OUR WORK WITH REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE case studies : NIGERIAN REFUGEE response Violence caused by the in is Water, sanitation and hygiene resulting in large numbers of refugees crossing the Plan International Cameroon has responded to water, border into Cameroon. There are an estimated 63,000 sanitation and hygiene needs through a number of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon, of which 47,322 are interventions including: registered in the camp of Minawao, a large number of • Training of 45 hygiene promoters to reinforce the task which are children. force for sensitisation in Minawao camp • Establishing six committees to monitor open air With the increasing population of refugees, the capacity defecation of the Minawao camp has reached its limits. New needs • Hygiene campaigns continue to emerge, including the creation of a new • Establishing and training two water management camp, adequate water supply and the construction committees to oversee the two boreholes constructed of more family habitats to avoid overcrowding and a • Distribution of 2,500 water, sanitation and hygiene kits potential outbreak of a cholera epidemic. to refugees • Three waste pits, with an additional two currently Education under construction. In Minawao camp Plan International Cameroon have reached 4,500 children and 62 teachers through the distribution of school and teacher kits. We have also constructed three temporary learning spaces and two early childhood care and development centres for children between the ages of 0-5 years.

Child protection We have constructed and equipped child friendly spaces, as well as established community based child protection committees.

Plan International Cameroon has built the capacity of key workers and service providers on child protection issues. In collaboration with UNICEF, we have organised trainings for government social workers to provide age and gender appropriate case management services to refugee children from Nigeria.

Photo © Plan International 1.United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015). Sahel Response. Inter- Teacher helps boy write on blackboard at temporary learning agency Information Sharing Portal. Cameroon [online]. Available from http://data. centre built by Plan International in a refugee camp, Cameroon 1 unhcr.org/SahelSituation/region.php?id=73&country=502. Accessed 2 November 2015 SYRIAN REFUGEES: OUR RESPONSE

Plan International is scaling up its response to the Syrian refugee crisis. The reasons for this include: • The shocking and rapid deterioration of the refugee situation throughout the Middle East and the arrival of unprecedented numbers of refugees and unaccompanied children in Europe in 2015. • Plan International’s own roots assisting children affected by conflict, have led us to scale up our response.

We are strengthening our existing response in Egypt. In the region, we continue to support partner organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. We are currently working towards establishing responses in Jordan and Turkey. EGYPT – REFUGEE RESPONSE As a result of the conflict in Syria the registered number of Syrian refugees in Egypt is 128,019. Syrian refugees live We reached 11,540 children (including 5,089 girls) and in scattered urban locations in Egypt, which, according 12,540 adults (including 5,489 women) to UNHCR, results in a ‘dual burden’ to their health – constrained access to primary health facilities and the Total reached: 24,080 People increased risk of diseases associated with overcrowding, poor sanitation and hygiene.2 • Engage with the Ministry of Education’s Professional Plan International Egypt began responding to the needs Academy of Teachers (PAT) to develop teacher training of Syrian refugees and host community members in 2014. modules in promoting mutual understanding, peace building and mediation skills among students in public Education schools with mixed populations of Syrian and Egyptian Plan International Egypt is supporting access to formal children. and non-formal education, including remedial classes for Syrian refugees. Further, Plan International Egypt Child protection is working with the Ministry of Education to strengthen Plan International Egypt is providing psychosocial support to capacity of teachers and other education personnel. Syrian refugee and vulnerable Egyptian children, youth and their families. Over the next two years Plan International Egypt will: • Support over 40 public schools to improve their basic Plan International Egypt is providing case management infrastructure. services to children with urgent child protection needs by

2.United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015). Egypt : 3RP Monthly Update - June 2015: Health [online]. Available from http://reliefweb.int/report/egypt/egypt-3rp- 2 monthly-update-june-2015-health. Accessed 30 October 2015 SURVIVING THE HAZARDOUS JOURNEY FROM SYRIA TO EGYPT

“So many Syrian families were squeezed into the same boat,” says Mohammed, who fled the civil war in Syria with his wife, children and brother, who were in urgent need of medical care.

“We were all so scared and worried – especially about our children – but we had no choice. There was no safety equipment on board and we had to spend many hours and so many scary nights on the boat. Things got worse when my three-year old son Ezz’s leg was burned while he was on-board the boat.”

Mohammed and his family crossed Turkey, before arriving in strengthening referral systems and access to multi- Damietta and finally Alexandria, Egypt. sectorial and child-friendly services. “The first few months were a challenge. I struggled to Through life skills activities, child friendly spaces and find a job and I was unable to meet the basic needs mothering circles within the community centres, Plan of my family. In Syria, I had my own sewing shop and International Egypt is supporting the integration of employed many workers. In Egypt, things are different. communities and co-existence between Egyptian and I’ve found a job in a sewing workshop, yet the salary is Syrian children and youth. hardly sufficient to cover our basic needs.”

Cash programming Although it’s been months since Mohammed and his family Plan International is providing cash grants to support have been in Egypt, the effect of their arduous journey can Syrian families to access basic living needs, including still be felt. “My children, especially Ezz, are still suffering. mattresses, bed covers, kitchen utensils, apartment Whenever he hears fireworks or loud noises, he feels rent and nutrition supplements. Cash grants are also afraid and unsafe,” says Mohammed. being provided to meet children’s schooling and educational needs, including books and stationery. Child rights organisation Plan International has been supporting psychosocial support activities for children such Partnerships as Ezz. The organisation also runs sessions for parents so • With financial support from UNICEF, we identify, they can learn how to help their children move on from the children suffering from or at risk of violence, trauma they have experienced. abuse, exploitation and neglect and ensure their access to age and gender appropriate services. “I really hope it won’t be long before my children We provide psychosocial support to children and can recover from what they’ve been through,” says their caregivers, including recreational activities, Mohammed. “I want them to be able to lead a normal life.” life skills, positive parenting, and referral to psychosocial and mental health services. • Our Education in Harmony project, funded by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, supports the expansion of educational opportunities for both Syrian refugee and Egyptian children. It supports beneficiaries through education kits, maintenance of water and sanitation facilities and the refurbishment and renovation of classrooms/schools.

Photo (top) © Plan International / Jodi Hilton Photo (above) © Plan International Syrian refugee carries her baby Ezz (bottom right) takes part in a trip, run by Plan International, 3 promoting the integration of Syrian refugees in Egypt We have also strengthened referral mechanisms and community-based child protection mechanisms in 13 communities in order to improve the ability of children, parents, and communities to protect children.

Photo © Plan International / Rose+Sjölander Food distribution and nutrition support South Sudanese refugees receive maize and Plan International supports children below palm oil in a transit camp, Uganda the age of five, as well as pregnant and lactating women with access to information on nutrition and the screening and treatment of moderate malnutrition. To date 1,590 SOUTH SUDAN: children and 937 pregnant and lactating women have been reached.

REFUGEE AND IDP Our food distribution activities are extensive, with distributions to over 100,000 people of which 51,000 are RESPONSE children. All beneficiaries reached are all categorised as severely food insecure. As a result of the conflict in South Sudan an estimated 1.6 million people are displaced internally,3 and a further Water, sanitation and hygiene 640,000 people are displaced in the neighbouring Through the rehabilitation of boreholes and construction countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda.4 of latrines we have reached 24,200 people (12,342 children). We have also trained 57 hygiene promoters Plan International is providing assistance to internally in Akobo Pibor to raise awareness on sanitation and in displaced people within South Sudan and refugees in particular risks relating to diseases such as cholera and Ethiopia and Uganda in the areas of education, early typhoid. More than 10,160 individuals have been reached childhood care and development, child protection, food with hygiene related messages. distribution and water, sanitation and hygiene. Key donors: World Food Programme, UNICEF, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, SOUTH SUDAN – IDP response Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Plan International South Sudan is currently implementing Irish Aid and the UK Department for International programmes in four states: Jonglei, Central Equatoria, Development (DFID). Eastern Equatoria and the Lakes State.

Education ETHIOPIA – REFUGEE RESPONSE Plan International South Sudan has provided 2,848 Since December 2013, over 225,000 South Sudanese children with access to primary and pre-school education. refugees have arrived in Ethiopia.5 Plan International We have also supported the education system through Ethiopia is implementing child protection and education the distribution of books, pens and pencils, as well as the programming in Kule and Pugnido refugee camps. These construction of 12 temporary classrooms. refugee camps are currently home to a combined total of 66,700 South Sudanese refugees, 45,000 of which are A number of teachers have participated in training on how children. Education and protection are our priorities. to offer psychosocial support to pupils affected by the conflict. Education In Kule refugee camp, Plan International Ethiopia has Child protection supported the construction of 76 classrooms in four Plan International South Sudan has established 10 child school centres. This has led to the employment of 116 friendly spaces. Currently the total number of children refugee teachers, who will be supported to enrol 4,200 enrolled in these child friendly spaces is 2,790, of which students. In addition, 46 temporary learning spaces 1,099 are girls. have been constructed and are providing education services to over 10,000 children. A further 2,000 children Through child friendly spaces, children can access are benefiting from preschool education and other structured recreational and learning activities, as well as early learning activities while many of their parents are referral for appropriate child protection services. benefiting from parenting classes.

3. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2015).South Sudan: Humanitarian Dashboard (15 October 2015) [online]. Available from http:// 4 reliefweb.int/report/south-sudan/south-sudan-humanitarian-dashboard-15-october-2015 . Accessed 2 November 2015 4. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015). South Sudan Situation Information Sharing Portal. Regional Overview [online]. Available from http://data.unhcr. org/SouthSudan/regional.php . Accessed 2 November 2015 5. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015). South Sudan Situation Information Sharing Portal. Ethiopia [online]. Available from http://data.unhcr.org/ SouthSudan/country.php?id=65. Accessed 2 November 2015 Education With financial support from ECHO, Plan International Uganda’s current interventions focus on children in six refugee settlements and six host communities. The principle objective of the intervention is to promote protection, peace and resilience for conflict-affected South Sudanese children through the provision of quality educational opportunities in a safe and peaceful environment.

This ECHO-funded project has also supported 78 caregivers with weekly stipends to provide 3,384 children with structured, age-appropriate stimulating learning activities.

We reached 114,581 children (including 53,073 girls) Child protection and 83,863 adults (including 43,447 women) Plan International Uganda is implementing programmes in refugee camps and host communities in the Adjumani Total reached: 198,444 People region. Key child protection interventions include strengthening community-based psychosocial support; organising child and adolescent peer-support groups; Child protection strengthening community-based child protection Plan International Ethiopia has provided technical support committees and identification and referral of the most to refugee social workers to identify unaccompanied, vulnerable children. separated and highly vulnerable South Sudanese refugee children and provide follow-up support to ensure all We have also established 12 community safe spaces that necessary care is available. For those children without offer integrated early childhood care and development, care arrangements, we select and train foster families in and child friendly space services. the camps and regularly monitor the well-being of these children placed in foster care. Water, sanitation and hygiene Plan International Uganda has responded to water, In addition, 15,000 children received psychosocial care sanitation and hygiene needs by establishing water through child friendly spaces. committees, as well as constructing latrines and boreholes.

Future programming • Vocational training and life skills to foster the Non-food items Plan International Uganda is distributing non-food items in resilience of children and youth during their time in refugee resettlement camps, including kitchen sets, soap refugee camps and throughout their lives. and mosquito nets. • Through existing child protection mechanisms we will bring about positive social change and help to eradicate harmful traditional practices such as Key donors: ECHO, UNICEF and Swedish female genital mutilation and forced and early child International Development Cooperation Agency. marriage.

Key donors: German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), UNICEF, UNHCR, Irish Aid and European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO).

UGANDA – REFUGEE RESPONSE Since the conflict began in South Sudan in 2013, over 170,000 refugees have crossed the border into Uganda.7 A large number of refugees are settled in the Adjumani district where Plan International Uganda is currently operational.

5 BURUNDIAN REFUGEES: OUR RESPONSE

Election-related violence in Burundi in 2015 unleashed In addition, these safe spaces also provide clean water and Burundi’s worst political crisis since a civil war ended access to safe sanitation. Hygiene promotion and non-food in 2005. Plan International is responding to the influx item distribution takes place weekly in collaboration with of Burundian refugees in Tanzania and Rwanda, as Oxfam. well as closely monitoring the situation in Uganda. Water, sanitation and hygiene In Nyarugusu camp, Plan International Tanzania supports TANZANIA – refugee response 50 hygiene promoters who were trained by the Cholera Task The total number of Burundian refugees in Tanzania is Force. Promoters trained by the task force have reached an over 108,000.6 Priority needs identified are education, estimated 12,000 people through hygiene awareness raising child protection, water, sanitation and hygiene. activities.

Education In Nyarugusu camp, Plan International Tanzania is RWANDA – refugee response providing early childhood care and development in seven The total number of Burundian refugees in Rwanda is over centres, including the provision of classroom and playing 70,000.7 Child protection is of particular concern as a lack materials. We have also supported parenting education of learning and play spaces for children coupled with other sessions and have collaborated with other agencies on a protection risks contribute to the psychological distress of “Back to School” campaign. children. Children without their parents or caregivers are at higher risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. Child protection Plan International Tanzania has been identified by Child protection UNHCR as the only UNHCR implementing partner for Plan International Rwanda currently implements child child protection in the new refugee camps in Neuter and protection and sexual and gender based violence Mtendeli. programming for refugees in Mahama, Gashora, Nyanza, the protracted DRC refugee camps and in urban areas Key child protection interventions include the provision (Kigali). of case management services to children with urgent child protection needs, including separated and Plan International Rwanda supports unaccompanied, unaccompanied children, as well as strengthening family separated children and other at-risk children to access and community-based psychosocial support and child services including family tracing and reunification, protection committees. psychosocial support, alternative care and health services. In Mahama camps, 2,532 unaccompanied and In Nyarugusu camp Plan International Tanzania has separated children have been identified and are provided established seven child friendly spaces, reaching over with assistance and home-visits through child protection 5,000 children (including 2,693 girls). A combination of community mobilisers and social workers. Out of those education and protection activities take place in these identified, 683 have been reunified with their relatives/ spaces. customary caregivers.

6. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015). Burundi Situation Inter-agency Information Sharing Portal. United Republic of Tanzania [online]. Available from http:// 6 data.unhcr.org/burundi/country.php?id=212. Accessed 2 November 2015 7. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2015). Burundi Situation Inter-agency Information Sharing Portal. Rwanda [online]. Available from http://data.unhcr.org/ burundi/country.php?id=182. Accessed 2 November 2015 The queue for dignity NYARUGUSU REFUGEE CAMP, TANZANIA: Ndiyokubwayo, 15, is among tens of thousands of people who have been forced to flee unrest in Burundi over recent months. She currently lives at Nyarugusu refugee camp in north-west Tanzania.

In Tanzania living conditions remain challenging for Ndiyokubwayo, because the refugee influx has BURUNDIAN REFUGEES: overstretched the camp services. Ndiyokubwayo says she only feels safe within her shelter or when she is out with OUR RESPONSE her mother. The camp is intimidating, especially when a crowd of boys surrounds her. “Women do not have the freedom to say what we think. There is always a man We reached 27,915 children (including 12,918 girls) listening to what we say and to say what we have to and 10,654 adults (including 4,494 women) do,” she says. Total reached: 38,569 People Some of the challenges teenagers face include a lack of privacy and personal hygiene, especially during the days We have established 13 community-managed safe of menstruation. “It is very difficult in the camp to wash spaces that offer a range of psychosocial support the blankets we sleep in. We don’t have clean towels activities to children and young people. and sanitary conditions of latrines and in the shelter are very poor,” Ndiyokubwayo adds. Plan International Rwanda has supported the development of children, youth, women and men’s Plan International Tanzania is distributing dignity kits to groups in Nyanza reception centre. Each group help girls overcome this. In the first phase, they distributed meets once a week to discuss issues related to child 1,000 kits containing a simple plastic bucket that contains protection and sexual and gender based violence. basic hygiene items such as soap bars, bath towels, toilet paper, panties, pads, nail clippers and a torch. In collaboration with the Rwandan National Police, we also organise awareness raising campaigns focusing Plan International Tanzania has also trained girls and on root causes, consequences and reporting mothers on issues of personal hygiene and how to use mechanisms of sexual and gender based violence. some of the items such as sanitary pads – because many In Mahama Camp, Plan International Rwanda has of them had never used them before. also partnered with local organisations in the area of prevention of sexual and gender based violence. “At the beginning of the training I was embarrassed. Nobody wanted to talk about it, but now I know it is Plan International Rwanda is engaging in a birth very important for my health, and to prevent infections registration programme. and diseases. I am very happy,” says Ndiyokubwayo.

Despite the fears and challenges young girls face in refugee camps, Ndiyokubwayo is hopeful that life will get better. She hopes to go back to school again.

Photo (previous page, top) © Plan International Photo (above) © Plan International Fourteen-year-old unaccompanied boy assisted by Plan Adolescent girls queue for dignity kits distributed by International in a refugee camp, Rwanda Plan International, Tanzania 7 SUDAN: IDP RESPONSE

Since 2005, Plan International Sudan has been Women have been disproportionately affected by the working in Abu Shouk, Al Salam and Zam Zam camps violence in Darfur and the subsequent humanitarian crisis, located in the vicinity of El Fasher town, the capital programming focusing on the needs of women includes: of Northern Darfur. Plan International’s interventions • Increasing awareness of women’s rights, health issues, focus on providing support to internally displaced traditional harmful practices and pre/post-natal care and children and families temporarily housed in these safe delivery camps. • Support for facilities that provide health services to women • Consultations with women groups Education • Capacity building and training for women in income To date, 36,188 school children, including 18,446 girls, generating activities, environmental conservation and life have enrolled in 42 schools where Plan International skills trainings. provides assistance. We have also supported the training and capacity building of teachers and parent teacher Water, sanitation and health associations. Plan International Sudan has provided water tanks and constructed latrines in Abu Shouk, Al Salam and Zam Zam Additional activities include: camps. In addition we advocate on the importance of hygiene • Provision of school textbooks, teaching materials and and the need to change personal behaviour to ensure a education supplies healthy environment. This work is supported through capacity • Construction and rehabilitation of temporary building, awareness raising and sanitation and hygiene classrooms campaigns. • Construction of school latrines and provision of hygiene kits with a focus on girls Plan International also engages in non-food item distribution • Provision of water facilities in schools and camp coordination and management. • Community mobilisation. We reached 38,421 children (including 19,211 girls) and Child protection 115,262 adults (including 61,473 women) We have established 41 child friendly spaces in the Zam Total reached: 153,683 People Zam camp reaching 10,500 children aged between 3-6 years, of which 5,565 are girls.

In these child friendly spaces we provide: • Structured play, recreational activities, learning and referral to services • Awareness raising on child rights including female genital mutilation and early marriage issues.

Photo (top) © Plan International Boy with mosquito bed net distributed by Plan International in an 8 IDP camp, Darfur COLOMBIA: IDP RESPONSE Internal displacement has been an endemic feature of the 60-year-long conflict in Colombia, with over six million internally displaced, of which an estimated two million are children.8 Violent hostilities and direct threats to peoples’ lives have consistently been the principal causes of displacement. Ethnic minorities, such as Afro- Colombians and indigenous groups, comprise a disproportionate number of all IDPs.

Despite efforts to implement the Law on Victims and Land Restitution (Victims Law), there are still widespread The Fundación Plan in Colombia Make Me Visible risks, including forced recruitment of children and youth, programme aims to increase the registration of children, sexual and gender-based violence, disappearances and in order to guarantee them their right to an identity. The murders. programme focuses on displaced people and victims of armed conflict. In 2003, Fundación Plan in Colombia started working with internally displaced people to contribute to the Through awareness raising on public policies, plans, strengthening and consolidation of affected communities programmes and budgets, Fundación Plan in Colombia and to improve the conditions of children and their promotes the compliance and restoration of human rights of families through nutrition safety, psychosocial support girls, boys, adolescents, youth and their families, as well as and income generation. The technical hearing before the victims of forced displacement. Constitutional Court of Colombia was a key milestone in raising awareness of the real situation of internally Livelihoods displaced people. The participation of girls from Between 2007 and 2012, Fundación Plan in Colombia Fundación Plan in Colombia programmes helped to implemented a programme to foster the economic highlight particular issues they experienced. Furthermore, stabilisation of girls, boys and adolescents. The programme Fundación Plan in Colombia presented a number of focused on personal development and strengthening of studies on the specific needs of displaced girls, boys, community and institutional social networks. adolescents and youth. Key donors: UNHCR, The Colombian Family Welfare Education Institute (ICBF), WFP, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Fundación Plan in Colombia has implemented a number (National University of Colombia), Registraduria Nacional of trainings, including: (National Department of Public Records). • The prevention of sexual abuse • Nutritional safety for those in displaced settings • Targeted training for girls, boys and adolescents on how to peacefully resolve conflict, prevention of entry into illegal armed groups and support in becoming active subjects in peace building activities • Training for national, local and community leaders to strengthen institutional capacity.

Child protection Fundación Plan in Colombia has provided psychosocial support to those affected by armed conflict and natural disasters through art and collective dialogue. The programming specifically targets: • Survivors of sexual and gender based violence • Girls, boys and adolescents affected by displacement.

8. Unit for the Attention and Reparation of Victims (UARIV) (2015). Database of the UARIV [online] www.unidadvictimas.gov.co/index.php/en/. Accessed 30 October 2015 9 Photo (far left) © Plan International / Kaung Htet Girl uses water dispenser provided by Plan International at a school in an IDP camp, Myanmar

Myanmar health, HIV & AIDS transmission and prevention, personal hygiene and menstruation and the disadvantage of early marriages. IDP RESPONSE Plan International Myanmar also engages in food and non- Protracted conflicts in Myanmar’s border areas have food item distribution, and water, sanitation and hygiene displaced over half a million people. Years after the programming. violence erupted in Kachin and Rakhine, the need for a humanitarian response remains high in both Key donors: GFFO, ECHO, UNICEF and the United regions. Nations Early Response Fund (ERF) and Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

KACHIN – IDP response Plan International Myanmar has worked in IDP camps in RAKHINE – IDP response Kachin since 2013, reaching 17,643 people in more than Plan International Myanmar has been supporting 60,103 IDPs 50 camps. We work closely with local organisations in living in camps and affected communities since January 2015. Kachin to increase our geographical scope and build the capacity of partners. Education Plan International Myanmar has established 14 temporary Education learning spaces that are providing primary education to more Plan International Myanmar has renovated temporary than 5,465 children including 2,964 girls. learning sites and school classrooms in a number of IDP camps. We have also facilitated a range of trainings, Child protection including: • Mobile outreach teams have been established to ensure • Life skills training for adolescents and youth. Topics the most vulnerable and marginalised children have covered include substance abuse, life goal setting, access to basic services and protection. self-awareness, dealing with peer pressure, coping • Child friendly spaces have been established. with emotions and decision making. • Psychological First Aid is provided to children and their • To date 2,377 pregnant and 3,180 lactating women caregivers. have been educated on infant and young feeding. • Community level awareness raising activities on child • Education on the risk and effects of mines. protection.

Child protection Food distribution Plan International Myanmar has established 50 child To date, Plan International Myanmar has distributed over friendly spaces. To date, these have reached 12,708 7,500 metric tons of food to 51,498 IDPs in eight camps of children, including 6,560 girls. In addition 20 child friendly Sittwe Township. spaces have been equipped with play kits and water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. Key donors: World Food Programme, UNICEF, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency Nearly 600 girls have been reached through 20 girl club and Irish Aid. sessions. The girl club activities focus on reproductive

10 Other protection activities include: • Risk mapping activity in Kabara, Lere and Tonka in Timbuktu region. • Vocational training for 91 vulnerable adolescents in dress making, soap making and dyeing. • Provision of birth registration equipment in 30 municipalities, including paper, pens and typewriters MALI: • Production of 1,926 birth certificates. • Training for 238 birth registration staff in four communes IDP RESPONSE of Timbuktu. The Mali crisis has caused internal displacement and Water, sanitation and hygiene cross-border movements into Algeria, Burkina Faso, Plan International Mali has responded to water, sanitation Mauritania and Niger since 2012. Currently there and hygiene needs through a number of interventions are 61,920 internally displaced people and a total of including: 136,772 Malian refugees in neighbouring countries.8 • Rehabilitation and construction of latrines. • Construction of 29 boreholes in 28 schools and Plan International Mali has been monitoring and one community health centre in Timbuktu, Niafunke, responding to the situation since 2012 and currently Dire, Goundam and Gourma- Rharous. implements education, child protection, nutrition, cash • Installation of water tanks in 70 schools. and water, sanitation and hygiene programming. • Training for 70 hygiene committees on infrastructure maintenance and good health promotion through hand Education washing. Plan International Mali has established three temporary learning spaces, as well as distributed a total of 5,078 Cash programming school kits in 57 schools. We have also supported minor To date, 1,300 farmers have benefited through unconditional repairs in 28 schools. cash transfers in Goundam, Niafunke and Dire, whilst 650 heads of households have benefited from cash for work We have rehabilitated 29 early childhood care and activities. They have also been supported through the development (ECCD) centres and trained 105 education distribution of seedlings, fertiliser and materials to support mothers in ECCD management and child development. planting activities. Parent educational sessions take place once a month in all ECCD centres benefiting mothers and their children. In addition three women’s groups have been selected to receive support for income generating activities such as In addition, 120 teachers have been trained on gender tailoring and dyeing. based violence in schools and on the creation and maintenance of teacher learning communities. Nutrition To date, 6,326 children aged 6-23 months, including Child protection 3,170 girls, and 3,197 pregnant and nursing mothers Plan International Mali is supporting children in three have benefited from feeding programmes. child friendly spaces established in Timbuktu, Lere and Tonka. In each of these child friendly spaces we have In Dire, 557 pregnant and nursing mothers have been established protection committees comprising youth club enrolled in 16 community health centres and received members, parents and community leaders. nutrition supplements.

Photo © Plan International 8. Unit for the Attention and Reparation of Victims (UARIV) (2015). Database of the UARIV IDP children learning and preparing their exams in a class [online] www.unidadvictimas.gov.co/index.php/en/. Accessed 30 October 2015 supported by Plan International, Mali 11 : IDP RESPONSE

Central African Republic has experienced violence previously available in country and will offer support and a major political crisis which has left 2.7 million beyond emergency programming. people, over half the population, in need of aid. In total the crisis has forced more than 1 million people to flee Child protection their homes.9 Plan International has been responding Plan International implements child protection in Central African Republic since June 2014, mainly programming for children affected by conflict. Key in the areas of education, child protection and food interventions include: provision of psychosocial support distribution. activities through life skills, peer support networks, positive parenting and referral to specialised services; Education provision of family tracing, reunification and alternative • Plan International is currently supporting 110 primary care services to children separated from their families. schools, 15 early childhood care and development centres and 20 second chance classrooms. We have We have also established 19 child friendly spaces supported 155 youth, including 74 girls, to learn to reaching 9,247 children (including 4,001 girls). read and write through five literacy centres. • Our temporary safe learning spaces have reached a Plan International supports the release and reintegration total of 3,127 students in Ouham province. of children previously associated with armed groups into • Plan International also supports vocational training, families and communities. literacy and numeracy programmes in Carnot, Gadzi and Nassole. With Plan International’s and local partner AFJC’s support, • Plan International is co-leading the sub-cluster on 174 vulnerable children (including 84 girls) have received early childhood care and development. their birth certificate. • Plan International has supported the establishment of an inter-ministerial group focused on early childhood care and development which is developing policies to Food distribution support this work for the long run. In Mambere Kadei, food has been distributed to 2,400 • Plan International developed a Ministry approved households in five major distribution sites. A total of ECCD module for use in schools. This was not 13,470 people (including 3,626 girls) benefited from this distribution. A further 2,380 children aged 0-5 years (including 1,223 girls) received plumpy supplements.

In the Ouham, province 83,593 tons of food items composed of rice, salt, beans, cooking oil and plumpy supplement were distributed to 13,785 persons in 1,948 households, including 5, 989 women and 1,780 girls under five years old.

Key donors: World Food Programme, UNICEF, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Irish Aid, Global Partnership for Education and the UN’s Core Humanitarian Fund.

9. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2015). Central African Republic: Humanitarian Snapshot (as of 30 September 2015) [online]. Available from http://reliefweb. int/report/central-african-republic/central-african-republic-humanitarian-snapshot-30- september-2015. Accessed 2 November 2015. 10. Plumpy supplements treat malnutrition in children. The product, as a dietary supplement, helps improve a child’s nutrition.

Photo © Plan International 12 Children from Central Africa Republic in front of a temporary learning space built in a refugee camp, Cameroon