UNICEF External Situation Report Madagascar - 03 May 2007

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

- Two official delegations visited the North East this week: one conducted by the Minister of Education (Antsohihy) and one composed of the Minister of Health, National director of the National Bureau for Risk and Catastrophe Management (BNGRC) and UNICEF/WFP Representatives (Ambanja and Antsohihy).

- Emergency action plans for the Health/Education/Wash sectors are finalized by the regional authorities with the support of UNICEF.

- The daily rotations of the UN helicopter significantly intensified the delivery of food and non-food items in the remote municipalities as well as more specific sector evaluations of Health, Education and Wash components.

- The "Mother and Child Health Week" was launched as planned before the cyclones but low immunization coverage is observed in Ambanja although the district generator has been repaired and the cold chain is working well.

NEEDS ASSESSMENTS

- WFP is starting assessments this week to determine the severity of food insecurity in the most affected areas of the North West.

- The latest data of the Ministry of Education (MENRS) as of 30 April indicate that 641 primary schools have been destroyed/damaged (445 partially destroyed and 196 completely destroyed). The UNICEF intervention in the four regions of Diana, Sava, Sofia and Analanjirofo target about 128 000 pupils.

Situation in the Sofia Region (Antsohihy district)

Although needs assessment are finalized, a new municipality, Ambolodibe East, in the district of Befandriana has been reported to be seriously affected by wind and rains due to cyclone Indlala. A joint team (UNICEF, Head of Region and local authorities) went to this remote area to perform the assessment. It found 232 families living nearby a river who had totally or partially lost their houses; the health centre was 80 per cent destroyed; the primary school was flooded and all school supplies were lost. Fields along the river have been totally destroyed; people lost at the same time their crops and part of their arable lands. Signs of hunger have been observed on children and adults as well as anaemia. The location benefited from food, non-food items (NFI), school and drug supplies by air on Monday 30 April.

Situation in the Diana Region (Ambanja district)

The presence of a WFP nutritionist will allow better assessment of the nutrition status of women and children. Food and NFI is going to be boosted with helicopter daily rotations. There is food from WFP in the pipeline that will come next week. No malnutrition case reported yet but communication between health centers and health district is weak.

UNICEF RESPONSE

SUPPLY AND LOGISTICS

- 96 schools-in-a box, 69,700 notebooks/pens/pencils and 14 recreation kits have been dispatched as follows:

- 1,320 blankets, 12 emergency drugs basic kits, 3 complementary kits, 6,000 oral rehydration salts (ORS) units, 20 water filters, 40 kg of chlorine and pool tester, 1 buccaneer boat and engine have been sent to Ambanja.

- The transport between the two bases is done by the "Corps de protection civile" (Malagasy army) as well as transport between the seaport, the warehouse and the airport for air rotations.

WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE

Since the beginning of the field response, the following WASH supplies have been distributed to 2,358 families. This week 1,353 families have received WASH supplies in the 8 most remote municipalities of the Befandriana, Bealanana districts (Sofia region). 70 community agents have been trained on use of "Sur’eau" (purifier product).

Quality control of surface water and efficiency of Sur'eau on turbid water was equally done on two different sources and proved to be efficient. Results are as follows:

- Ambararata sofia: Anjigo : 1 measure for 1 bucket of 15 l = control positive

- Ambatoria, shallow well : 1 measure for 1 bucket of 15 l = control positive Testing will be extended to all sites were Sur'eau is being distributed.

In the Diana region (Ambanja district), 218 affected families of 10 municipalities have received WASH supplies.

Specific evaluation for WASH has been done for 21 fokontany among 17 communes in the district of Ambanja and 11 fokontany among 4 communes in the Sofia region. Plan of action has been established and implementing partners have been identified to operate the cleaning of up to 100 wells and to rehabilitate 6 gravity systems.

NON-FOOD RELIEF ITEMS

In addition to the WASH supplies mentioned above, the 1,353 families received food and non food items as well as school supplies and drugs by air lift in the municipalities of Matsondakana, Antsakabary, Ambararata Sofia, Ambodiadabo, Ambalaromba, Mangindrano and Ambatoriha, Antsamaka.

Total number of families covered since the beginning in Sofia region: 2,358

Total number of families covered since the beginning in Diana region: 1,585 families.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Health

The dispatch planned with Health authorities for the two "New Emergency Health Kits" (NEHK) has started along with ORS distribution. To date the following municipalities - in bold - have been served.

One New Emergency Health Kit (NEHK) is pre-positioned for distribution in the Ambanja district.

Anecdotic increase of diarrhea cases was reported for Andreba in Antsohihy district. Investigation is currently conducted by Health authorities (drugs and ORS not yet given). The Mother and Child Health Week experienced difficulties in the Diana region; preliminary results will be known on the 3rdof May.

Nutrition

South

In the 28 municipalities where the intervention was put in place mid January, almost 80% of children under 5 (47,057) have been screened for acute malnutrition. At the end of April 4,428 were under treatment for moderate malnutrition and 444 for severe malnutrition. In the 20 municipalities of Androy and Anosy regions, 440 new children have been diagnosed as acute malnourished and among them 37 as severely malnourished. All of them have been taken to one of the 61 nutrition rehabilitation services operating in the area.

Districts of Nosy Varika and Mananjary

The operation response started during the last week of April with training of eight medical doctors and 15 nutrition assistants is carried out by the national team made of MoH, ONN nutrition technicians and UNICEF national and international staff. In the 17 identified municipalities, children under 5 and pregnant and lactating mothers will be screened for acute malnutrition in the 2nd week of May. The children diagnosed as malnourished will be treated as therapeutic food, drugs, equipment and material are in place.

EDUCATION

In addition to the supplies mentioned above, 19 UNICEF school tents (36 sq m) have been set up in the seven districts of Sofia region. In the Diana region, plastic sheeting has been installed in six completely destroyed schools and seven 7 tents (24 sq m) have been given to the CISCO.

INTER-AGENCY COLLABORATION AND KEY PARTNERSHIPS

Since the launching of the WASH cluster lead, three meetings have been held with actors from Government, UN agencies, World Bank, International and national NGOs as well as bilateral partners. Minimum standards in WASH based on international norms with adaptation for the specific Madagascar situation have been defined. A checklist for specific WASH evaluation has been established, and 3 priority regions and 12 districts have been identified for a WASH-specific evaluation mission.