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ESARO MADAGASCAR: EMERGENCY SUMMARY

CRITICAL ISSUES FOR CHILDREN AND WOMEN

Madagascar is hit by three or four cyclones in an average year, which systematically involve flooding. The island is also affected by endemic droughts. With 68 per cent of Madagascar’s population of 19.7 million people living on less than US$ 1 a day, coping mechanisms for emergencies are limited; the challenge for the humanitarian community and the Government is to ensure that logistical systems operate well and that the most vulnerable children and women are reached with a timely response. Funds raised through the Humanitarian Action Report will directly support an estimated 300,000 people.

PLANNED HUMANITARIAN ACTION FOR 2009

UNICEF is leading the UN thematic group on emergency prevention and management, and providing cluster coordination leadership in nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and education, and is also an active participant in the health cluster. UNICEF is currently developing an emergency response coordination mechanism on child protection.

Health and Nutrition: UNICEF will ensure that the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) continues to reach children under age five in cyclone-affected regions; support measles immunization with vitamin A supplementation; ensure vaccine availability and the functioning of the cold chain; provide health facilities in the affected districts with essential drugs, oral rehydration salts (ORS) and malaria prevention supplies; support the conduct of outreach services; distribute long-lasting insecticidal nets at displaced sites; provide anthropometric equipment to health facilities in affected districts; train health staff and community workers on the identification of acute malnutrition; implement nutritional surveillance/surveys at health centre and community levels through the outreach strategy; and treat children diagnosed as being malnourished with ready-to-use therapeutic food and systematic drugs.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene: UNICEF will conduct a field assessment; distribute water and hygiene-related non-food items; disinfect, rehabilitate and equip community and family wells with handpumps; provide water storage and water treatment equipment to affected communities in cities and camps; construct adequate emergency latrines; conduct hygiene education activities; and train and sensitize mayors, school directors, health centre chiefs and Fokontany Heads (village chiefs) on WASH principles and practices.

Education: UNICEF will distribute tents, ‘school-in-a-box’ kits, recreational kits and additional school supplies; support the construction of temporary school/classroom structures; support the rehabilitation of schools and build latrines in affected localities; support schools to ensure that children complete the school year and get access to remedial education; support training in emergency preparation and response to education officials; and train primary schoolteachers, with particular attention to a child-friendly school environment, life skills and gender sensitivity.

Child Protection: UNICEF will provide technical assistance to camp management staff and community members and authorities in affected areas on the prevention of violence and abuse against vulnerable groups; provide technical assistance to humanitarian workers in protection and the principled approach to humanitarian action; and establish 15 child-friendly spaces in the accommodation centres in Antananarivo.

Shelter and Non-Food Items: UNICEF will provide emergency shelter and other basic household items (tents, plastic sheeting, cooking sets etc.); and deliver relief goods in the most isolated municipalities through airlift operations.

Summary of UNICEF Emergency Needs for 2009*
Sector	US$
Health	2,100,000
Nutrition	500,000
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene	2,000,000
Education	1,400,000
Child Protection	300,000
Shelter and Non-Food Items	300,000
Total**	6,600,000

* Funds received against this appeal will be used to respond to both the immediate and medium-term needs of children and women as outlined above. If UNICEF should receive funds in excess of the medium-term funding requirements for this emergency, UNICEF will use those funds to support other, underfunded emergencies.
** The total includes a maximum recovery rate of 7 per cent. The actual recovery rate on contributions will be calculated in accordance with UNICEF Executive Board Decision 2006/7 dated 9 June 2006.