Emergency appeal n° MDRNE005 Niger: GLIDE n° OT2010000028-NER 29 June 2010 Food Insecurity Appeal target (revised budget): CHF 3,670,607 (USD 3.2 m or EUR 2.2m) <click here to view the attached Revised Emergency Appeal Budget> Appeal coverage: 23% (revised budget); <click here to go directly to the updated donor response report, or here to link to contact details> Appeal history: • This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on 18 March, 2010 for CHF 986,862 for nine months to assist 300,000 beneficiaries. • Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF): CHF 229,046 was initially allocated from the Federation’s DREF on 22 February 2010 to support the Red Cross Society of Niger (NRCS) to start the response operation. • Appeal budget revision and extension: due to new reports of the government and partners (19 May, 2010) which raises the severe food insecurity affected population from 2.7 to 3.3 million, the appeal has been revised to CHF 3.65 million and extended until March 2011. • Some 215 villages are already being reached instead of the 120 initially planned. Special Niger Red Cross volunteer screening children for emphasis will be put on: a) meeting emergency referral to centres for treatment of acute food and household needs through cash malnutrition, Tahoua Region, Niger, April 2010 programming, i) addressing the acute malnutrition in children under five by providing community-based screening and referral of acute malnutrition cases, and support for better infant and young child feeding practices through nutrition education, and ii) supporting early recovery through seeds and tools distribution, and improved harvest, iii) strengthening the capacity of the NRCS to deliver the needed services to 384,998 beneficiaries. Summary: In the second week of March 2010, the government provided the preliminary list of the most vulnerable zone (rural municipalities and the number of villages). According to this first assessment the most affected regions were Diffa (328,781 people), Zinder (1,707,695) and Tahoua (1,983,452). All communes in these regions were concerned. The severity of the food crisis has been confirmed by collaborative assessment coordinated by CILSS (Interstate Committee for the Control of Drought in the Sahel). Population movement from rural areas to the towns is on the increase. Meanwhile the availability of cereals from neighbouring countries on markets in Niger has also been confirmed. However, due to lack of financial means among vulnerable households, the food access is very limited. A second assessment conducted by the Government and its partners reveals an increase in the number of severe food insecure population from 2.7 to 3.3 million. Food insecure population (moderate and severe) is estimated at 7.1 million (representing nearly half of the population of the country). Niamey region has the second highest percentage of severe food insecurity, representing more than 300,000 people. Among the rural population, those living in the agro-pastoral zones are the most vulnerable (as measured by moderate and severe food insecurity) and represent more than 50 percent of the rural population. The initial strategy of the NRCS was to focus on carrying out cash for work activities; to distribute food and seeds/plants in collaboration with partners to support in the current farming seasons starting in June/July and to contribute to support health centres in providing appropriate nutritional services to the affected communities. As of 18 June 2010, 3,887 households have benefited for cash-for-work and 3,404 households from seed distribution in Zinder, Tahoua and Diffa. In addition, 1,758 households have benefited from food distribution in Zinder The revised appeal takes into consideration the results of the latest assessment, partners’ coverage per region in providing humanitarian assistance. The NRCS, International Federation and other Partner National Societies (PNS) will: • Increase their cash programmes activities in Zinder, Diffa, Tahoua, and extend them to Dosso and Niamey suburbs (chosen in consultation with partners because of limited coverage in these regions); • Conduct community-based activities in Zinder, Dosso and Niamey suburbs to support the identification of malnourished children, referral and support to health centres in 234 villages and conduct health and nutrition education sessions in 200 villages for a total of 51,000 beneficiaries; • Carry out food distribution in Zinder to 14,306 households; and • Distribute improved seeds in Zinder, Tahoua and Diffa to 4,800 households. <click here to view the attached Revised Emergency Appeal Budget; here to link to a map of the affected area; here to view contact details> The situation Rains have been irregular, late and have stopped early in Eastern Sahel countries. According to the government and aid agencies, there is an influx of cereals from neighbouring countries to Niger. However, the trend indicated a slowdown in cereals importation which had largely contributed to the market supply until February. In March, the demand for cereals was stable on the market due to the availability of donor food assistance and the limited financial resources available to vulnerable households. The stability of price observed during March rose sharply in April and for the first time were largely above 2005 levels in Maradi (+3%), Niamey (21%) and Tillabery (21%). The exchanges between goat and millet deteriorated faster in April than March. In April the Government of Niger together with other technical and financial partners (AGRHYMET, WFP, FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, EU) conducted a new assessment1 based on more reliable statistics and issued the following results in mid-May (see table below). 1 Food security assessment in Niger households (April 2010): Summary (May 2010) 2 Table 1: Food security assessment in Niger households (April 2010): Summary (May 2010) Severe food Moderate food At risk of food Food secure insecure insecurity insecurity Regions Number of Number of Number of Number of % % % % persons persons persons persons Diffa 15.6 66,686 20.1 85,747 42.5 181,319 21.9 93,320 Dosso 12.8 246,219 29.4 566,294 41.2 794,276 16.7 321,172 Maradi 29.3 827,004 26.5 747,999 30.2 849,773 14.0 393,510 Tahoua 24.5 622,134 23.6 598,710 39.3 996,775 12.6 320,295 Tillabéri 24.0 588,416 27.9 683,884 28.9 708,053 19.2 470,218 Zinder 14.9 381,479 27.8 712,466 36.0 920,177 21.3 544,169 Niamey suburb 6.5 1,034 36.4 5,790 37.9 6,028 19.2 3,049 Farming areas 19.3 1,573,851 27.5 2,238,489 35.3 2,874,957 17.9 1,461,156 Zone agro pastorale 26.0 968,776 26.6 991,131 34.8 1,298,176 12.7 472,612 Pastoral and desert 22.2 190,345 20.0 171,270 33.1 283,268 24.7 211,965 areas Total rural 21.5 2,732,972 26.7 3,400,890 35.0 4,456,401 16.8 2,145,733 Agadez (urban) 21.2 51,160 20.1 48,542 4.8 11,512 54.0 130,464 Diffa – Dosso – Maradi - Tahoua – Tillabéri - 26.6 203,356 21.5 164,383 4.1 31,745 47.8 365,786 Zinder (urban) Niamey (urban) 26.3 314,169 16.0 191,696 4.8 57,373 52.9 633,106 Total urban 25.8 568,685 18.4 404,621 4.6 100,630 51.3 1,129,356 According to this second assessment, about 50 percent of the population in the main towns are food secure, whereas in the rural areas in average only 17 percent. However, more than 300,000 food insecure people live in Niamey, which has the highest percentage of food insecurity among its population. Among the rural population, those living in the agro-pastoral zone are the most vulnerable and represent more than 50 percent of the rural population. The number of severe food insecure population in the country has therefore increased from 2.7 to 3.3 million. In total, nearly half of the population, 7.1 million people, are suffering from food shortage. The most affected regions by the severe food insecurity in terms of proportion of their population are Maradi (29.3%), Tahoua (24.5%), Tillaberi (24%), Diffa (15.6%), Zinder (14.9%), Dosso (12.8%) and the Niamey suburb (6.5%). According to the national assessment, malnutrition among children under five is reported in nine out of ten villages. This figure shows the weekly admission of severe acute malnourished children in health facilities. The increased numbers of cases is partly due to the general use of updated WHO reference population figures, instead of the older references still in use by the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS). 3 Inadequate food intake is one of the immediate causes of malnutrition. It is highly believed that the infant nutrition status is getting worse, particularly during the hunger season. The national assessment also reveals an inadequate access to health facilities. On average, health centres are located 11 kilometres from villages, with some communities significantly farther away. Only two out of five villages have easy access to health centres for treatment. Coordination and partnerships The Food Crisis Committee (CCA) of the Early Warning System of the Niger Government is coordinating national and local non-governmental organizations’ (NGO) interventions according to the plan of support provided by Niger Government. Humanitarian partners and UN agencies are supporting the CCA of the Early Warning System of the Niger Government in coordinating national and local NGO interventions according to the plan. The Ministry of Health is coordinating action pertaining to nutrition.