil society in the refugee influx response, while extending support to host communities through capacity strengthening of local authorities for better service delivery and resilience building.

3 Summary Analysis of Programme Response Nutrition and Health Since December 2017, UNICEF has engaged in a new national coordination mechanism created by the new leadership of the Ministry of Health to respond to emergencies and epidemics. The UNICEF team, composed of Health, WASH and C4D specialist has actively participated in coordination meetings at the central level and provincial levels on the cholera outbreak; this was supplemented by delivery of UNICEF emergency support to the cholera affected Province of Uíge composed of 1,300 malaria rapid tests and 750 boxes of antimalarial drugs ( Artem and Amod) 1 Diarrhoeal Disease Set Pack, 200 hygiene prevention manuals and four 72 square-meter tents for setting up cholera treatment centers. UNICEF has also continued to monitor the situation in cholera-prone regions in other parts of the country to ensure preparedness to quickly respond to possible outbreaks and requests of emergency support. In this regard, UNICEF has supported the National Directorate of Public Health in the preparation of an upcoming epidemiological study to map the areas and populations at risk of cholera and the factors associated with its spread. This study is being carried out as part of a UNICEF and WHO regional initiative on the spread of cholera covering the countries of East and Southern and Western Africa. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) During this reporting period, 107,000 people have been reached with safe water in cholera-affected Uige province (by the distribution of aquatabs and installation of water bladders in affected areas as temporary solution covering a 30 day period). A total of 39,400,000 litres of water were treated at household level with water treatment tablets provided by UNICEF in Uige. At least 130,000 people have been engaged and reached with hygiene promotion messages. In response to the cholera outbreak in Uige province, UNICEF partnered with the Government Water and Sanitation provider support of the Provincial Health Directorate (DPS). UNICEF procured and distributed priority emergency WASH items which included 1,970,000 water treatment tablets which facilitated access to safe water to 67,000 people in most affected areas for 1 month; 8 water bladders were set up in most critical residential areas, providing access to safe water to 40,000 additional people. With a view to ensure future sustainability and strengthen national and local capacity, UNICEF supported the training of 40 people, including water quality controllers, on the use of pool tester kits and the use of GPS for location of water bladders and existing tanks and the extension of new possible bladders on the most affected areas. Two staff of the Provincial Government were also trained to monitor water distribution and were equipped with monitoring tools. Additionally, UNICEF participated in data collection of the KAP survey involving 22 local teachers and Provincial Health Directorate team. Support to the Provincial Directorate of Water and Energy and Provincial Health Directorate teams continues to take place. UNICEF s WASH interventions for the DRC refugee population in Lunda Norte, continued through support to Government and CSO partners on the ground, focusing on WASH capacity development and resilience strengthening. During the reporting period, partnered with UNICEF Supply Division to test and assess the quality and suitability of innovative latrine slab prototypes designed for people with disabilities in six different points within Lovua refugee settlement. The assessment will determine the suitability and effectiveness of each prototype model in meeting the needs of refugees with disability. The outcomes will inform UNICEF to enter into a long-term agreement with private sector for global replication. Communication for Development In response to the cholera outbreak in Uíge, UNICEF tested key message materials and trained over 200 community activists (including 150 new Community Development Agents ADECOS), boy scouts, environmentalist organizations and religious associations on community interventions techniques and messages for cholera prevention and response. Interpersonal communication was adopted through the use of training manuals, and monitoring of field activities was conducted with communities in affected neighborhoods. UNICEF also conducted a Training of Trainers for 44 members of 17 grassroots civil society organizations to train their associates on cholera, malaria, community outreach and organization of mobilization activities. Over 100 volunteer youth conduct daily door-to-door visits to disseminate cholera prevention messages, distribute water treatment products and communication materials. With UNICEF support, seven car parades ( carripanas ) were organised throughout Uige town engaging communities in dissemination of cholera prevention messages through songs and radio spots as part of a mass prevention campaign. Additionally, 500 community and religious leaders were trained on cholera prevention through Jangos and other community meetings. Five radio spots on cholera prevention were produced in different languages and broadcast on Uige s radio reaching an estimated 130,000 people living in the most critical areas with messages on cholera prevention. In addition, an average

4 of 5,000 people are reached with cholera prevention messages every Sunday through pulpit announcements presented in the main churches of Uíge. Daily activities of mobilizers and supervisors are monitored using tools provided by UNICEF. The use of these monitoring sheets has enabled UNICEF and Partners to obtain detailed and objective information on the number of households visited, people reached and distributions made. UNICEF is also supporting the Ministry of Health in the preparation of a national immunization campaign against measles, rubella and polio to be conducted from 9 to 22 April UNICEF supported and trained health promotion supervisors to utilize monitoring tools and prepared social mobilization materials to reach families with children up to 15 years old in the 18 provinces of the country. As part of the drought response, UNICEF is supporting the implementation of the Family Competencies programme, a cross-sectoral methodology to promote resilience and essential practices at the household level and to create demand for basic social services for children through a strategic alliance between the Department of Family and Health and faithbased organizations. In the Province of Huila, 150 women leaders of church groups and rural associations were trained to disseminate key messages on nutrition, vaccination, disease prevention and demand for services as well as promote dialogue with mothers and caregivers of children under 5. consolidated its humanitarian funding requirements for 2018 under the HAC which amounts to USD 14, 660,000 and reflects the increasing humanitarian needs in Angola exacerbated by the current economic and financial crisis. currently faces a funding gap of USD 13,750,467 to continue to effectively respond to multiple humanitarian crisis affecting the country, namely seasonal floods and droughts, and water borne diseases outbreaks in critical locations as well as the refugee response at the border with DRC. Resources are urgently needed so that can support treatment of acute malnutrition; provide clean water and sanitation through WASH interventions; promote community engagement and scale up response interventions in health, education, and child protection while also providing life-saving support as and when required. Requirements (as defined in Humanitarian Appeal of 2018 Appeal Sector Requirements Funds Received Current Year Funds available gap Carry-Over $ % WASH 2,600, ,376 2,598, Education 500, , Health 7,200, ,991 6,295, Nutrition 2,000, ,000, Child Protection 900, , , Coordination, PME, Communication 1,460, ,460, Total 14,660, ,532 13,750, * Funds available includes funding received against current appeal as well as carry-forward from the previous year. : : : : Who to contact for further information: Abubacar Sultan Representative Tel: (Ext. 4442) asultan@unicef.org Carmen Monclus i Girones Emergency Coordinator a.i. Tel: (Ext. 4470) cmonclusgirones@unicef.org Niko Wieland Chief of Communication Tel: nmwieland@unicef.org

5 Annex 1 SUMMARY OF PROGRAMME RESULTS 2018 NUTRITION with SAM 6-59 months admitted into therapeutic treatment programmes under 5 years old screened for malnutrition HEALTH UNICEF-targeted children 6 months to 14 years in humanitarian situations who are vaccinated against measles UNICEF and Implementing Partners Response Total Results Change since last 2018 Target (Jan Feb 2018) report 43, ,000 15,000 Number of cholera cases managed with UNICEF support. 400 WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE Number of people accessing safe water as per agreed standards Number of people accessing safe and appropriate sanitation facilities. Number of people reached with key messages on hygiene practices CHILD PROTECTION accessing Child Friendly Spaces Number of people reached by key protection messages in humanitarian situations reached by child protection services (VAC) EDUCATION accessing education services 125, , , , ,000 5,000 25, ,000 sitprep