Office of the Resident Coordinator Madagascar • Cyclone Giovanna
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United Nations Nations Unies Office of the Resident Coordinator Madagascar • Cyclone Giovanna, Irina and floods Situation Report # 7 – 09 March 2012 I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES 64 people have died and 9 injured due to heavy rains and associated floods in the south-east regions of Madagascar. Most of those displaced by these rains have returned to their homes; only 10 households are still displaced in temporary sites. The state of emergency declared on 04 March in two regions on the south-east coast was lifted on 6 March. Roads to the affected south-east regions are now partially opened, enabling humanitarian assistance to reach those in need. However, the railway line is still not operational. The National Disaster Risk Management Office (BNGRC) and partners continue to process information being received from the field on the impacts of tropical cyclone Giovanna, which left 35 people dead and 118 people injured. Around 900 people are still displaced in temporary shelters, particularly in the capital Antananarivo. According to the joint multi-sectoral assessment mission carried out in the eastern coast affected by both Giovanna and the recent heavy rains, the sectors of education, food security and shelters are the priority areas in the districts of Moramanga, Anosibe an’Ala and Toamasina II. II. Situation Overview Since mid-February Madagascar continues to be affected by severe weather conditions: Intense Tropical Storm “Giovanna” struck the country on 14 February, followed by Severe Tropical Storm “Irina”, and most recently by heavy rains brought about by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). A total of 100 deaths was reported and around 15,000 displaced people. Irina and floods in the south-east regions Severe tropical storm Irina and the ITCZ have brought uninterrupted rainfall throughout the country for more than a week, causing floods and landslide. The south-east regions are currently the most severely affected. 9,600 people were displaced in temporary sites during the first day; to date only 50 people are still displaced, with the death toll reaching 65. Most of the fatalities occurred in the commune of Kelilalina in Ifanadiana district, with 27 deaths due to landslide Water levels have decreased in all affected districts, and most of those displaced have returned to their homes to start repair work. The state of emergency declared on 04 March in two regions of the south-east coast was lifted on 6 March. During the floods, rice fields were completely submerged and crop losses are expected to be significant. However, no major damages have been noted in other sectors. Forecast predicts that no more rain is expected in the coming days. All national roads connecting the affected regions are now accessible for light vehicles but the railway line is still not operational. The water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and food security clusters have been activated, and responses from others clusters are being supported by the national cluster, in collaboration with local actors. The Response to Tropical Cyclone Giovanna According to the latest information on the impacts of tropical cyclone Giovanna, which hit Madagascar in mid-February, the number of deaths remains at 35, with 118 people injured. Around 900 people are still displaced at temporary shelters, particularly in the capital city of Antananarivo. According to information being received from the recent joint multi-sectoral assessment mission carried out in the eastern coast, the sectors of food security and education in the districts of Moramanga, Anosibe an’Ala and Toamasina II are also seriously affected. 1 UNRCO Madagascar - Situation Report nº7 III. Humanitarian Needs and Response to Giovanna EDUCATION Responses: After the heavy rains caused by the ITCZ, the UNICEF Team has carried out activities within the cluster. In addition to the dispatching of school kits, 38 temporary classrooms were installed and the multiplication of this effort is underway through on-site technical team and providing training on “The Establishment of temporary classrooms”. Constraints: Due to limited resources available, it is not possible to cover all the needs in terms of school infrastructure building or rehabilitation. EMERGENCY SHELTER Needs: The majority of those displaced have returned to their homes, both in Antananarivo and in the south- eastern regions. Around 900 people are still being hosted in relocation centres. However, most people who are not able to repair their houses are still being hosted by relatives. Response: In collaboration with BNGRC, the NGO Shelter Box is distributing 600 family tents in three communes in Brickaville, mainly in the commune of Andevoranto. South African Government plans to deploy family tents and blankets. OCHA/RCO and BNGRC recommended to prioritize the districts of Brickaville and Vatomandry for the distribution of these items. Gaps & Constraints: According to the preliminary results of the joint multisectoral assessment mission, gaps are still important for housing and shelters; realistic figures will be available soon. LOGISTICS Needs: The national road to the south eastern regions need to be repaired as soon as possible to allow heavy vehicles to transport people and supplies to the affected regions. Response: The Logistic Cluster is continuing to share logistical information, such as availability of fuel and road accessibility in the south-eastern regions. Gaps & Constraints: Humanitarian assistance to those affected by recent flooding in south-eastern coast will be difficult if the main road is not immediately repaired. FOOD SECURITY AND LIVELIHOODS Response: In response to Giovanna, WFP is providing food assistance to around 16,000 affected people in seven districts, including 900 people displaced in the poorer areas of Antananarivo. 450 tons of food is being distributed through targeted distributions and WASH-related food-for-work activities. This is being done in collaboration with CARE International, HELP Madagascar, Association MIARINTSOA, Association FANANTENANA, the NGO Saint Gabriel and the Bureau de Développement Ekar Mananjary (BDEM). 130 tons of the 450 tons is being drawn from WFP’s contingency stocks, which was prepositioned in Fenerive Est in the eastern coast at the onset of the cyclone season. The remaining tonnage has been mobilized from the WFP warehouse in Toamasina in eastern Madagascar. In response to Irina and the heavy rains, WFP in collaboration with BDEM started distributing 2,000 kg of high energy biscuits, which have been mobilized from WFP’s contingency stocks, benefiting 2,200 affected people in three districts in the south east. WFP staff in the south-east regions are providing support to BDEM, Reggio Terzo Mondo, Foyer Tanjomoha, CARITAS and German Agro Action targeted food distribution to the most severely affected communities. WFP has 575 tons of contingency food stocks pre-positioned in the south east. NUTRITION Response: No major change since last report 2 UNRCO Madagascar - Situation Report nº7 HEALTH Needs: No major change since last report. Response: A joint WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA mission is on-going. This mission aims at strengthening local coordination in the eastern regions affected by Giovanna. Gaps & Constraints: N/A PROTECTION No major change since situation report n°4. WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE (WASH) Needs: Following Giovanna, displaced people at temporary shelters and affected households in remote areas, primarily in Brickaville, Vatomandry, Mampikony and Antananarivo, are in need of WASH assistance in the form of WASH kits, temporary latrines, hygiene awareness, potable water and disinfection of wells. Humanitarian needs following the recent floods in the south-eastern regions are currently being assessed; however, some areas are still not accessible. Based on the limited data available; a large number of wells have been flooded and 12,000 people displaced in temporary shelters and/or hosted by relatives houses are in need of WASH assistance as well. Response: Detail of the WASH responses is mapped out in the annex. In response to Giovanna, WASH interventions have been implemented in Antananarivo, Mampikony and in the four districts of Moramanga, Brickaville, Vatomandry and Mahanoro in the eastern regions. Activities turn around the installation of temporary latrines at relocation sites, hygiene promotion (reaching 14,250 households), provision of WASH kits (for 13,000 households), sanitary cleaning of public areas, and disinfection of 215 wells. Distribution of prepositioned WASH kits has commenced in the south-east district of Vangaindrano. A team of technicians has been sent from Antananarivo to reinforce the local UNICEF partner on the ground. The Cluster is planning to use boats to ferry WASH kits and other non-food items (NFIs) in remote communes. The planned distribution of WASH kits in the south-eastern regions are as follows: 512 households in Vohipeno, 1,035 in Mananjary, 705 in Vangaindrano, 501 in Farafangàna, 240 in Midongy south. A total of 2,296 households require assistance. Gaps & Constraints: N/A IV. Coordination During the last coordination meeting of the inter-cluster and BNGRC held on 07 March 2012, it was agreed that an aerial assessment and satellite imagery of the south-eastern regions is not necessary. However, an in-depth food security assessment mission should be conducted in the coming weeks. BNGRC has deployed two teams to the south-eastern regions to support field coordination efforts. OCHA/Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) at national level