Highlights
The population in Madagascar’s arid South currently faces extreme humanitarian needs due to an extended drought exacerbated by El Nino. Nutrition screening data indicates that 39,000 children under 5 in the eight most affected districts in the South are suffering from acute malnutrition (GAM), among them 7,000 from severe acute malnutrition while water consumption has declined to a reported 1 liter/day in certain districts.
UNICEF has been working in the affected areas of the South through its’ nutrition, WASH, health, education and child protection programmes in support of Government line Ministries. In response to current increased vulnerabilities, UNICEF and partners have carried out periodic malnutrition screenings of 300,000 children under 59 months in the 8 most affected districts, and supported the SAM treatment of 8,300 children (2015) and 3,700 children (2016 to date) in over 150 UNICEF supported facilities. More than 106,300 people have gained access to safe water through 35 new boreholes and 550 water points rehabilitated by UNICEF and partners.
The response is constrained by funding limitations. As of 15 June 2016, UNICEF has received $2.7 million against its US$ 24.1 million HAC appeal to address the needs of the most vulnerable families and their children facing malnutrition, lack of water, school drop-out and exploitation through WASH, Nutrition, Health, Education, Child Protection and Emergency Cash interventions.