Highlights
UNICEF has fully rehabilitated 50 of the 69 schools damaged during Tropical Cyclone Dineo. The remaining 19 schools will be operational by June 2017.
UNICEF prepositioned WASH supplies worth over US$54,830 with the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) to be used by the WASH and Health Sectors as needed for emergency interventions such as floods.
The first ever comprehensive national multi-sectoral assessment has been completed which will inform prioritization and targeting for the emergency. Results will be available in May 2017.
The Southern Africa Office of the US Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) monitoring visit which took place in March 2017 was successful and UNICEF was encouraged to prepare a humanitarian concept note on WASH and Nutrition for potential funding consideration.
In March 2017, UNICEF sensitized implementing partners on Human Rights Based Approaches to Communication for Development which can be used for emergency and development programming.
SITUATION IN NUMBERS
The numbers below are estimates
(Source: Swaziland Vulnerability Assessment Committee 2016 Preliminary Findings, June 2016)
350,000
People affected by drought
189,000
Children affected by drought
165,000
Children affected by drought in the two most affected regions of Lubombo and Shiselweni
350,000
People food insecure
8,460
Children 6-59 months affected by severe and moderate acute malnutrition (1,410 SAM; 7,050 MAM)
68% Funding Gap
UNICEF Funding Status
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The October 2016 – March 2017 Swaziland Meteorological Services (MET) rainfall forecast indicated a trend towards normalto below normal rainfall in parts of Shiselweni and Lubombo, which are areas previously impacted by the El Ninoinduced drought. Although the country received above-average rainfall from January to March 2017, the impact of the drought has continued to affect water resources and water supply infrastructure mainly in the Lowveld, dry Middleveld and the Lubombo Plateau. Access to adequate water and sanitation services remains a challenge, where low access to drinking water, a precarious household health environment, and poor feeding practices are wide-spread across the country. The rural areas of Lubombo and Shiselweni regions continue to experience low access to domestic water supply as protected springs and boreholes produce low yield. In general, drought impact on potable water supply has affected rural and urban domestic supply, this impact is also felt at health facilities and schools, particularly in the above mentioned two regions. UNICEF continues to seek funding to close the 80 per cent funding gap for WASH activities.
The recurrent drought is further exacerbating levels of vulnerability among the population which are compounded by chronic food insecurity, malnutrition, high rates of HIV/AIDS, poverty and protection concerns, including gender based violence (GBV). Close to six percent of children under five years are underweight, while two percent are wasted. More than a quarter of the children are stunted while nine percent of children are overweight, signalling a double burden of both under and over nutrition.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) organised a review of the National Emergency Response, Mitigation and Adaptation Plan (NERMAP) that identified progress in implementation of the plan and priorities in 2017 by sector. The NDMA compiled lessons learned and the way forward to guide 2017 implementation of activities outlined in the NERMAP. Future activities will also be informed by the 2017 NDMA-led multi-sector national assessment to update existing data on the affected population and improve better targeting of the continued response and revision of sector targets which have been completed. Final results of this comprehensive multi-sectoral assessment are expected to be disseminated in May 2017 and will further define the scope and focus of the continued future response and existing funding gaps.