UNICEF Lesotho Situation Report

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1 UNICEF Lesotho Situation Report Mid-year update: Situation Report #3 Reporting Period: 01 January to 31 July 2013 Highlights Health, Nutrition and Hygiene: A total of 791 children with acute and severe- acute malnutrition have been effectively treated with therapeutic nutrition commodities in Additional 2,059 moderately malnourished children received take home supplementary feeding rations in In the districts mostly affected by the food emergency, a total of 343 community health workers and nutrition service providers (103 in 2012; 240 in 2013) have been trained in identifying acute malnutrition and referring to relevant health facilities. Child and Social Protection: In 2012, 15,000 poor households caring for about 27,000 orphans and vulnerable children received cash grant top-ups of USD25 per month for the period September to December (funding provided through CERF). In 2013 so far, 6,150 poor households caring for about 18,450 orphans and vulnerable children received cash grant top-ups of USD 25 per month for the period January to April (funding provided through DFID). In 2013 so far, addition 15,000 households have been registered into the National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) and about 3,100 eligible households have been enrolled into the regular Child Grants Programme. Additional 481 Village Assistance Committees (VAC) have been established and trained to support participative and community based selection of households, monitoring of the programme and supporting beneficiary households. A comprehensive Media Campaign has been developed and corresponding Information and Communication Materials on Child Protection messages was implemented in 31 community councils in all 10 districts of Lesotho. 1

2 Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs Lesotho has experienced a more than 70% drop in domestic agricultural production that has put more than 725,000 people, over a third of the population, at serious risk of food insecurity. The sharp reduction in agricultural yields for 2011 and 2012, due to a series of flooding, late rains and early frost, has reduced domestic production to only 32% of the national average cereal harvest of the last 10 years. In August 2012 the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Lesotho declared an emergency food crisis in Lesotho. In September 2012 following the declaration of emergency, the Government of Lesotho launched a response plan, called Appeal for Humanitarian Assistance, requesting support from development partners and the international community. Table 1: Affected Population 2012/2013 Start of humanitarian response: August 2012 Total Male Female Total Affected Population 725, , ,650 Children Under Five 39,875 19,379 20,496 Source: Estimates based on Lesotho Disaster Management Authority Vulnerability Assessment 2012 As the lean season in Lesotho continues many poor rural households will continue to experience stressed food insecurity outcomes throughout Prospects of a good harvest in April are likely to be hampered by the occurrence of pest infestation and crop destruction by armyworms in the early weeks of February. Armyworm outbreaks in Lesotho have affected 35,000HA, approximately 25% of the total crop area. Armyworms are also severely affecting rangelands, an essential source of food for livestock in rural Lesotho. This situation is likely to result in a third consecutive year of low food production for agriculture dependent households. However, trends in Cereal Crops Production 2007/08 to 2012/13, based on the preliminary crop forecast for 2012/13 season from Lesotho Bureau of Statistics, indicates a slight increase in maize production compared to the last two seasons: Figure1: Trends of the cereal production: / / / / / /2013 Maize Sorghum Wheat Source: Lesotho Bureau of Statistics, 2013 Although the crop production prospects are generally better than last year, it is still below the expected levels due to the armyworm outbreak (particularly in Leribe and Berea district), severe damages through hailstorm (particularly in Maseru district) and dry spells throughout the southern lowland. 2

3 Newest findings of the Lesotho Vulnerability Assessment, conducted in June 2013 by the Disaster Management Authority, recognises an increase in crop production for major food crops and an increase in small stock livestock holdings compared to last season. However, due to the continuing food insecurity and inflationary pressure, the prices of basic commodities have gone up. Table 2: Affected Population 2013/2014 Start of humanitarian response: August 2012 Total Male Female Total Affected Population 223, , ,650 Children Under Five 12,268 5,962 6,306 Source: Estimates based on Lesotho Disaster Management Authority Vulnerability Assessment 2013 The affected populations are in all livelihood zones except the northern lowlands. However, all districts have affected population, with the highest affected population in the districts of Maseru, Mohale s Hoek, Mafeteng and Quithing. Humanitarian needs are estimated at 1,538 metric tonnes of maize, equivalent to 12,306,458 Maloti (approx. 1.2 million USD): Table 3: Affected population per district 2013/2014 DISTRICTS Northern Lowlands Foothills Mountains River Valley Southern Lowlands Source: Lesotho Disaster Management Authority Vulnerability Assessment 2013 Total Population Tonnage Cash Eq. BEREA - 10, , , BOTHA BOTHE - 9,812 1, , , LERIBE - 10,497 4, , , MAFETENG - 4, ,855 29, ,620, MASERU - 17,081 5,402-37,495 59, ,309, MOHALE'S HOEK - - 3,053 22,551 7,060 32, ,802, MOKHOTLONG , , , QACHA'S NEK - - 2,455 11,041-13, , QUTHING - - 4,338 18,806-23, ,276, THABA TSEKA , , , GRAND TOTAL - 52,184 49,063 52,398 69, ,055 1,538 12,306, Prices of staple food and basic commodities have gone up due to inflationary pressure: the price of maize meal has gone up to 8 Maloti per 1kgs compared to 3 Maloti during the baseline period 2009/10; the price of maize grain has gone up to 72 Maloti per 18kg compared to 50 Maloti during the baseline period 2009/10. Further, the average amount spent on minimum non-staple goods (salt, paraffin/kerosene, soap, cooking oil, etc.) has gone up by 43% on average. Regarding the nutrition situation of children, the average underweight in all ten districts was 10% of 92,107 under five children being weighed. The overall prevalence of low birth weight is 9% out of 4,012 reported births. However, overall prevalence of stunting or chronic malnutrition was 44%, considered as critical (Thaba-Tseka and Maseru districts with 55%). The overall prevalence of wasting was 3%, with poor levels of wasting in Mokhotlong and Mohale s Hoek districts of 8-9%. The Lesotho Disaster Management Authority highlights following main recommendations as response to the continuing food insecurity in 2013/2014: Ministry of Social Development to intensify the process of identifying people who are eligible for social transfers to facilitate better development programming Government and partners should strengthen nutrition education and surveillance system, and implement targeted feeding for vulnerable groups 3

4 Government to continue supporting crop production and ensure that subsidized inputs are accessible to all communities Ministry of Agriculture to strongly advocate for a shift to drought tolerant crops in southern lowlands, and increase land under irrigation system and conservation agriculture Health, Nutrition and Hygiene Needs: It is anticipated that approximately 8,640 children (4% acute malnutrition and 1% severe acute malnutrition) require therapeutic nutrition through ITP (inpatient care) and OTP (outpatient care) through the Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM). Through the proposed UNICEF intervention approx. 4,350 acutely malnourished children could be reached with therapeutic nutrition commodities. Response: Strengthening of the IMAM programme and provision of therapeutic nutrition supplies in all health facilities. This will be achieved through capacity building of nutrition service providers both at district and community levels. These cadres will also be trained on screening, referral and follow-up of malnutrition cases. A community social mobilization programme for improved hygiene practices in all target communities is being developed. In addition, multimedia products will be developed to raise awareness on appropriate nutrition and improved hygiene practices. Child and Social Protection Needs: More than 80,000 families from the bottom 20% are caring for orphans and other vulnerable children (approximately 300,000). These families are either labour constrained or comprising of critically ill parents, elderly or child headed households. About 7% to 10% of these families are benefiting from some kind of social assistance programme. However the benefit amount is low (only 10% to 15% of basic needs) and cannot meet the food needs of these families. Response: During the emergency period, coverage of the Child Grants Programme (CGP) is being extended to around 19,500 households (approximate population of 97,000). Through the emergency response cash grant top-ups of approx. USD25 per month will be provided to the poorest and most vulnerable families to provide for their basic food needs. An extensive social mobilization and sensitization programme will be implemented to ensure that the deserving households benefit from this programme. Communities will also be educated on how to avoid negative coping strategies. Humanitarian leadership and coordination The emergency coordination structure of the United Nations system in Lesotho is organized around the UN Disaster Risk Management Team (UNDRMT) which includes WFP, FAO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA and WHO. The UNDRMT give regular updates and coordinate on-going activities, challenges and achievements. Also on a monthly basis, the UN emergency coordination meets with Disaster Management Authority and relevant sector working groups. The UNDRMT in cooperation with the Government of Lesotho (GOL), through its Disaster Management Authority (DMA), prepared the coordinated response plan including a rapid response element funded through CERF and a broader emergency and recovery plan. Currently DMA is conducting the annual vulnerability assessment and drop forecast to estimate the outcome of the upcoming harvest period and to assess vulnerable areas of continues food insecurity. In addition, UNICEF is also working in partnership with NGOs, namely World Vision Lesotho. The cooperation focuses on community mobilization, training of Village Assistant Committees, as well training and media campaign on Child Protection issues. 4

5 UNICEF Programme response Due to the lack of funding received, UNICEFs response focused on the immediate nutritional treatment of malnourished children and woman, as well as provision of direct cash transfer to the most vulnerable households with children, which were mostly affected by the food emergency. Planned activities in health and water, sanitation and hygiene could not be implemented so far. Currently the emergency response is structured into two main purposes: (1) Direct emergency response through micronutrient supplements for pregnant women and children under five, and direct cash transfer to the poorest and most vulnerable households mostly affected by the food crisis to provide for their basic food needs; (2) Direct cash transfer to the poorest and most vulnerable households to build resilience, and to promote investments to lift families out of the poverty cycle. However, the broad coverage of the Lesotho Child Grants Programme, reaching 19,500 poorest and most vulnerable households provide a great opportunity for community mobilization, public information campaigns and capacity building to promote children s right to survival, development, education and protection. Public gatherings during the quarterly payments as well as the community based monitoring and management structure of Village Assistance Committees could be used for intense information campaigns and trainings on child nutrition, health and protection issues. Nutrition In the second half of 2012, a total of 791 children across the 8 Districts were provided with therapeutic nutritional, and additional 2,059 moderately malnourished children received take home supplementary feeding rations in Furthermore, a total of 35,555 women were reached with Iron-folate supplements as well as vitamin A supplements during the same period. Linkages between treatment initiatives and community initiatives require further strengthening such that defaulters are shortly after discharge are minimised. It is in this view that a series supportive monitoring visits will be conduct to ensure that the IMAM programme functions as planned as ensure reaching the target of a total of 4,350 malnourished children received through therapeutic care. Table 4: Results status on Nutrition UNICEF 2012 UNICEF 2013 UNICEF Target UNICEF Results UNICEF Target UNICEF Results xx pregnant and lactating women provided with micronutrient supplements 44, ,000 35,555 xx children under five with severe or moderate acute malnutrition receive therapeutic care and micronutrient supplements 4, ,350 2,059 UNICEF Supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: Child and Social Protection During the emergency period, a child and social protection cash grant top-ups will be provided to 19,500 households, caring for approx. 35,000 orphans and vulnerable children, with a monthly cash benefit of about USD25 to meet monthly basic needs of a rural household of five. 5

6 Originally it was planned to reach 15,000 vulnerable households through the emergency response. However, data of additional households have been collected and up to 19,500 households and approx. 35,000 vulnerable children could be reached, depending on funding received. Table 5: Results Status in Social Protection UNICEF 2012 UNICEF 2013 UNICEF Target UNICEF Results UNICEF Target UNICEF Results xx poor and very poor households caring for xx orphans and vulnerable children receive quarterly cash payments 15,000 HH / 27,000 OVC 15,000 HH / 27,000 OVC 19,500 HH / 35,000 OVC 6,150 HH / 18,450 OVC UNICEF Supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: Ministry of Social Development (MOSD), World Vision Lesotho (WVL) Analysis of Results In ,000 households received bi-monthly cash grant top-ups of about USD 25 for the period September to December Due to funding constraints in 2013, a total of 6,150 households received bi-monthly cash grant top-ups for the period January to April In addition, data of approx. 15,000 households were collected to be registered in the National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) out of with about 3,100 households are eligible and have been enrolled into the regular Child Grants Programme (CGP) under the leadership of the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD). The data collection to register additional 15,000 households within the areas mostly affected by the food crisis is on-going. Health Due to the lack of funding, UNICEF was unable to implement planned activities in health. Table 6: Results Status in Health xx children under the age of five access lifesaving preventive and curative interventions through outreach services UNICEF Supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: --- UNICEF 2013 UNICEF Target UNICEF Results 69, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Due to the lack of funding, UNICEF was unable to implement planned activities in WASH. Table 7: Results Status in WASH UNICEF Target UNICEF 2013 UNICEF Results xx poor and very poor households caring for xx orphans and vulnerable children access safe water, sanitation and hygiene facilities and provided with appropriate information UNICEF Supported partners contributing to above UNICEF Results: ,000 HH / 27,000OVC --- Communications for Development (C4D) 6

7 Through community based monitoring and management structure of CGP, families with children living in areas mostly affected by the food crisis have been sensitized on child protection issues and the impact of negative coping mechanism on the health and well-being of their children. As mentioned above, the CGP implementation and management structure would provide opportunities for further intense information campaigns and capacity building on child nutrition, health and protection. Funding Funding requirements for 2013 are estimated as following: Table 8: Funding Requirements (as defined in Humanitarian Action for Children 2013) 2013 Requirements Funds received so far* Funding gap Appeal Sector $ % Nutrition 456, , % Health 425, , % Water, sanitation and hygiene 165, , % Child and Social Protection 6,265, ,755 5,458,064 87% Sector Coordination 250, , % Total 7,563, ,755 6,756,194 89% * Funds received does not include pledges Next SitRep: September 2013 For further information, please contact Dr. Naqibullah Safi Deputy Representative Country Office Lesotho Telephone: nsafi@unicef.org Ousmane Niang Chief Social Policy Country Office Lesotho Telephone: oniang@unicef.org 7