Attachments
-
This Operations Update is issued to inform of the timeframe extension of four (4) months to the Madagascar Tropical Cyclone (TC) Batsiraï and Emnati Emergency Appeal (EA) (until 30 June 2023). This extension is sought in order to finalize activities that had been postponed due to : (i) National Society procedures with long cash withdrawal processes, (ii) Human resources challenges after the resignation of several staff at the National Society at the headquarters and field level, (iii) delays caused by lengthy approvals processes from the Madagascar Government to approve the cash for Shelter Strategy, (iv) challenges with access to services providers due to difficult-to-reach intervention areas (v) challenges due to the current heavy rains and floods as well as the impact of- cyclone CHENESO in implementation areas which hampered the implementation of activities.
-
This extension will allow implementation of remaining activities and enable the National Society, with support from IFRC and Partnering National Societies (PNSs), to carry out the second batch of cash for shelter as well as the tree planting & care activities and to continue with nutrition screening and referral to the malnutrition treatment Centres.
-
Moreover, needs in the country are expected to increase due to the 2023 cyclone/rainy season, and this extension ensures the EA timeframe covers the remaining of the season. Should these needs continue to increase beyond the timeframe of this extension, the response activities will continue under the IFRC Madagascar Operational Plan for 2023.
-
This OU also aims to report on the accomplished objectives. After over 10 months of implementation, a total of 3,000 HH were provided with direct emergency shelter, settlement assistance, and multipurpose cash, 439 HH supported by Cash for Shelter, and 489 HH were assisted by the distribution of improved rice seeds as well as agricultural tools. Support in protection, gender and inclusion (PGI) was increased after the deployment of two PGI and one CEA surge profiles to support with the PGI assessment, Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment, review the Community Feedback Mechanisms (CFM), provide technical support to the operation and conducting a training for the Sector Leads and Madagascar Red Cross staff.
A. SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
Mananjary was hit by two intense cyclones (BATSIRAI and EMNATI) between the end of January and the beginning of March 2022. Cyclone Batsirai passed 14 km north of the city of Mananjary being categorized at that stage as an intense tropical cyclone (winds of 165 km/h with gusts of 235 km/h and heavy rains were recorded), causing flooding and significant damage in the South-East region of Madagascar. BNGRC1 conducted a provisional assessment and reported (i) human losses : 92 people dead; 112,115 people affected (i.e. 23,444 households); 61,489 displaced persons (i.e. 13,453 households) in 99 accommodation sites, 7,488 dwellings destroyed; 2,714 dwelling units damaged; 6,978 flooded huts, (ii) Education sector damage with 885 classrooms damaged and 1,203 classrooms destroyed, (iii) health sector damage (CSB2/Hospital damaged: 53; CSB/Hospital destroyed: 6 ) and (iv) damaged roads. In addition, according to the BNGRC’s situation report of 2nd March 2022, 15 people were reported death after the passage of the tropical cyclone Emnat; more than 169,000 people suffered damage to their homes, with 23,405 houses either destroyed (6,118), damaged (11,461) or flooded (5,826), according to the latest situation report by the BNGRC. The health sector was also heavily impacted by Emnati, with 34 health centres damaged across 9 districts. At least 60,000 hectares of rice fields were flooded twice, with potentially significant consequences for the upcoming harvest in May, according to BNGRC. WFP estimates that up to 90 per cent of the food production could have been destroyed in some of the affected areas.
Since the landfall of the cyclones, Madagascar has also been facing other substantial crisis adding to the needs of the population. The passage of the two cyclones in February 2022 had a significant impact on all speculation in the area and on the overall agricultural economy due to the floods, which affected rice, cassava and market gardening plots, and winds violent events that caused damage to rainfed crops and perennial crops.
Production losses for food crops are estimated at 61 million US dollars (USD), with more than 60 percent of the land affected by the passage of the two cyclones3. Rice and cassava crops account for 90 percent of these estimated losses. Although some households have restarted rice production, the delay in the seasonal calendar will lead to lower yields, an increase in the duration of the lean season (January-March) and an early start to the next one, which will begin in August. Despite the resumption of agricultural activities and humanitarian support, food needs are still present, and there is some population that continue to suffer from malnutrition. The number of people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) in Madagascar is approximately 252,000 according to the IPC January 20234. In addition, the global context (COVID-19, Russian-Ukrainian crisis) has affected inflation and household purchasing power. The expected low harvests forced the population to obtain supplies on the markets, the prices of which has been volatile. Households adopted an emergency strategy based on productive livelihoods.
The floods and cyclones that have affected Madagascar, have greatly impacted and further worsened the price hike of basic food and non-food items; combined with market supply issues, the peak of water-borne and vector-borne diseases, as well as the damage of pests on crops during the peak lean season in December to March 2023. A depreciation of the Ariary is also expected in the face of the economic slump. These elements have already led to an increase in the basic needs’ basket.