Madagascar: Humanitarian Response Dashboard (January - March 2023)

SITUATION UPDATE

In the first quarter of 2023, communities in the Grand Sud-Est of Madagascar were hit by multiple tropical weather systems. The Grand Sud-Est was battered by Tropical Storm Cheneso in January 2023 and Tropical Cyclone Freddy in February 2023, which hit the same areas that were affected by Tropical Cyclones Batsirai and Emnati in 2022. Communities in the Grand Sud-Est faced increased food insecurity, with approximately 874,000 people in 10 out of 11 districts in the region facing Crisis (IPC phase 3) from November 2022 to March 2023, according to the Integrated Phase Classification analysis (https://www.ipcinfo.org). Two districts—Befotaka and Ikongo—were in a nutritional emergency (with global acute malnutrition (GAM) over 15 per cent) and two others—Farafangana, and Midongy Atsimo—in a severe situation (GAM between 10 and 15 per cent).

Meanwhile, in the Grand Sud, the situation improved—owing to a massive increase in humanitarian assistance and relatively good rainfall in 2022—but remained fragile. Food insecurity has decreased, with 1.35 million people expected to face Crisis (IPC phase 3) or worse from November 2022 to March 2023, down from 1.43 million people during the same period the year before. Following good rainfall in December 2022 and January 2023, 68 per cent of groundwater sites in the Grand Sud were at normal levels, while only 18 per cent recorded a very low level (Alarm/Emergency), according to UNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/madagascar/rapports).

The humanitarian Flash Appeal, which runs from January to December 2023, was revised following the impact of Tropical Cyclone Freddy in February 2023. The appeal, which encompasses both the cyclone-impacted Grand Sud-Est and drought-affected regions of the Grand Sud, aims to provide humanitarian assistance to 1.95 million people out of the 3.89 million in need in 2023.

By the end of March 2023, humanitarians had assisted nearly 1.48 milion people in the Grand Sud-Est (439,090) and the Grand Sud (1.04 million). Over 1.43 million people received food security and livelihoods support, including nearly 126,000 who received assistance through cash transfers. More than 7,500 people were assisted in accessing safe water, while over 38,400 received hygiene kits. Approximately 110,900 children under age 5 and pregnant and lactating women received nutritional support and/or treatment. More than 13,300 children were vaccinated against preventable diseases. Over 208,300 people were reached with awareness-raising campaigns to prevent gender-based violence and increase knowledge of reproductive health issues, while more than 9,240 pregnant women received antenatal care.

More funding is urgently required to ensure aid organizations can respond to the needs of people hardest-hit by cyclones and drought in Madagascar. By the end of March 2023, the Flash Appeal was approximately 24 per cent funded, with $51.7 million received out of the $214.7 million needed. For the first time, the Grand Sud-Est is better funded compared to the Grand Sud, thanks to strong advocacy. However, without additional resources, humanitarian partners will be unable to respond at scale ahead of the next lean season and cyclone season (which are set to begin in October 2023), leaving many communities in urgent need and risking a rapid deterioration in the situation.