Humanitarian Crises in Southern and Eastern Africa
At the beginning of 2017, warnings were issued of imminent famine in parts of South Sudan, while the Somali and Kenyan governments declared national disasters due to the ongoing drought. In the event, famine was staved off in the region thanks to timely and robust intervention; however, the 2017 seasonal rains have not been sufficient to reverse the effects of the drought on crop production and food security in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. Meanwhile, in South Sudan, the continuing conflict - it has now entered its fifth year - has meant the humanitarian crisis continues to intensify, with seven million people needing help this year (OCHA, 20 Feb 2018).
In Kenya, six counties (Isiolo, Kajiado, Tana River, Garissa, Kilifi , Wajir) are in alarm drought status and experiencing a worsening trend. The five counties in alert drought status are Mandera, Kitui, Marsabit, Taita Taveta and Tharaka Nithi. In addition, 13 of the 23 ASAL Counties (56%) are experiencing normal drought status. According to World Vision, 3.4 million people need assistance, but this figure is likely to fall over the course of the year (World Vision, 31 Jan 2018).
The situation in Ethiopia and Somalia is also not improving. According to FEWS NET, large areas of southeastern Ethiopia are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3), with humanitarian assistance preventing worse outcomes in some areas. Sustained, large-scale assistance is needed through at least mid-2018 to mitigate the risk of increases in acute malnutrition and a further deterioration of outcomes, particularly in Dollo, Korahe, and Jarar zones. Large-scale displacement due to conflict in late 2017 in areas along the Oromia-Somali border remains a concern.
In Somalia, says FEWS NET, the Deyr harvest, some milk availability, and large-scale assistance are supporting Stressed (IPC Phase 2) and Crisis (IPC Phase 3) outcomes in many areas. Despite improvements, Crisis (IPC Phase 3) and Emergency (IPC Phase 4) outcomes are likely in August, in the absence of assistance, as many households have depleted key livelihood assets and a fifth consecutive below-average season is forecast (FEWS NET, 16 Feb 2018).
Meanwhile, in southern Africa, the fall army worm infestation shows no sign of abating, with concomitant effects on food security. Says FAO: “The pest is now present across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) except Mauritius and Lesotho. Partial fall army worm monitoring has pointed to Malawi as the hotspot in the 2017/18 season, and the country has since declared a national disaster” (FAO, 9 Feb 2018).
Indeed, the situation is so severe that a Special Alert was issued on 8 February 2018: “In the absence of consistent rains in February, dry conditions experienced in December to January will diminish water supplies for domestic, agricultural and commercial use. In other areas, including southern and central Mozambique, parts of southern Malawi and southern Zimbabwe, mild rains only returned in late January, by which time many crops had permanently wilted. Southern and central Zambia, southern Malawi and southern Madagascar continue to experience extended periods of below average rainfall and subsequent crop moisture stress. Even if normal rains are received during the remainder of season, it is likely too late for most of the early-planted crops to recover (FSNWG, 8 Feb 2018).
All Updates on Humanitarian Crises in Southern and Eastern Africa
781,697 Total of refugees and asylum-seekers from the DRC.
4.5M Internally displaced people Source: OCHA
941,000 Planning population of DRC refugees by December 2018.
BASIC INFORMATION
POPULATION FIGURES
The figures in this report have been updated to reflect the results of a continuous biometric registration and verification exercise in countries of asylum.
The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the world’s most complex and challenging yet forgotten crises. As of 30 June 2018, 781,697 Congolese refugees are being hosted in African countries.
From 1 January to 30 June 2018 alone, some 112,401 Congolese fled to neighboring countries, with a particularly significant increase in refugee flows to Uganda,
Burundi and Zambia.
In June, UNHCR biometrically registered 1,372 Burundian refugees, and 313 newly-arrived South Sudanese refugees.
The relocation and biometric registration of some 12,000 refugees residing in highly insecure border areas of Dungu Territory (Haut-Uélé Province) was a pressing priority but remained on hold due to the lack of funding and questions relating to the area of their relocation.
ADDIS ABABA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food to tens of thousands of people seeking temporary shelter following violent protests in the Somali Region of Ethiopia.
People fled their homes in the eastern region when violent protests erupted on 3 August. Houses, churches, vehicles and shops were burned, damaged or looted, and WFP was forced to suspend all its operations in the Somali Region. At least 80 people were killed, according to media reports.
Over 20,000 people in Ethiopia will receive life-saving emergency aid after Irish Aid today delivered 118 tonnes of aid to Trócaire.
Our team in Ethiopia received the aid – valued at €500,000 – today and will immediately begin distributing it to over 20,000 people who have been displaced by violence in the Moyale region. The aid is mostly made-up of shelter, kitchen sets and hygiene kits.
Les jeunes de 10 à 24 ans représentent plus de 30% de la population des pays de la SADC (Communauté de développement d'Afrique australe) et sont parmi les plus touchés par le VIH. Malgré cela, leur accès à des soins efficaces en termes de santé sexuelle et reproductive est inégal.
Selon un symposium qui a eu lieu lors de la dernière Conférence internationale sur le Sida à Amsterdam, les réformes juridiques et politiques pour assurer l’accès à la santé sexuelle et reproductive sont essentielles pour atteindre l'égalité sanitaire.
Les rédacteurs en chef des organes médiatiques de la capitale ont ouvert une série de formations destinées aux professionnels des médias, ce lundi 30 et mardi 31 juillet 2018. Une initiative du Système des Nations Unies à Madagascar et de la CENI, afin que les journalistes puissent contribuer à la tenue d’élections crédibles, transparentes, pacifiques et inclusives dans le pays en 2018.
By Kate Roff
Somalia has experienced civil war for almost 30 years, and with over 70 per cent of its population is under 30 years of age, youth and youth education appear to be the key to a peaceful future in the country.
HIGHLIGHTS
UNSC extends UNAMID mandate through June 2019
Relief actors scale up flood preparedness activities for the ongoing rainy season
High staple food prices projected to persist across Sudan through 2019
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Following the declaration on 1 August 2018 of a new Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, WHO conducted a formal rapid risk assessment, which determined that the public health risk for this outbreak is high at the regional level. This assessment took into consideration that, with eight million inhabitants, North Kivu is one of the most densely populated provinces in the country. North Kivu borders four other provinces (Ituri, South Kivu, Maniema and Tshopo), as well as Uganda and Rwanda.
Government continues peace and reconciliation process to return IDPs in Gedeo and Guji zones
1. Situation update
The Ministry of Health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, WHO and partners are responding to a new Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in the eastern North Kivu Province. On 6 August 2018, the INRB confirmed that the current outbreak is caused by a distinct Ebolavirus (EBOV) strain, different from the one that caused the outbreak in Equateur Province in May-July 2018. This means that, although both events are caused by Zaire Ebolavirus species, the two outbreaks are not connected.
HIGHLIGHTS
Humanitarian needs continue despite reports of IDP returns to areas of origin in Ituri
Acute food insecurity persists in conflict-affected areas of DRC
Relief organizations respond to new Ebola outbreak in North Kivu
KEY DEVELOPMENTS
Introduction
As I reflect on the work of the Organization since I took office almost two years ago, I have seen yet again that one of the most valuable assets of the United Nations is its capacity to operate as a convener of people, a proponent of ideas, a catalyst for action and a driver of solutions. As today’s problems grow ever more global, multilateralism is more important than ever.
#WorldHumanitarianDay
by Adelheid Onyango and Bibi Giyose
Adelheid Onyango is Adviser for Nutrition at the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Africa and Bibi Giyose is Senior Nutrition and Food Systems officer, and Special Advisor to the CEO of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
