ReliefWeb

HIGHLIGHTS

• UN organizations are on track implementing projects under the CERF Under-Funded Emergencies grant

• Cash programming helps persons displaced by the Marawi conflict transition to long-term recovery and build financial literacy

• Cash programming has been used by humanitarian organizations in the Philippines since 2009 to help people affected by emergencies, and continues to grow as a modality of delivering humanitarian assistance.

• Fives years on, 1,200 people displaced by the Zamboanga crisis remain in transitional shelters, while others attempt to recover their livelihoods.

• UN, NGOs commemorate World Humanitarian Day across the Philippines

Mid-point review of Marawi emergency response funding

The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) allocated a US$5 million grant to the Philippines in February to address the underfunded humanitarian needs of people displaced by the Marawi conflict. This is the second allocation of funds from the CERF in response to the conflict, making it currently the second largest donor for activities included in the Humanitarian Country Team’s Marawi Response and Resource Overview document, which identifies continuing unmet humanitarian needs and a response framework extending to December 2018.

Beginning in March, seven recipient UN agencies—the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO)—are focusing on priority needs in food security, health, nutrition, protection and cash assistance for nearly 78,000 people affected by the Marawi conflict. In addition to Marawi City, five municipalities in Lanao del Sur were selected: Bubong, Marantao, Ditsaan-Ramain, Piagapo and Saguiaran.

An integrated approach to managing acute malnutrition has been established in the target communities. UNICEF has reached 58 per cent of targeted mother and caregivers in its infant and young child feeding programme, and has met or exceeded its targets for screening and referring children aged 6 to 59 months for acute or severe acute malnutrition. WFP's nutrition intervention in health facilities has reached 21 per cent of children aged 6-59 months and 36 per cent of pregnant and lactating women participating in its programmes.

UNFPA is working with local authorities on information campaigns to address genderbased violence and women's human rights and establishing women-friendly spaces in its targeted sites. It is also supporting reproductive health through medical missions and the distribution of dignity and maternity kits.
Continuing its tracking of internally displaced persons, community empowerment and supporting access to grievance mechanisms, UNHCR is launching a community engagement programme to bring awareness and improve access to critical information by those displaced.