MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS
The last helicopter rotation supplied 232 families (1510 people) identified as seriously affected with food, non-food items (NFI) and school supplies in the municipality of Ambolidibe (district of Befandriana) on 14 May.
On 23 May a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sensitizing information day in Bealanana district (Sofia region) with 143 mayors, police force (gendarmerie) and health agents has been successfully held. The local authorities warmly thanked UNICEF for all their emergency interventions.
In Ambanja, food distribution is over. The World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered food to 2,262 families in the municipalities of Ambohimarina, Bemaneviky, Migioky and Martolana. Additionally "food for work" distribution is continuing in partnership with a local NGO. Distribution of NFI via ECAR (Catholic Roman and Apostolic Church) will finish this week after the last two villages in Marovato municipality are served. Beneficiaries: 355 people (71 families).
Phase I of UNICEF Emergency response is over in the North West, Sofia region and Ambanja district.
UNICEF RESPONSE
SUPPLY AND LOGISTICS
In Sofia region, the Malagasy Red Cross has finished the distribution of NFI further to the agreed joint operations started 29 April.
In the Ambanja district, the three recently discovered municipalities of Ankatafa, Ankazokony and Madirofolo were supplied with WASH relief items (water purifiers, soap, jerry cans, buckets) as well as shelter material (tarpaulins and plastic sheeting) between 21 May and the end of May. Beneficiaries: - 1500 affected people (300 families) in Ankatafa, - 925 affected people (185 families) in Ankazokony - 80 (16 families) in Madirofolo
WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE
In Sofia, the cleaning and disinfection of 107 wells in collaboration with local authorities of the Ministry of Energy (Direction de l’Eau) is finished in the following municipalities: Ambodimandresy, Ambodimadiro, Pont Sofia, Antsohihy , Morafeno, Antsohihy and Ambatoria. Beneficiaries: 12,722 affected people
In five municipalities, recent water quality tests done on treated water show that there is no further health risk for consumption. Results of turbidity tests done on 104 treated wells are basically less than 30 ntu. Residual chloral rates also have been measured and preliminary results give a range from 0.4 mg per liter to 2.4 mg per liter.
In Ambendrana, Antsohihy district, the borehole drilled (15.65m) and hand pump installed is operational and benefits 300 people.
In Ambanja, cleaning and disinfection of wells and school sanitation/latrines has started on 17 May with a team from the Ministry of Energy (Direction de l’Eau), School district authorities and Heath authorities. So far of the 225 wells identified within five municipalities, 64 have been cleaned and disinfected in three municipalities (Bemanevika HS, Ambodimanga Ramena and Maevatanana). Rehabilitation work of 47 additional wells has begun: six wells taken care of in two municipalities last week (paving stone, pumps, sanitation site).
For the monitoring of water quality, each base disposes of a pool tester and a Del Agua Kit. A more in-depth monitoring will be put into place in both bases during the field visit of a WASH specialist from Tana starting 25 May. The objectives are: analysis of sanitation risks; protocol for water quality monitoring and data base; common protocol for well disinfection and sanitation, analysis of data and advice to families.
NON-FOOD RELIEF ITEMS (NFI)
In the Sofia region, a total of 49,500 people (9,899 families) have benefited from UNICEF and the Malagasy Red Cross NFI distributions in seven districts.
The WFP/UNICEF airlift operation, which ended 14 May, served 8, 615 people (1723 families) in two districts and 10 isolated municipalities in NFI and food – of which 69,130 tones (rice, beans and oil) were distributed.
Recap of total UNICEF NFI distributions since the beginning of operations in Sofia:
Items Sofia region
|
Unit
|
Total distributions
|
1. Blankets |
pc
|
5,000
|
2. Cooking Sets inc. cups |
pc
|
5,020
|
3. Jerry Cans |
pc
|
9,054
|
4. Soap |
800 gr
|
16,148
|
5. Buckets |
pc
|
2,576
|
6. Water purifier |
40 ml
|
4,584
|
7.Water filters |
pc
|
25
|
8. Tarpaulins |
pc
|
5
|
9. Mosquito nets |
pc
|
900
|
Recap of NFI distributions in Ambanja district since the beginning of operations:
Items Ambanja
|
Unit
|
Total
|
Families served
|
1.Water purifier ‘Sur ‘Eau " |
40ml
|
7,873
|
3,936
|
2. Soap bar |
800 g
|
5,651
|
2,841
|
3.Buckets 15 L |
pc
|
2,956
|
2,949
|
4. Jerry cans 10 L |
pc
|
6,016
|
2,816
|
5. Cups |
pc
|
2,800
|
2,522
|
6. Cooking Sets |
set
|
928
|
928
|
7. Blankets |
pc
|
4,787
|
2,612
|
8. Tarpaulin |
pc
|
149
|
129
|
HEALTH AND NUTRITION
In Sofia, the distribution of the 18 Emergency Health Kits agreed with the Regional Health authorities is over. This week three kits have been dispatched to the hospital and two health centers of Madritsara and Mampikony districts. On 31 May, 16 kits have been distributed within 14 municipalities to 17 health centers/hospitals, covering the needs of 17 000 people for one month (1 kit for 1000). The last kit will be distributed in Bealanana in the next days. All drugs distributed are free of charge for the affected people.
In Ambanja, 11 Health Centers and the District Hospital have received basic medical kits, water filters and medical supplies covering the needs of 11 000 people during one month. Monitoring databases have been set up in the eleven health centers for nutritional, epidemiology and vaccination follow up. UNICEF also did competency reinforcement amongst 30 health centers directors and 12 District management teams for data management and monitoring.
Joint "health teams" have been created with the District Health Services (SSD), School district authorities and UNICEF. These teams are now starting visits in the municipalities to mobilize the communities on risks of diarrhea and need for vaccinations. Technical and strategic assistance to four heath centers in municipalities of Ambanja, Ambodimanga Ramena, Antsakoamanondro and Ankatafa is foreseen for the vaccination of 289 children under 12 months and 294 pregnant women. Furthermore, a sensitizing meeting has been held with 130 health agents, 26 school directors and 11 directors of health centres on "water, sanitation and hygiene".
Nutrition
South:
Three SMART (Standard Monitoring Assessment Relief Transition) surveys will be conducted by the National Nutrition Office (ONN) and Ministry of Health with technical and financial support from UNICEF in the 28 municipalities of Androy, Anosy and the South West, where food and nutrition interventions have been run for five months, as a result of acute food insecurity. The surveys will provide an updated picture of the nutrition situation in the areas of concern and the estimated coverage of the current feeding program while the findings will assist in planning the future of the current nutrition interventions. Survey preparation is currently underway and data collection is due at the end of May.
South-East:
In the five municipalities of Nosy-Varika district affected by cyclone Clovis, acute malnutrition screening has started on children under five years of age. Of 5,631 children under five (1/3 of the total number of children in municipalities) screened so far, 422 (7.5%) were identified as acutely malnourished with 25 severe cases. Screening of pregnant and lactating women also started and 791 women were identified as acutely malnourished. The screening and surveillance activities were carried out with the technical assistance of UNICEF, ONN and the Ministry of Health and in close collaboration with staff of the 6 primary health facilities present in the area.
EDUCATION
In the Sofia region, the Phase I program is finished. Twenty-five severely damaged schools initially identified with the Regional Education Authorities, seven CISCO ‘s (School districts authorities) have benefited from UNICEF emergency response in terms of distribution of tents, school in a box, recreational kits and school supplies.
In addition, urgent response has been given since 14 May to the following recently discovered affected municipalities:
- Ambolidibe East: distribution of plastic sheeting to build three classrooms, four school-in-a-box kits and one recreational kit for 345 pupils.
- Within rural municipality of Anjiamangirana, two classrooms have been set up with plastic sheeting for 230 pupils of Ambodivohitra primary school.
- Ambondrona in district of Analalava: village has been displaced further to heavy damages. Two school tents have been set up on 19 May, four classrooms will be built end of May with plastic sheeting.
- In Mandritsara school district, 14 classrooms have been set up with plastic sheeting for six different school locations.
In Ambanja, all school supplies have been distributed and one tent set up in Ankatafa this week.
Summary of school tents set up:
Regions
|
TENTS
(36 sqm- 24sqm) |
Classrooms with
Plastic Sheets |
Nb of concerned
Primary schools |
Total Sofia region |
31
|
32
|
36
|
Total Ambanja |
6
|
8
|
7
|
Maroanstetra | |||
TOTAL |
37
|
40
|
Summary of all school distributions made:
Regions
|
School
in a box |
Recreational
Kits |
School
supplies |
Beneficiary Pupils
"Back to school" |
Total Sofia region (7 school districts) |
154
|
22
|
47,000
|
59,320
|
Total Ambanja |
15
|
2
|
2,796
|
3,996
|
Maroanstetra |
7,000
|
7,000
|
||
TOTAL |
169
|
24
|
56,796
|
70,316
|
Within the Sofia region, community resource mobilization is starting for the rehabilitation /construction phase. In all identified sites for the construction of UNICEF Aluronda classrooms, it has been confirmed that all the roofs and bricks will be made locally by the communities.
Maroanstetra
The Ministry of Education has decided to hold remedial classes this summer for schools within the affected regions. This decision comes just at the right moment as additional school supplies ( notebooks, pens, pencils, chalk) and WASH supplies for 17,200 pupils are currently being shipped from Tamatave and will be distributed to 137 primary schools in the Maroanstetra district. Another 20 heavily damaged schools will receive school-in-a- boxes. Total beneficiaries of this operation: 18,800 children.