Humanitarian response

30th November 2005

Major Developments:
Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC): Final results of the October assessment show that the situation in relation to food security and nutrition has deteriorated with a total of 801,653 people (4.4% of the population) in immediate need. The worst hit province is Tete (198,000 people affected), followed by Gaza and Inhambane (146,000 and 119,000 respectively). The lack of water is identified as a critical problem. The distances travel to reach safe drinking water sources is increasing, and the quality of available water is further deteriorating.

Cyclone forecast: Alvin, number 5 on the cyclonic season map, appeared mid-November but has since been downgraded to a tropical depression around 3000km from Reunion Island (around 5000 km from Mozambique). Conditions have not enabled these initial systems to cause any damage. It is worrying, however, to have systems appearing so early in the season.

Cholera: Although the peak cholera season has only just begun, the Ministry of Health has reported more than 2,000 cumulative cases and 22 deaths up to the 25th Nov 2005 in Zambézia, Sofala and Manica provinces. The overall case fatality rate is higher compared to 2004 which reflects issues on access and case management.

Assessments:
The GoM-UN field mission to Gaza: A high level mission led by the Prime Minister and composed of the Minister of Agriculture, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the Director of INGC, together with the UN Resident Coordinator, was conducted during the first week of November 2005 to affected locations in Gaza province to assess the situation on the ground and to verify that 43 people had died of hunger. The northern districts of the province were identified as the most vulnerable, with the situation threatening to deteriorate further if immediate actions are not taken, particularly in the relation to water and food aid. The capacity of the affected districts to cope with the present situation has been exacerbated by the impact of the drought.

The national vaccination campaign: The Minister of Health announced, in a press conference on 18 November 2005, the results of the national vaccination campaign launched on 7 April 2005. A total of 8,189,159 children were vaccinated against measles, and 4,391,090 received a first dose and 4,305,987 received a second dose of polio vaccine. In addition, 3,398,535 children received vitamin A supplementation. Areas currently affected by the humanitarian crisis have been covered by the campaign. This corresponds to approximately 97% percent global coverage.

Nutrition survey: The MoH officially released the results of a recent nutrition survey conducted by MoH and UNICEF, which reconfirmed that national rates of wasting of 4.7% are close to the baseline of the 2003 DHS (4%). The survey showed, however, that 31 out of a total 54 surveyed districts with groups of clusters where malnutrition rates were above 5% (classified as "poor" according to WHO) or above 10% (classified as "serious" according to WHO). While the survey highlighted high vitamin A and immunisation coverage (directly related to the measles campaign), it also noted a high incidence of diarrhoea (37%, three times higher than that recorded by the 2003 DHS). UNICEF supported the survey through supplies, financial resources and technical support to the development of the methodology, analysis and preparation of the report. The MOH, WFP and UNICEF are utilizing the results to plan a response in the 18 districts with elevated malnutrition rates in the drought-affected centre and south of the country (starting in December).

USAID - Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) meeting: Following OFDA’s declaration of emergency on the drought situation in Mozambique, the Regional OFDA Representative in Pretoria held a meeting on 29 November 2005 with UN agencies and NGOs to discuss the current situation. Prior to the meeting, those UN agencies and NGOs who were interested in receiving funds were requested to submit a concept note for review by OFDA and USAID Mozambique. UNICEF has resubmitted the emergency proposal that was given to USAID in September this year.

UNICEF Response:
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion: As part of the cholera response, UNICEF is providing safe drinking water for 23,500 people and household sanitation facilities for 500 families in the most affected areas of Beira, Buzi, Marromeu, Quelimane and Mocuba. These activities are being complemented with hygiene promotion. UNICEF is also supporting the rehabilitation and construction of 137 water for about 68,500 people in drought-affected areas of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Sofala, Zambézia and Tete provinces, in addition to transporting safe water benefiting about 50,000 people in nine affected localities by truck

Nutrition and Health: The Ministry of Health, WFP UNICEF and NGO partners are currently in the process of preparing an integrated nutrition and health programme in drought-affected areas. The programme includes the following interventions: screening and triage of acutely malnourished children and their referral as appropriate for supplementary feeding or treatment of severe malnutrition in health facilities, de-worming, Vitamin A supplementation, vaccination, treatment of diarrhoea, malaria and other common infectious illnesses, as well as nutrition and hygiene education. In November, the MoH developed guidelines and training materials with UNICEF, as well as a budget to cover the costs of microplanning, training of health workers, enhanced outreach teams and supervision. The programme will target 18 drought-affected districts in 5 provinces to support up to 10,000 malnourished children. The programme aims to build Government capacity to implement a targeted supplementary feeding programme, and the intention is that the intervention will transit into a routine programme to be jointly supported by UNICEF and WFP. EPF funds will be used to cover the cost of the first phase of implementation, but more funds will be needed in 2006.

Special Protection: UNICEF and WFP supported the training of 18 trainers to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse in the context of the growing humanitarian situation. These trainers will orient and sensitise all partners involved in humanitarian assistance in the affected districts by end December.

Communication: A social mobilisation and communication plan for Cholera prevention has been developed by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF. Training of health staff has begun and posters have been disseminated in affected locations.

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