Niger

Humanitarian Situation

Due to favourable agro-climatic conditions, preliminary crop estimates indicate that cereal production levels exceeded expectations in three regions of Niger by about 5 million metric tons (MT) in 2012. These estimates validate earlier forecasts that predicted good agricultural production this season. However, heavy rains in August resulted in the flooding of 10,000 hectares, leaving production losses at more than 27,200 MT. Among children aged 6 to 59 months, global acute malnutrition (GAM) prevalence stands at 14.8 per cent, close to the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency threshold of 15 per cent and severe acute malnutrition (SAM) prevalence is 3 per cent¹. Children aged 6–23 months are the most affected, with a GAM prevalence of 22.9 per cent and a SAM prevalence of 5.3 per cent. Four out of eight regions are above the 15 per cent threshold. Even though the food outlook for 2013 is good, a high prevalence and heavy caseload of acute malnutrition is expected because food security does not immediately translate into adequate nutrition. Furthermore, despite the expected excess in agricultural production, there are pocket areas where food production is compromised, leaving about 2 million people food-insecure. Moreover, the very low economic level of most households countrywide and the increasing impoverishment of rural households further contribute to vulnerability to acute malnutrition. The number of officially recorded refugees from Mali continues to rise and has now reached over 65,000, including some 40,000 children, who reside in camps and other sites close to the Malian border. The situation in Mali is not expected to improve over the coming months. This will have implications for regional stability, and further refugee influx into Niger and other countries is expected.

Results from 2012

UNICEF originally appealed for US$30,025,000 and later revised requirements to US$39,675,281 at mid-year in response to the influx of refugees from Mali and the increase school dropout due to the nutrition crisis. As of 31 October, UNICEF received US$42,150,891, or 106 per cent of the revised requirements, enabling a timely and effective response by UNICEF and partners. The response was also enhanced by early warning and effective coordination among government and humanitarian partners. Although the 2012 crisis centred around nutrition, an integrated approach has been developed encompassing health, WASH, education and child protection interventions. As of the end of October, 312,148 under-five children were admitted to therapeutic feeding centres for SAM, while another 385,801 received treatment for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). Food for blanket supplementary feeding was distributed to 950,000 children aged 6 to 23 months and 237,809 lactating women to cover the hunger gap during the lean season. More than three million children aged 6 to 59 months received vitamin A supplementation. Following the WASH in Nutrition Strategy, some WASH supplies are being distributed to priority regions to assist all the nutrition centres in acquiring a minimum WASH package, which also includes WASH-related hygiene kits for mothers and children with SAM. Towards the end of October, the national back-to-school campaign was officially launched throughout the country; it aimed to boost school enrolment countrywide and secure schooling for 47,000 children who had dropped out because of the food crisis or other disasters. In collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), unconditional cash transfers were also delivered to 15,000 households with children 6–23 months old who were severely affected by food insecurity. When flooding occurred, the response by the Government, United Nations agencies and NGOs was immediate. UNICEF mobilized its pre-positioned stocks of NFI within 48 hours and reached approximately 14,800 families in the most affected regions, including Niamey. In addition, UNICEF has contracted four NGO partners to implement WASH activities in response to the cholera outbreak.

UNICEF funding requirements for 2013

The major challenges ahead are: (i) breaking the cycle of recurrent nutrition crises by addressing their underlying and structural causes; (ii) ensuring adequate management of the expected SAM caseload while preventing the degradation of children’s nutritional status and addressing chronic malnutrition; and (iii) being operationally prepared for an escalation of the conflict in Mali. Because the political and donor environment is conducive to the development of an integrated approach to reducing chronic vulnerability and bridging the gap between humanitarian and development interventions, Niger is set to become a pilot country for resilience-building. Therefore, in line with the country’s inter-agency 2013 Consolidated Appeals Process, UNICEF is requesting US$33,790,767 to meet the humanitarian needs of children and contribute to resilience. Without additional funding, UNICEF will be unable to support the national response to the country’s continuing nutrition crisis or bring critical WASH and education services to refugees, host communities and other vulnerable communities facing the spread of cholera and needing basic educational supplies.