UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019
ANGOLA Humanitarian Situation Report
Children participate in interactive hygiene promotion and health UNICEFprevention operated session child. ©-friendly UNICEF/2018/Wieland space and training facilities at Lóvua settlement centre.
©UNICEF/2017/Luis Angola/2019/PMendes UNICEF ©
Mid-year SitRep: June 2019 SITUATION IN NUMBERS
2.3 million
Highlights People facing food insecurity and nutrition The drought crisis in southern Angola continues to deteriorate with an crisis in southern Angola estimated 2.3 million people affected, including 491,131 children under the age of five. 141,600 Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus (VDPV2) type 2 outbreak in People to be reached with access to clean Cambulo district, Lunda Norte province, was confirmed on 13 June drinking water 2019. 192,000 With UNICEF support, a polio outbreak vaccination campaign took Children affected by the consequences of place in the province of Lunda Norte reaching over 424,560 children. drought and at risk of dropping out from UNICEF also reached 500,000 people through Communication for school Development (C4D) with key messages on polio vaccination and 245,565 prevention in 13 municipalities. Children under 5 to be screened for Education, one of the sectors most affected by drought, remains malnutrition in 28 municipalities in Cunene, underfunded by 100 percent, with an estimated 13 schools closed in Huíla, Namibe, and Bié. Curoca municipality due to drought and over 192,000 school children affected and at risk of dropping out of school.
UNICEF’s Response with Partners Funding Status
1,630,074 UNICEF 3,521,855 June 2019 UNICEF Cumulative Target results (#) Health: Children aged 6months to 14 years vaccinated 10,000 01 against measles 6,398,145
Health: Children aged 0 - 59 months with acute watery 100 0 Carry Forward Funding Available diarrhea received treatment Funding Gap Health: Women and children under 5 years accessing 1,200 0 essential maternal and child health services 44,492 WASH: People with accessing the agreed quantity of 141,600 water for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene *Funds available include carry forward from 2018 and funds received in 2019. WASH: People accessing appropriate sanitation 40,492 141,600 facilities. WASH: People reached with key messages on hygiene 123,343 181,500 practices through face-to-face approaches
1 No results attributable to UNICEF linked to the Polio vaccination campaign as vaccine procurement was funded by Government. However, UNICEF has procured on behalf of the Government of Angola (MoH), 1,290,000 vaccine doses for measles. UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019
Nutrition: Children targeted in humanitarian situations with SAM 6-59 months admitted into therapeutic 25,824 4,384 treatment programmes Nutrition: Children under 5 years in humanitarian 245,656 58,217 situations old screened for malnutrition Child Protection: Women and children reached with gender-based violence prevention and response 1,300 02 interventions Child Protection: Unaccompanied and separated children identified and receiving protection services, 300 0 including family tracing and reunification and placement in alternative care arrangements Education: Children affected by emergency have access 8,250 1,3203 to formal and non-formal primary education Education: Teachers and members reached with key life-saving and behavior change messages on health, 4,300 0 nutrition and children protection through face-to-face approaches Communication for Development: People reached with key life-saving and behavior change messages on health, 350,000 500,000 nutrition and child protection through face-to-face approaches
Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs Below-average and erratic rainfalls continue to exacerbate the drought crisis in southern Angola with severe consequences for the local populations, children and women, agriculture production, and livestock. The humanitarian impact of the drought, including food security and nutrition is estimated to affect 2.34 million people in the four provinces, Cunene, Huíla, Namibe and Bié, including an estimated 491,131 are children under the age of five. The situation deteriorated from January to March this year, with the reported number of people facing food insecurity in Cunene province having increased from 249,884 people in January to 857,443 in March and by June remained at around 860,0005. Considering the current conditions, resource mobilization, response capabilities, hydrometeorological and agriculture forecasting, the humanitarian outlook for 2020 is worrying. The conditions are likely to continue to deteriorate until the end of the year as the rainy season is not expected until end October and the impact of the rains on food security will not be felt until 2020.
Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) prevalence sits at 9.8 percent and Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is at 5.6 percent according to VAC results (VAC 2018). Between 70 and 80 per cent of the population in Huíla and Cunene are facing food insecurity and have their nutrition status compromised; a scenario that is likely to worsen over the next six months considering the prospects of the rainy season and agriculture harvesting. The coping capacities of affected families are rapidly exhausting with families resorting to negative coping mechanisms including a reduction of the number of meals per day, with immediate repercussion on children’s health and nutrition status.
High deficits in water availability for crops and livestock have subsequently led to poor forecasting of the agriculture prospect for the 2018-2019 season. In turn, the cost of basic commodities, such as corn flower, beans, sugar spiked to a reported 25 per cent higher than the usual price. There are also reports of increased cases of domestic violence and abuse highlighting an increase in gender-based violence (GBV) associated with worsening of the conditions and negative coping mechanism. Small farmers and herders are also negatively impacted. More than 877,199 livestock, about 35 per cent of the livestock has died, compared to the 25 per cent average in the last five years. To cope with the pressures, many families are constantly on the move in search of better pasture for their livestock and alternative coping strategies.
The movement of people in search of water for human and animal consumption and greener pasture for their cattle has contributed to increased number of school dropouts. In some municipalities, school dropout rates have reached 34 per cent while in others, such as Curoca municipality, as much as 100 per cent after 13 schools were closed. While in Cunene province an estimated 192,0006 children are at risk of dropping out from school, as the drought situation continues to
2 Significant funding gaps has played a role in the achievement of results 3 Prepositioned EiE materials have been mobilized this week and it is expected to be distributed by next week to assist an estimated 1,320 children. EiE includes 8 schools tents and 15 school-in-a-box. 4This figure is calculated based on a total population of 6.1M people in the four provinces affected by drought (Cunene, Huíla, Namibe and Bié). Based on Government official memos on drought, about 70% and 80% of the total population in Huíla and Cunene provinces respectively are affected by drought. The methodology used to reach 2.3 million people relies on historical and projected caseload, leading to an estimate that 37% of the total population 6.1M is facing food insecurity and in need of assistance. Within the 2.3M people, we have extrapolated corresponding figures to specific sub-groups, including children, women, malnutrition data on global acute malnutrition (GAM), severe acute malnutrition (SAM) and moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) based on statistical records, historical records and projected trends. 5 Notes from the meeting with the Government on situation update in July. 6 Data provided by provincial Government of Cunene UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019 deteriorate. According to the Provincial Education Directorate in Cunene, 614 out of 887 primary schools are affected by droughts leaving approximately 150,000 children without access to education; constituting almost 70 percent of the total number of students in the province (Cunene has 214, 311 students)7. Consequently, the absence of regular school attendance makes children more vulnerable to future calamities and increases delayed school entry/re-entry, school drop-out and absenteeism.
There are an estimated 23,607 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Lunda Norte; 20,155 reside in the Lóvua Settlement and 3,452 in the urban areas of Dundo municipality. However, plans are underway for repatriation of the refugees to their places of origin.
Two genetically linked cases of Circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus (VDPV2) Type 2 were detected in Cambulo district, Lunda Norte province while an unlinked case was detected in Cuvango district in Huíla province. This led to the activation of the National Emergency Operations Centre, indicating a health emergency mode. The confirmation of the Polio virus in Cambulo district on 13 June 2019, a measles outbreak in Lunda Sul, and 78,618 cases of scabies reported in Huila province by the health authorities in the first semester of 2019, increased the complexity of the humanitarian situation. This in turn led to increased demand and need for mobilization of additional resources to ensure a timely and sustained humanitarian response from UNICEF and partners; and subsequent revision of UNICEF’s humanitarian action for children (HAC) to ensure it is aligned with the prevailing humanitarian context and needs.
Humanitarian Leadership and Coordination Disaster management in Angola is led by Civil Protection (PC), with significant jurisdiction of the Ministry of Territorial Administration (MAT). The Government sets the priorities for humanitarian interventions, based on needs and in line with the national development plan (PDN), and strategies for reducing long-term vulnerabilities of the communities most at risk of natural hazards. Thematic interventions are spearheaded by line ministries. The UN Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) supports overall coordination and implementation of government and partners’ interventions, before, during, and after a crisis. The UN Disaster Management Team (DMT) is a UN-steered coordination body, chaired by UNICEF. The DMT is tasked with the overall responsibility to coordinate all UN humanitarian actions in the country. UNICEF leads the Nutrition, WASH, and Education clusters and it is represented at the various government technical and ministerial emergency management working groups. In the context of health emergencies, the coordination and response are led by the Ministry of Health (MoH). In response to the polio outbreak, the National Directorate of Public Health (NDPH) of the Minister of Health (MOH) has activated the functions of the National Emergency Operations Centre on 11 May 2019. The activation of the EOC provides both leadership and coordination functions following a similar structure of an Incident Command Structure (ICS). UNICEF has increased its field presence in Huíla and Cunene with the recruitment of new emergency staff and increased office spaces and logistics and operational capability.
Humanitarian Strategy UNICEF’s strategy consists of interventions in health, nutrition, WASH, education, child protection and C4D all of which were designed and prioritized to address the needs of the 2.3 million people currently facing water scarcity, food and nutrition insecurity in the southern provinces of Cunene, Huíla, Namibe and Bié, including assistance to 20,155 refugees living in the Lóvua Settlement and 3,452 living in the urban areas of Dundo and host communities. Interventions are currently being coordinated with government at central and provincial levels, and have been guided by numerous assessments, including the Government and UN led. UNICEF humanitarian interventions are complementary to government interventions, particularly those underpinned in the drought recovery framework strategy 2018-2022, the national development program (PDN), and the Humanitarian Country Team. In addition, UNICEF interventions are planned and implemented in a manner, which further strengthens the linkages between short-term humanitarian needs and long-term development priorities through the humanitarian and development nexus approach. This includes the safe haven approach, with an emphasis on creating a child-centred hub where children most impacted by drought have access to integrated basic services. The approach relies on targeting the most vulnerable communities through programme implementation, thematic, and geographic convergence to deliver equitable and integrated services for children. This model also capitalizes on synergies and complementarity to government priorities, in addition to providing technical and coordination support to strengthen WASH, health, nutrition, education, and information management.
Essentially, UNICEF’s strategy aims at providing timely and immediate humanitarian assistance through the implementation of programmatic interventions for children and women affected by drought, health emergencies, including refugees while addressing long-term development needs by focusing on:
7 Data from the Provincial Education Directorate of Cunene, May 2019 UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019
Nutrition: life-saving nutrition intervention including nutrition screening and treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition and counseling on preventative practices for severe acute malnutrition, health, on improved infant-young child feeding (IYCF) practices, and on good hygiene, water, and sanitation practices; Health: addressing emerging health issues such as polio and measles outbreaks and treatment of children with acute watery diarrhea and vaccination against measles; WASH: provision of access to safe and drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene promotion, including assistance to refugees in Lóvua Settlement and host communities; Education: access and retention in formal and non-formal primary education, including early child development; C4D: people reached with key life-saving and behavior change messages on health, nutrition, child protection, including social mobilization campaign for polio and measles outbreaks, which includes increased UNICEF field presence. Summary Analysis of Programme Response
Health Two synchronized rounds of oral Poliovirus Type 2 (mOPV2) supplementary immunization activity (SIA) targeting children less than five years in Luanda Norte took place from 21-23 June (round zero) and 12-14 July (round 1). The round zero ran from 21-23 June covering the five municipalities (districts) of Lunda Norte province, and targeted 97,643 children below five years of age8. Using mOPV2 vaccine, a total 124,054 children received the vaccine representing an overall coverage rate of 127 per cent, with a coverage rate of 108 per cent in Cuilo district and 139 per cent in Chitato district. The forst round (round zero) was organized to boost immunity of populations in the target districts sharing a border with or very close to Kamonia district in the DRC where three cases of polio had been confirmed.
The second round (round1) Round ran from 12-14 July and a total of 116,001 children under-five were vaccinated, representing a coverage rate of 94 per cent. The eight additional districts also had their target populations adjusted and together with the five initial districts, the total target population was set at 345,990 children under five. A total 300,510 children were vaccinated in the thirteen districts in round 1, giving a coverage rate of 87 per cent. A third round covering the same districts as round 1 is running from 26-28 July with the final evaluation of the results scheduled for 2 August.
Nutrition As part of the drought emergency response in Huila, Cunene, Namibe and Bie provinces, UNICEF supported community screening of 58,217 children under five for malnutrition and referral and treatment of 4,384 children under five with SAM in out-patient and in-patient treatment facilities. UNICEF also monitored and provided on-the job training to 10 infant and young child feeding support groups that are providing counselling and promotion of exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding practices through food demonstrations at community level in 13 drought-affected districts of Bié, Huila and Cunene provinces. The nutrition component of the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) funded interventions is being led by UNICEF with an estimated 341,565 children to be assisted, including 96,000 women in all four-drought emergency affected provinces.
UNICEF conducted a national-level workshop on Nutrition in Emergency (NiE), with support from the nutrition unit of the UNICEF Regional Office. The training was delivered to 35 nutrition experts and focal points of the 18 provinces and it covered nutrition preparedness, response and evaluation of nutrition in emergencies interventions. Risk-informed contingency plans were developed for drought and floods, refugees’ influx and health epidemics.
As part of the emergency response to the measles outbreak, UNICEF provided 349,104 capsules of vitamin A to support treatment of 1,752 cases and integrated vaccination campaign in Moxico, Lunda Sul and Lunda Norte. Training of 201 community health agents (ACSs) on community management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) is planned for the week of 15-20 July in six municipalities (Cuanhama, Cahama, Ombadja, Curoca, Cuvelai, and Namacunde) and for the week of 22- 26 July is scheduled the training of 80 health technicians on outpatient health facilities (PTPA). Two additional trainings will take place; one from 29 July to 1 August on integrated management of acute malnutrition (IMAM), in which seven medical doctors and 13 nurses will participate and the other from 5 – 9 August on nutrition in emergency (NiE), in which eight provincial and municipal nutrition supervisors will participate.
In May 2019, with the support from Regional Office, 70 medical doctors, nurses and nutrition experts were trained on Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) by the authors of WHO/UNICEF generic protocol, Professor Mike
8 Projections from INE 2014 Census results UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019
Golden and Yvonne Grellety. The national protocol for IMAM was harmonized and aligned with latest international recommendations and it is currently being printed for dissemination countrywide.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene - WASH WASH interventions are targeting both drought affected populations and the refugees in Lunda Norte. UNICEF distributed water purification tabs (20,104) to refugees in Lóvua settlement in Lunda Norte. Procurement of 50 water tanks of 5,000 liters capacity each has been completed and 18 water tanks have already been delivered (9 in Cunene and 9 in Huila province) to respond to the drought situation. The water tanks will be placed in strategic locations in drought affected communes in Cunene and Huila to reduce the distances communities must walk to access water. Water will be supplied through water trucking.
Under UNICEF supported WASH interventions in refugee communities, a total of 20,335 refugees (about 5,077 households), living in Lóvua settlement gained access to improved sanitation through daily use of communal and household latrines supplied by UNICEF, including latrine slabs and latrine cleaning kits such as soap, brooms, buckets, and creolin. UNICEF-supplied latrine slabs are used to improve sanitary conditions in clinics, provide women and child friendly spaces, and at the extended food distribution centers within the Lóvua settlement. A total of 22,335 individuals including 20,335 refugees living in Lóvua settlement plus 2,000 people from the host communities are provided daily water through UNHCR water trucks and reached with hygiene promotion messages. UNICEF will continue to supply water purification tablets to the refugees to ensure access to safe drinking water.
Geophysical surveys for drilling of four new boreholes (three in the refugee settlement and one in the host community) have been completed and drilling is expected to commence soon. During the report period, 262 Water Committee members were trained in management and maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructures in addition to 137 who were trained earlier; bringing the total to 399 trained from 57 villages with five members (three women and two men) in each Lovua settlement village.
Education A UNICEF and Government led joint mission conducted on 18 June 2019 to Ombadja municipality, visited several schools in various villages of the Ombala Yo Mungu Commune. At the Ondobe Ya Kaole Primary School, of the 26 students enrolled this year in grade 1, only six students have showed up. This situation is similar across many schools and it indicates high school dropout rate tendency throughout the region. Of the 887 primary schools in the province, 614 are affected by droughts leaving approximately 150,000 children without access to education.
Detailed data on the dropouts and absenteeism is not available yet. Children follow their parents to look after the cattle or fetch water, which severely affects the learning process and puts at risk access to education over the medium and long- term. On the other hand, the teachers themselves are also affected by the drought often having to arrange water and food for themselves and their families. For example, in schools near the border with Namibia, teachers travel across the border to seek water. With UNICEF’s Education in emergencies (EiE) interventions unfunded, the prospect for support to retain children in school, and ensuring a good academic year is negligible. Instead, the conditions are conducive for increasing school dropouts in the coming months. UNICEF is currently using the prepositioned and available stock of EiE supplies to support Cunene province, specifically school tents (10), recreational kits (11), school-in-a-box kits (22) and learning kits for mathematics (4), while linking the WASH and nutrition responses to the supported schools - yet, this support does not meet the minimum needs of the province.
Child Protection Droughts pose significant protection threats to children. Children dropping out of school in affected provinces are at higher risk of violence, sexual exploitation, and other risk factors. The pressure on families to find water and food can often lead to separation and leave children and adolescents behind, thereby at greater risk of violence, abuse and exploitation. Children can also assume more workload, take hazardous jobs or beg for food as means of coping with the negative consequences of the drought.
As the integrated case management system for child victims in Angola is nascent and social-work capacity is low, UNICEF is focused on system strengthening. During the first half of the year, UNICEF supported the development of specific referral pathways to improve case management response for unaccompanied and separated children, potential child victims of trafficking and children involved in child labor. This built on the multisectoral child protection referral system developed with UNICEF support, under the leadership of the National Institute for Children (INAC). The referral pathways will be technically validated in July 2019. A total of 277 (152 men and 125 women) actors from across all sectors of the UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019 child protection system (justice, interior, social welfare, education and health) and four provinces (Huíla, Luanda, Bié and Uíge) have been trained in identification and management of child victims of violence, including sexual violence and abuse. Sixty-five first line officials (58 men and 7 women) and prosecutors at the Migration Services (SME) from across the 18 national provinces participated in the first phase of a training to strengthen their capacity to better screen and ensure specialized care to vulnerable child migrants. The second phase of the training is scheduled for July 2019. The 100 percent funding gap for the Child Protection sector has so far prevented UNICEF from directly contributing to prevention and response interventions to gender-based violence affecting women and children, and case management of unaccompanied and separated children in humanitarian situations.
Communication for Development (C4D) In support of the polio outbreak vaccination campaign, UNICEF through C4D provided financial and technical support to the MoH, and to provincial and municipal health authorities to design, implement and monitor the social mobilization component of vaccination of mOPV2, which targeted children under five years old. As explained above, the vaccination campaign was synchronized with the Democratic Republic of the Congo since DRC had already run the Round Zero before Angola decided to join in the Round One.
Support included, funding, design of the social mobilization strategy, training and technical on-site support for trainings, development of the social mobilization microplanning, design, production and distribution of IEC materials such as hats and DRC refugees joined a training to work as social mobilizers in the badges), posters, leaflets and guides for mobilizers, leaflets for refugee settlement in Lovua religious leaders. In addition, UNICEF supported the development and production of radio spots both in Portuguese and local languages, and analysis of the C4D impact assessment.
Through C4D, over 200,000 mothers and caregivers during round zero and 500,000 in round one were reached with key messages on the campaign and polio prevention through 1,050 trained social mobilizers and traditional and religious leaders in 13 target municipalities in Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul and Moxico. This also includes mothers and caregivers in the refugee settlement in Lovua, and children under five – one of the priorities of the campaign. Partial results from the round zero show a coverage of Meeting with 30 traditional leaders in Chitato 104 percent for the five municipalities with an average 110 children vaccinated per day per team (each team working with one social mobilizer).
Media and External Communication Media and external communication activities focus on social media posts, press releases and support to field missions to document drought conditions currently prevailing in parts of the country and the joint response by partners. The UNICEF Representative and Deputy Representative gave statements in the national media on the impact of the emergencies and UNICEF response to the drought. Social media activity, across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, continues to highlight and amplify UNICEF’s work for children in Angola and the crucial support of donors and Partners.
Funding UNICEF Angola has appealed for US$9.92 million for the implementation of its 2019 HAC aimed to respond to drought and its impact on the food security situation and nutrition and health status of children. As of June, the Angola Country Office received 64.5 percent of its funding requirement. Education, one of the sectors hit hardest by drought, remains 100 percent unfunded, significantly hampering UNICEF’s ability to deliver on its commitments for children in Angola.
Funding Requirements (as defined in the revised Humanitarian Appeal 2019) Appeal Sector Requirements Funds available Funding gap UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019
Funds Received Carry-Over $ % Current Year WASH 4,000,000 1,768,269 1,630,074 601,657 15.04 Education 1,370,000 0 0 1,370,000 100 Health 600,000 0 0 600,000 100 Nutrition 3,000,0009 2,849,532 0 150,468 5 Child Protection 300,000 0 0 300,000 100 C4D 250,000 150,000 0 100,000 33.33 Cluster coordination, 400,000 0 0 400,000 100 Total $9,920,000 $4,768,071 $ 1,630,074 $3,521,855 35.5 * Funds available includes funding received against current appeal as well as carry-forward from the previous year.
UNICEF Angola: https://www.unicef.org/angola UNICEF Angola: https://www.facebook.com/UNICEFAngola/ UNICEF Angola: https://twitter.com/unicefangola UNICEF Angola: https://www.youtube.com/user/UNICEFangola
Who to Abubacar Sultan Tito Bonde Niko Wieland Representative Emergency Specialist Chief of Communication contact for UNICEF Angola UNICEF Angola UNICEF Angola further Tel: +244 226 430 870 (Ext. 4442) Tel: +244 936 780 647 Tel: +244 912 653 017 information: Fax : +244 226 430 878 Fax : +244 226 430 878 Fax: +244 226 430 878 Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] Email: [email protected]
9 To be revised considering the increasing needs related to the severe drought, particularly in Cunene and uncovered provinces of Cuando Cubango, Benguela and Cuanza Sul. UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report – July 2019
Annex 1 SUMMARY OF PROGRAMME RESULTS 2019
UNICEF and Implementing Partners Response Total Results Change since last 2019 Target (Jan –June 2019) report ▲▼ NUTRITION Children under 5 years old in humanitarian situations screened for 245,656 58,217 malnutrition Children targeted in humanitarian situations with SAM 6-59 months 32,912 4,384 admitted into therapeutic treatment programmes HEALTH Children aged 6 months to 14 years vaccinated against measles 10,000 0 Children aged 0 to 59 months with acute watery diarrhea received 0 100 treatment Women and children under 5 years accessing essential maternal and 0 1,200 child health services WATER, SANITATION & HYGIENE People accessing the agreed quantity of water for drinking, cooking 44,492 141,600 ▲ and personal hygiene People accessing appropriate sanitation facilities. 141,600 40,492 ▲ People reached with key messages on hygiene practices through face- 123,343 181,500 ▲ to-face approaches CHILD PROTECTION Women and children reached with gender-based violence prevention 1,300 0 and response interventions Unaccompanied and separated children identified and receiving protection services, including family tracing and reunification and 300 0 placement in alternative care arrangements EDUCATION Children affected by emergency have access to formal and non-formal 1,320 8,250 primary education Teachers and members reached with key life-saving and behavior 0 change messages on health, nutrition and children protection through 4,300 face-to-face approaches Communication for Development People reached with key life-saving and behavior change messages on 350,000 health, nutrition and child protection through face-to-face approaches 500,00010
10 Over-achieved results are because of the polio campaign