Attachments
HIGHLIGHTS
- In 2025, prolonged drought, recurrent floods, cyclones and epidemics are expected to impact the already vulnerable population in the south, southeast and north of Madagascar. As a result, 4.7 million people, including people living with disabilities, will require humanitarian assistance, more than double the 2.3 million people who needed assistance in 2024, mainly due to the lasting effect of El Niño-induced flooding, increased risks of cyclones, food insecurity and disease outbreaks.
- UNICEF requires $46.3 million to respond with critical life-saving and protective interventions to reach 1.7 million of the most vulnerable children, including 365,000 children requiring treatment for wasting.
- UNICEF will provide a multisectoral emergency response, ensuring links between humanitarian and development interventions to enhance resilience and strengthen government systems.
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND NEEDS
Approximately 4.7 million people, or 42 per cent of the population of Madagascar's southern, southeastern and northern regions, will need humanitarian assistance in 2025 due to the lasting effects of previous cyclones, an anticipated intense cyclone season and a continuous high level of food insecurity.
A worsening of the food security is expected situation due to the impact of the El Niño weather pattern; the forthcoming La Niña weather pattern; and slow recovery from previous year's drought and floods. As a result, from January 2025, 20 districts will be classified as food insecure, with 9 districts anticipated to be in IPC Phase 3 (acute) during the lean season (January to April 2025).
Child wasting rates remain high, at 10–15 per cent, in 6 of the 22 districts affected by the crisis and this is likely to worsen during the upcoming lean season. As a result, UNICEF expects about 365,000 children to suffer from wasting, including 85,000 from severe wasting.
Prolonged crises have impacted economic and social structures, leading to internal migration, negative coping mechanisms, violence against children and higher social protection needs and increased school drop-out. Risk of violence and exploitation affects an estimated 188,200 people who will require gender-based violence and protection services. About 630,000 school-age children living in drought- and cyclone-affected regions are at high risk of disrupted education and school drop-out.
Malaria epidemics have increased the burden on Madagascar's already weak health services. More than 1.2 million malaria cases were reported across six regions--including Androy, Anosy, Atsimo Andrefana, Atsimo Atsinanana, Fitovinany, and Vatovavy--between January and September 2024, accounting for 45 per cent of the country’s total cases.
In addition, 20 cyclone-damaged basic health centres are urgently in need of rehabilitation, a situation that impacts the provision of health care to more than 21,600 children. Approximately, 500,000 people will still need WASH interventions to mitigate the risks of malaria and polio epidemic