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Angola

UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report January - June 2017

Attachments

Highlights

• The chronic drought crisis continues to affect an estimated 1.13 million people in the south, including 605,982 children.

• Heavy rains in northern and southern regions at the beginning of the year elevated the risk of cholera outbreaks and other water-borne diseases. As of June 2017, the cumulative number of suspected cholera cases stands at 455 (Soyo – 218, Cabinda – 236, and Luanda – 1. In total 24 deaths have been reported with ten deaths reported in Soyo and 14 in Cabinda. The last fatal case was reported during week 22 in Cabinda.

• UNICEF has rehabilitated 52 water points, ensuring permanent access to safe water for 26,000 people including 12,000 children in drought affected areas. 137,600 people in cholera affected areas received aqua tabs for point-of-use water treatment and 25,000 people through chlorinated water from the supply network and water trucking guaranteeing temporary access to safe drinking water, benefitting 95,600 children. About 344,808 people were reached by radio programmes and door-to-door hygiene promotion, water treatment demonstrations and messages on handwashing, safe water practices and preventive care against cholera.

• The Nutrition response remains critically underfunded. However, UNICEF was able to admit more than 8,728 malnourished children in drought affected areas into therapeutic treatment programmes.

SITUATION IN NUMBERS

1.13 million People affected by drought (Post Disaster Needs Assessment, National Commission for Civil Protection)

605,982 Children affected by drought

44,511 Total children under 5 with SAM in the 3 most drought affected provinces (Post Disaster Needs Assessment, National Commission for Civil Protection)

455 Suspected cases of Cholera in 3 affected provinces

137,600 People provided with aqua tabs for water treatment and reached with house-to-house hygiene promotion

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

The aftermath of severe droughts over the recent years continues to affect the seven southern provinces of Cunene, Huila, Namibe, Benguela, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Sul and Huambo. The most affected are the three border provinces of Cunene, Namibe and Huila where UNICEF is focusing its comprehensive response. The latest Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted by the National Commission for Civil Protection estimates damage and losses for the provinces of Cunene, Huila and Namibe at just over US$297 million, with agriculture (70 per cent) and food security (18 per cent) sectors hardest hit. The 2016 District Health System (DHS) survey indicated stunting rates between 34-44 per cent for the three most affected provinces.1 The estimated caseload of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in the three most affected provinces is 44,511. In 2017, UNICEF has reached 8,728 children under five with SAM in Huila province through therapeutic treatment programmes, cumulative results from Namibe and Cunene are not yet available.

Approximately 30 per cent of existing boreholes are non-functional mainly due to a lack of maintenance and missing spare parts. People continue to use unclean water for drinking, washing and cooking; including sharing water sources with animals, resulting in increased cases of diarrhoea and other water borne diseases. The PDNA estimated that less than 20 percent of communities have access to safe water. The drought and flash-floods are exacerbating migratory movements of communities, including cross-border movements, which raises child protection concerns - from sexual abuse of girls exposed while walking long distances to fetch water to child labour or reduced school attendance.

Suspected Cholera cases mainly in the provinces of Luanda, Zaire and Cabinda, have been reported since January 2017. In response to the ongoing cholera outbreaks, the Ministry of Health, with support from technical partners including UNICEF, has stepped up surveillance, health promotion and prevention activities as well as appropriate case management as part of a comprehensive response plan. At the moment Cabinda is the only province still reporting suspected cholera cases. In total, 236 suspected cases and 14 deaths have been reported in the province since the outbreak began in December 2016. Nationally, 455 cases have been reported since January 2017.