Sahel Crisis Update No. 25 Regional Bureau for West Africa 29 June 2012

The 2012 food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel threatens to affect more than 18 million people. WFP plans to assist over 10 million people through food/cash and nutrition interventions, focusing on the link between relief and recovery. Vulnerable households in the Sahel had little time to recover from the last drought in 2009/2010, and are to-date left with limited coping mechanisms. Malnutrition rates, particularly affecting children under two, are generally high in the Sahel, and usually rise during the lean season, leading to significant peaks in acute malnutrition and mortality. dŚŝƐ LJĞĂƌ͛ƐĐƌŝƐŝƐŝƐ compounded by a reduction in food and fodder production and high food prices, and comes on top of a tenuous socio- political, economic and security situation. The Mali crisis is Women carrying home CSB donated by Belgium. further exacerbating needs and contributing to a complex operational WFP/Chad environment. Highlights ƒ As both the hunger and rainy seasons start and communities are planting for the next harvest, June and July mark difficult months for vulnerable households to cope; for many, humanitarian assistance is the main means of survival.

ƒ t&W͛ƐZĞŐŝŽŶĂůƵƌĞĂƵŝƐĂƐƐŝƐƚŝŶŐŽƵŶƚƌLJKĨĨŝĐĞƐŝŶadjusting their preparedness and response plans taking into account scenarios of the post-harvest as potentially affected by locust.

ƒ WFP provided critical food and nutrition assistance to some 4 million people between January and May, and supported 2.9 million in May alone. The number of people reached is expected to further increase in June and onwards when needs are greatest. In June, scale-up is underway of unconditional transfers and blanket supplementary feeding to provide vital support to the most vulnerable during the lean season.

ƒ In order to enable WFP to implement its large-scale response aiming to support over 10 million people in 2012, t&W͛Ɛ logistics capacity is being increased to accelerate the procurement, shipping and prepositioning of an unprecedented volume of food required since the beginning of the emergency. In additional, local procurement is ongoing to reduce lead times. Timely arrival of commodities will be crucial for full-scale support.

ƒ Additional resources are required for the ongoing scale- up during the lean season as well as subsequent shift to recovery activities with a view to building the resilience of communities; The Mali crisis is placing a heavy burden on communities.

Note: This weekly update aims to provide highlights ŽĨt&W͛Ɛ^ĂŚĞůresponse during the past week. For more specific information please contact the Regional Bureau in Dakar (p.6).

1

Operations Update Nutrition In the Sahel, children, pregnant women and nursing mothers as well as adolescent girls endure the worst consequences of crisis, facing the highest risk of mortality linked to malnutrition and irreversible effects on the mental and physical development of children. Under nutrition activities, WFP has been implementing targeted supplementary feeding (TSF) activities and providing care-taker rations in Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Mali and Mauritania since the start of the response. The blanket supplementary feeding (BSF) programme is ongoing in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger; final preparations for the start of the activity in the remaining countries are ongoing. ƒ Burkina Faso: WFP is working with partners for the referral and treatment of children with MAM. WFP and MSF are setting up procedures for the management of MAM in refugee sites to avoid potential dropouts. First rations were provided to ƌĞĨƵŐĞĞĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶƐƵĨĨĞƌŝŶŐĨƌŽŵŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞĂĐƵƚĞŵĂůŶƵƚƌŝƚŝŽŶŝŶƚŚĞƐŝƚĞŽĨ^ŽŵŶŐĂŶĚĞ͘t&W͛Ɛ operational partner Save the Children Canada is currently conducting weekly MAM screenings. A screening campaign was carried out in the health district Nanoro (June 18-20) for the referral of children in need of targeted supplementary feeding. In June, 2,760 children were supported, including 1,358 registered during the said screening campaign. Under the blanket feeding activity, currently only carried out in the Sahel regional of Burkina Faso due to a pipeline break in nutritional products, close to 4,500 children were supported. ƒ Cameroon: A support mission from the Regional Bureau to set up Blanket Feeding Post Distribution Monitoring has started in Kousseri. ƒ Chad: Blanket-feeding and targeted food distributions are ongoing throughout the Sahelian band. Over 830,000 beneficiaries were reached so far with more than 12,800 mt of food distributed. Three distributions sites in eastern Chad had to be relocated as roads have become impassable due to the rains. The relocation was done in coordination with the local authorities, in order to finalize distributions. This was also an alternative to the reluctance of many transporters to go in these areas. ƒ Mali: WFP continues to monitor closely its ongoing curative (for children under the age of 5 and pregnant women and nursing mothers) and preventive nutritional activities (for children under the age of 2 and pregnant women and nursing mothers) being conducted through cooperating partners. This is being done through regular field missions in Kayes, Mopti and Koulikoro regions. ƒ Mauritania: To cover the needs of 30,000 children for a one month period under the targeted supplementary feeding programme, some 41 mt are being delivered to Gorgol and Brakna. Monthly dispatches of this same tonnage are expected to follow. ƒ Niger: As of 25 June, more than 3,285 mt have been delivered to partners for the June cycle; the tonnage represents 51% of planned requirements for the month and will benefit 385,258 children 6-23 months and 122,086 nursing mothers.

Data collection for the baseline and post-distribution monitoring of BSF is complete; analysis is ongoing. ƒ Senegal: Nutrition activities were launched on 19 June in Matam.

Food security t&W͛ƐĨŽŽĚƐĞĐƵƌŝƚLJĂĐƚŝǀŝƚŝĞƐŝŶĐůƵĚĞĐŽŶĚŝƚŝŽŶĂůĂĐƚŝǀŝƚŝĞƐ;ĨŽŽĚĂŶĚĐĂƐŚͬǀŽƵĐŚĞƌĨŽƌĂƐƐĞƚƐͿ͕ĂƐǁĞůůĂƐunconditional targeted food and cash/voucher distributions implemented in a phased approach, and based on the seasonal calendar of communities. ƒ Burkina Faso: Cash-for-work activities, focusing on soil rehabilitation and resilience building through the construction of stone bunds, gully work and fertilization, are ongoing until the end of the month. ƒ Cameroon: The first food distributions started on 11 June in Kousseri; so far, 18,562 people were supported. On 24 June, the EMOP was officially launched by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

2

Following the feasibility study on Cash/Voucher activities in northern Cameroon recommending such transfers, a budget revision to the EMOP is being drafted to include the activity. Chad: Food for work projects are ongoing with different partners: In the western Sahel, projects carried out with FAO, ONDR (national bureau for rural development) and other partners include the construction of some 299km of hedge to protect 818 ha of farming land in the wadis, the construction of a bridge, flood Women and men participating in cash-for-work activities in Bogande district/Burkina Faso. barriers, etc., with more than WFP/Benoit Geers. 70,400 participants. In the eastern Sahel, three projects for the construction of dams and vegetable gardening are ongoing with 3,600 participants. In June, scale-up is underway of unconditional transfers and blanket supplementary feeding to provide vital support to the most vulnerable during the lean season. ƒ Mali: WFP continues to scale up its assistance in the northern areas with deliveries through NGO partners. To date, WFP reached 50,300 beneficiaries with 328mt of food and nutritional commodities in Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal regions. Further deliveries are planned with NGOs Handicap International, Islamic Relief, and Norwegian Church Aid. The first ĚĞůŝǀĞƌŝĞƐŽĨĨŽŽĚĐŽŵŵŽĚŝƚŝĞƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚďŽĂƚƐ͕͞ƉŝŶĂƐƐĞƐ͕͟ were launched on 27 June, from Mopti port, and are directed to Timbuktu. The rainy season, which is now ongoing, will allow for further use of the waterway for delivery of assistance with NGO partners to vulnerable communes located by the river Niger. WFP is completing the June round of distribution in the southern regions. WFP provided immediate food assistance through monthly rations. Cash transfers and resilience building through food-for-asset activities are also ongoing. ƒ Mauritania: On 25 June 2012 the first cash transfers were completed in the regions of Guidimagkha and Assaba and will be finalised in all other regions by the end of the week. A second cash transfer is expected in July 2012.

The positioning of wheat for the Cereal Banks is almost complete and the dispatch of wheat within the SAVS is expected to be completed in early July 2012 this will cover the needs of a total of 230,000 beneficiaries for a period of 2 months. x Niger: Since last week, distributions are underway in Maradi, Tahoua, Zinder, and Diffa as commodities are received. Deliveries are ongoing as commodities arrive in country; as of 26 June more than 7,794 mt had been dispatched, representing 33% of planned tonnage for the June cycle.

Distributions are ongoing: As of 26 June, nearly USD 5 million were dispatched to partners for the distribution of unconditional cash transfers across rural areas of Niger; this amount represents 67% of planned requirements for June ʹ the remainder is pre-financed by WFP partnered micro-finance institutions (to be reimbursed following receipt of validated distribution reports).

Following technical concerns regarding mobile phone reception in Agadez, WFP has partnered with local MFIs experienced in WFP cash transfers for future unconditional cash distributions in urban peripheries of Agadez. Mobile phone transfers will continue to be used in Tillaberi and Tahoua urban areas.

Distribution of food for work that was completed in May has been delayed in Tillaberi region due to pipeline breaks; commodities are being dispatched as they arrive in country; as of 26 June, 299 mt remain to be dispatched. ƒ Senegal: 502,649 vulnerable persons have been assisted since 28 April to date through targeted food distributions (TFD), Cash and Vouchers (C&V) and restocking of Cereal Banks (BCV) activities.

3

ƒ The Gambia: The second round of food distributions under the IR-EMOP was completed in Central River Region during the reporting period to 48,855 women, men and children. The first round of food distributions as part of the EMOP in the remaining four regions was completed. Response to the Mali crisis: ƒ Under the Regional Emergency Operation, distributions to internally displaced people (IDP) in Mali and refugees in neighbouring countries are ongoing, and support to host communities is provided through country level operations. As of 26 June, the total number of IDP in Mali was estimated at 158,857 (OCHA), and 181,742 Malian refugees are to date registered in Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger (UNHCR). ƒ In Burkina Faso, 67,000 refugees and members of the host communities have been assisted through targeted food distributions by 12 June. 800 refugee children are currently benefitting from school meals in primary schools ĂƐƐŝƐƚĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ t&W͛Ɛ ongoing school feeding programme in Ouadalan, where an increasingly large number of refugee children have started to be enrolled in local schools. ƒ In Mali, WFP has provided Internally displaced women and girls in Gao, northern Mali. WFP/Daouda Guirou. assistance to 1,600 internally displaced people in Segou and is completing its assistance for some 5,000 IDPs in Mopti with cooperating partner CARE (IDP caseload is shared between WFP and CRS in Mopti region). Furthermore, WFP is currently preparing food deliveries for more than 8,000 IDPs in Sikasso and is finalizing an agreement with local NGO ADR for assistance to IDP in Kayes. ƒ In Mauritania, the distribution for 70,000 beneficiaries is currently ongoing, to cover needs for a period of one month. ƒ In Niger, distributions were completed in Mangaizé (3,509 refugees assisted), and ongoing in Abala (5,275 of 10,392 beneficiaries assisted as of 26 June) and in Tilla (planned for 12,570 persons). Deliveries are ongoing as commodities are received in country: as of 26 June, 60% of planned tonnage has been dispatched for the refugee response.

UNHCR reports more than 500 new refugees have arrived in the recently established Tabarbarey camp (Ayorou, Tillaberi region).

WFP met with partners to update on programmatic changes following the shift to the regional EMOP from June, specifically: a BSF component has been added for displaced children 6-23 months; displaced populations will receive a revised food ďĂƐŬĞƚ͖ĂŶĚŚŽƐƚĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐǁŝůůďĞŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶĞĚƵŶĚĞƌt&W͛ƐǁŝĚĞƌůĞĂŶƐĞĂƐŽŶƌĞƐƉŽŶƐĞ͘ FLAs with partners are being revised accordingly.

Food security, nutrition and market assessments ƒ Numerous food security and nutrition assessments are currently ongoing and/or being planned. In Chad, a rapid food security assessment is ongoing until 29 June. The study aims to assess ŚŽƵƐĞŚŽůĚƐ͛ food security and coping strategies in order to adjust and confirm adapted interventions in the drought affected regions.

In Mali, WFP started a rapid survey on 25 June in Kolokani cercle in Koulikoro region; the reason for this localized ƐƵƌǀĞLJďĞŝŶŐƚŚĂƚƚŚŝƐnjŽŶĞǁĂƐŶ͛ƚŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚŝŶƚŚĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ&ŽŽĚ^ecurity Assessment conducted in December 2011. In addition, an Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) on IDP is scheduled to start on 5 July in the three northern regions of Mali and Mopti with the support of cooperating partners which have been identified.

4

In Mauritania, the FSMS July round and SMART assessments were combined and started on 24 June 2012; this joint assessment between WFP, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, combining for the first time food security and nutrition data) will use the same sample of vulnerable households.

ƒ In June, millet prices continued to increase in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal (Burkina and Mali figures are a comparison to the four-year average, while Niger and Senegal figures show the comparison with the five-year average).

Comparison of millet price in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Senegal: (Source: FAO/GIEWS/SIM/CSA Senegal)

Logistics ƒ The rainy season has started in many locations; where not completed, prepositioning is ongoing. Some areas in Kolda, Saint Louis and Matam regions of Senegal are already inaccessible due to heavy rains. Food has been preventively pre-positioned in these areas- when possible- for a two months distribution. In eastern Chad, three distribution sites were relocated as roads have become impassable due to the early rains.

ƒ Nigeria Procurement: The WFP team in Nigeria, deployed to support the procurement operation of 30,000 mt of Sorghum continues worŬŝŶŐ ĐůŽƐĞůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ EŝŐĞƌŝĂŶ͛Ɛ EĂƚŝŽŶĂů &ŽŽĚ ZĞƐĞƌǀĞ ŐĞŶĐLJ͘ The first shipment of sorghum is leaving today 28 June for Niger. Consignments for Chad will be starting next week. Bagging operations have already started to create buffer stock in the silos. The 3 silos of Minna (14,000 mt), Ogoja (12,000 mt) and Makoudi (4,000mt) will provide Niger and Chad with much needed cereals. ƒ With the urgent needs for food in the Sahel, WFP is procuring locally to ensure quick availability of the commodities. In May and June a total of 9,000 mt of rice was procured in Senegal for the operations in this country. Another lot of 700 mt will be procured for Niger. The price of locally procured (imported) rice is very competitive as the trading companies currently have large surplus of commodities due to the reduced exports to Mali, affected by a political crisis. With increased stock availability and less demand, the prices have gone down. ƒ The issue of delivery delays due to insufficient security escorts in the Sudan corridor for Chad is being addressed with the use of a private transporter services, for up to three convoys a week with a capacity for 1,000 to 1,200 mt of food each. For Senegal, long delays in food delivery by local transporters are registered in Casamance due to the current cashew nuts trade requiring most of the trucks available.

ƒ In Mali, a logistics cluster mission is taking place on 29 June to assess the WFP logistics base in Mopti which could be developed into a potential logistics hub for partners in the region. The next Logistics Cluster meeting will be held on Thursday 5 July with humanitarian partners. Discussions will be centered on logistics operation update, corridors into Mali, and overall information sharing.

5

Emergency Telecommunications Mali: Following arrival of Emergency Telecommunications (ETC) equipment in Mopti, an ETC mission for the set up of a communications center with a basic VHF/HF network in the new common UN facility is ongoing. Five radio operators are currently being selected for Mopti by the WFP radio trainer. Also, in Bamako, the radio training of UN personnel continues and lightning protection installation for the new telecommunications tower at UNDSS has been finalized. Donor Relations and Resourcing Update This week, WFP welcomed the timely and generous donation from the Principality of Andorra to the regional emergency operation that aims at providing life-saving assistance to conflict-affected Malians͘ t&W͛Ɛ ƌĞŐŝŽŶĂů emergency operation faces a critical funding gap of USD 62 million (78% under-funded) and needs to procure urgently additional food needed to assist the refugee and IDP caseload. WFP is most grateful for the critical support provided by multilateral donors, as well as of Andorra, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, South Africa, Switzerland, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States. t&W͛Ɛ 2012 Sahel response currently faces a critical funding shortfall of USD 379 million (43%) against its revised requirements estimated at USD 888 million. To allow for greater aid effectiveness, WFP has used its advance financing mechanisms The Government of Japan is providing critical support to (forward food purchase facility and immediate response account) to WFP in Chad. WFP/Antti Mantymaa procure commodities and set-up cash transfers in anticipation of future contributions. The 2012 Sahel response includes a requirement of USD 43 million to support critical Special Operations (logistics augmentation and UNHAS) which remain half- funded. More specifically: x t&W͛Ɛƌegional Special Operation is only 15% funded (total requirements of USD 6.6 mil). The Objectives of this critical operation are to facilitate the timely dispatch of food to the drought affected countries, enhance the logistics capacities of the countries experiencing refugee and IDP movements, optimize the use of the different corridors for internationally procured food, support the implementation of the forward purchase facility (FPF) in the region, provide temporary and permanent warehouse structures for sensitive nutritious food commodities as well as to ensure sufficient logistics support to the regional procurement operations and support interagency Logistics and ETC Cluster activities. x In Mauritania, the UNHAS operation (total requirements of USD 5 million) still faces a shortfall of USD 3.2 million to sustain its flight services for the international humanitarian community. WFP has recently launched a new Special Operation in the country that will enable WFP augment its storage and transport capacity, rehabilitate infrastructures and maintain a fully operation Logistics cluster. Contact

Regional Bureau for West Africa, Senegal: Thomas Yanga, Regional Director, Dakar: +221 33 849 65 00, [email protected] Claude Jibidar, Deputy Regional Director, Dakar: +221 33 849 65 00, [email protected]

6