Highlights
UNICEF through strategic partnerships with the Government and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) achieved most sector targets due to the efficient use of limited resources to achieve more results for children, women and the general population during implementation of the humanitarian response:
In 2017, UNICEF and partners reached 71,350 people with safe water in Lubombo and Shiselweni regions, representing over 100 per cent of UNICEF’s 2017 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Emergency Response Plan target.
Communication for Development (C4D)-WASH initiatives on safe sanitation and hygiene practices reached 26,617 people.
The education sector response in 2017 focused on recovery and adaptation, in an effort to improve the learning environment and strengthen resilience.
UNICEF Swaziland in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) improved rainwater harvesting capacity of 42 schools supplying them with rainwater harvesting equipment, benefitting 15,670 learners (8,155 boys and 7,515 girls) and 684 teachers (432 females and 252 males) with water.With UNICEF support, 105,042 children under-5 years were screened for malnutrition by Rural Health Motivators (RHMs) of which 492 were underweight and referred for treatment.
The study by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) on the socioeconomic impacts of the 2015-2016 drought indicates the total lost revenue due to the drought as US$296 million (E3.8 billion).
Situation in Number
350,000 Total affected population
137,380 Food Insecure People (74,185 children)
189,000 Children affected by drought
165,ooo Children in need in the two most affected regions of Lubombo and Shiselweni
8,460 Children 6-59 months affected by severe and moderate acute malnutrition (1,410 SAM; 7,050 MAM)
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The rainfall season from January-March 2017 and November-December 2017 has alleviated some of the impacts of the drought, reaching normal to above normal levels across most of the country, however prolonged drought conditions continue to be felt in Shiselweni and Lubombo regions affecting food and water security for a significant part of the population. At the beginning of the emergency response in February 2016, 350,000 people were affected by the prolonged drought, including 189,000 children. The 2017 Vulnerability Assessment indicated that 137,380 people (16 per cent of the population), including 74,185 children, remain food insecure.
While the 2017 rainfall has alleviated the water scarcity in Hhohho and Manzini regions, the current prolonged drought conditions continue to be felt in Shiselweni and Lubombo regions affecting food and water security for a significant part of the population. The results from the 2017 Vulnerability Assessment indicated that over 53 per cent and 55 per cent of the population in Shiselweni and Lubombo regions respectively access water from unprotected sources.