Lesotho: UNICEF Humanitarian Action: Southern Africa Crisis Donor Update 30 Dec 2002

700,000 children vaccinated against measles in Malawi

• Humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates
• UNICEF still needs US$ 18 million to address the crisis

Click here to see southern African Drought Affected Areas

1. EMERGENCY OVERVIEW

Census and the Demographic and Health Survey (DNS) augment database in Zambia

Two widely anticipated databases - the DHS and 2000 Census of Population and Housing - have recently been published and reveal unexpected and significant findings. Most disturbing are observations on age-specific life expectancy showing a significant deterioration in adult survivorship. Between 1990 and 2000, Zambian adults have lost approximately eleven years of life expectancy. This is highly concentrated in the reproductive age group and thought to be attributable to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The census also revealed a 12 per cent decline in infant mortality and a seven per cent increase in under five mortality. The DHS confirmed census estimates on fertility and trends and childhood mortality. It also included HIV and syphilis prevalence. There has been a significant decline in previous national estimates of 19-20 per cent HIV prevalence. Taken together, the two studies raise fears that declining prevalence of HIV may be as much a consequence of deaths as of declining incidence rates.

Uneven start to new crop season

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Food Security Network has expressed concern over the start of the 2002-3 crop season. Rains have been erratic, starting late in Malawi, have been very poor in Swaziland and are irregular in Zambia. In Lesotho, the rainy season has been relatively good but planting was delayed by the late arrival of agricultural inputs. The situation in Mozambique looks more optimistic with relatively good rains and available inputs. In Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, farmers have been unable to buy inputs because of high costs or have been hindered by shortages of seeds, fertiliser, and draught power.

Situation in Zimbabwe deteriorates

Macro economic indicators in Zimbabwe are all signaling distress. Inflation is reported to be above 144 per cent, unemployment is estimated at around 60 per cent, personal and state assets are largely depleted. El Nino is causing a ‘wet drought’, meaning that sufficient rain will fall but not at the right times in the growing season. Crop yield reductions of 20-40 per cent are expected. The 2003 harvest of maize, the staple food, is currently estimated to be between 600,000 and 1.1 million MT, while the requirements are set at 1.8 million MT. At the moment, maize meal, bread, sugar and other basic commodities are rationed and long queues are evident in Harare.

The current environment policy is causing tensions between national players as well as with international players. Willingness, on all sides, to dialogue is much needed to re-engage partners to help tackle the challenges that Zimbabwe is facing. Accusations of politicisation of food aid also undermine resource mobilization for humanitarian assistance.

The worsening fuel crisis towards the end of 2002 is expected to continue in 2003. The scale of the problem depends on whether or not the government is able to sign new agreements with Libyan, South African and other fuel suppliers. The authorities have indicated a possible liberalisation of the fuel trade. This may result in high price increases with a cascade effect on the cost of all basic commodities and services.

2. UNICEF RESPONSE AND PLANNED ACTIVITIES

The following reports focus on selected highlights in UNICEF programmes in the region.

700,000 children get vaccinated against measles in Zambia; more support needed for measles campaign in Mozambique

In Zambia, an emergency measles campaign, supported by UNICEF and WHO, in the Southern Province has reached 700,000 high-risk children. Since the beginning of 2002, Zambia has had an epidemic of measles that started in the Western Province, with 8,000 reported cases, and then spread to Lusaka and Central Province. Health authorities were alarmed at the prospect of the outbreak reaching the Southern Province where measles coverage rates were low-below 60 per cent-acute malnutrition was rapidly rising and serious water shortages were developing. The resultant high coverage should prevent outbreaks and deaths from measles in areas now battling with drought and food insecurity. Zambia is scheduled to conduct nationwide measles immunisation early in 2003 and will reach the remaining provinces. Coverage in these remaining areas is already below 80 per cent.

Meanwhile in Mozambique, the Provincial Health Department has requested additional support from UNICEF to help continue with an emergency measles vaccination campaign in Tete province. As of 17 November 2002, 1,085 cases have been reported, mainly in older children. There have been 11 fatalities so far. Currently, children are being vaccinated in the areas surrounding the reported cases, particularly in schools and crèches. A radio campaign and social mobilisation exercise carried out by community workers is urging people to have their children immunised against the disease.

Nutrition centres equipped to boost therapeutic feeding in Malawi

Also in Malawi, 23 out of planned 90 rural and district Nutrition Rehabilitation Units (NRUs) have received essential supplies from UNICEF to start therapeutic feeding. A further 13 will get their supplies before end of December 2002. The supplies include therapeutic feeding kits, blankets, bed nets and nutrition survey kits. Health workers in 21 NRUs have been trained in the diagnosis and treatment of severe malnutrition and the correct use of nutrition products including F75 and F100 (therapeutic food) through a UNICEF and WHO programme.

Feeding programmes to be launched in Mozambique and Zambia

UNICEF is preparing to start a blanket supplementary feeding programme in Mozambique in close collaboration with WFP and NGOs such as CARE, World Vision and Christian Council of Mozambique. The beneficiaries are an estimated 141,000 children aged 6-59 months and 71,000 pregnant and lactating women in 22 critically affected districts. According to a study by the Ministry of Health, 44 per cent of deaths in children under the age of five are linked to malnutrition. UNICEF and WFP are currently finalising an MOU. Within this arrangement, WFP has procured 1,250 MT of Corn Soya Blend (CSB) and will be responsible for procuring the outstanding amount required for the implementation of the programme. The first consignment has arrived in the country. WFP will transport the food to the districts and will be responsible for storage. Implementation of the feeding programme at community level is anticipated to start in January 2003.

UNICEF and WFP are discussing the establishment of a school feeding programme in Zambia. Food distribution to 73,000 high-risk children is expected to kick off within a couple of weeks. UNICEF will play a role in community mobilisation and will support training for communities, Parent-Teacher Associations and teachers. Work on the creation of a national nutrition surveillance system is ongoing. Based in 54 sites, the system should greatly increase information flows on the status of nutrition among at-risk populations. Routine surveillance continues to show the slow but steady increase in the proportion of children with acute global malnutrition. National estimates now range between 4 and 7 per cent.

Cholera control in Malawi and Zimbabwe

In Malawi, UNICEF and the Ministries of Health and of Water Development have started distributing 17,500 kg of chlorine for water treatment to 335 health centres in 15 districts as a major push to prevent further cholera outbreaks. Cholera epidemic preparedness and response has been strengthened by the assignment of five members from the Malawi Peace Corps to UNICEF’s efforts in the field. They are working in cholera-prone districts to reinforce surveillance and reporting of disease outbreak. Seven suspected cholera cases have been reported recently, six from Salima district and one in Nkhatabay.

Further south in Zimbabwe, the number of cholera cases in the Beithbridge district has risen to 152 with three deaths reported as of 8 December. The Ministry of Health has closed down a school where the outbreak was first reported and has deployed extra staff to the area to assist with the response. Another cholera outbreak has been reported in Bikita district, where 51 cases and eight deaths have been reported as of 1 December. Both outbreaks have been linked to fish traded in the areas. UNICEF responded swiftly by sending 42,000 water purification tablets and three water browsers to the affected areas to address water quality and water shortages in those districts. In addition, UNICEF supported the Ministry of Health to develop a community health and hygiene education, and cholera awareness campaign. In Beithbrigde district, UNICEF is also accelerating the rehabilitation of 70 boreholes.

UNICEF increase efforts to protect Zambian children against abuse

Also in Zambia, following reports of child abuse, child labour and child prostitution, UNICEF assisted the Zambian Gender and Development Office to conduct a ‘recognisance’ mission in high-risk districts. The findings confirm a problem with child labour and early child marriages. While there is evidence of increasing prostitution, the team did not find evidence of girl children being sold into the trade. The report has prompted UNICEF to increase its efforts at community outreach to enhance HIV/AIDS awareness at food distribution centres.

HIV/AIDS programming gains prominence in Zimbabwe

On 5 December, the UN Resident Coordinator hosted a workshop on HIV/AIDS and the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. The Ministers of Health and Child Welfare and Public Service, Labour and Social Services, donors, NGOs and UN agencies attended the workshop. The objective was to underline how the HIV/AIDS pandemic exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, erodes recovery capacity and what specific actions can be taken to address the situation. In a session on "key issues" facilitated by the UNICEF Representative, it was agreed that core HIV/AIDS interventions need to be defined within the revised Consolidated Appeal; HIV/AIDS should be mainstreamed into all programming; coordination and advocacy in printed and electronic media prioritised; resource mobilisation improved; and the capacities at the community and district level (District AIDS Action Committees) developed to respond to the HIV/AIDS and orphan crisis.

3. APPEAL REQUIREMENTS AND RECEIPTS

As part of the UN Consolidated Appeal for southern Africa, UNICEF requested US$ 26.9 million to provide humanitarian assistance to the affected children and women in the six affected countries for the period of July 2002-June 2003. Of the appealed amount, UNICEF has received US$ 8.9 million to date, leaving a funding gap of US$ 18 million or 67 per cent of the total resource needs. In light of the funding shortfall, UNICEF has borrowed US$ 5.4 million from the Central Emergency Revolving Funds (CERF) of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to continue implementing its response activities in the region. It is important to note that the acquired loan needs to be reimbursed through donor contributions. The table below details the contributions received, by donor:

In addition to the contributions shown above, UNICEF has also received funds through the regular country programme framework to support the activities related to the Consolidated Appeal. UNICEF is specifically thankful to the following donors for their generous contributions to support its ongoing interventions for the affected population in southern Africa.

Further details of the southern Africa emergency programme can be obtained from:

Olivier Degreef
Office of Emergency Programmes
UNICEF Geneva
Tel: + 41 22 909 5546
Fax: + 41 22 909 5902
E-mail: odegreef@unicef.org

Dan Rohrmann
Programme Funding Office
UNICEF New York
Tel: + 1 212 326 7009
Fax: + 1 212 326 7165
E-mail: drohrmann@unicef.org

Urban Jonsson
ESARO
UNICEF Nairobi
Tel.254-2-621-234
Fax.254-2-521-913
E-mail: ujonsson@unicef.org