Nigeria: Hundreds of thousands received food and assistance in 2016

Armed conflict in North East Nigeria has displaced more than 2 million people and had damaging consequences for over 1.5 million people hosting them. The situation, in humanitarian terms, has been made worse by communal clashes in the Middle Belt region and the armed violence in the Niger Delta states.

In 2016, the ICRC continued to significantly scale up its humanitarian response in North East Nigeria. We provided food and essential household items to the people most in need of assistance. Our teams also restored contact between members of families separated by armed violence.

Highlights of our work in Nigeria in 2016.

• 500,000 people received medical attention at 16 ICRC-supported health care centres and 9 mobile clinics
• Assisted over 350,000 people to gain access to water and improved their sanitation and hygiene
• Treated over 12,000 children under the age of five suffering from severe acute malnutrition
• Provided temporary and emergency shelter to 40,000 displaced people
• Trained 3,000 Nigerian Red Cross staff, security personnel, religious groups, and weapon bearers in first aid and emergency preparedness
• Over 450 women and female heads of households received training and grants to start income-generating activities

For more information, read the full update on our work in Nigeria.

20 février 2017 – La Directrice exécutive du Programme alimentaire mondial (PAM), Ertharin Cousin, et le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés, Filippo Grandi, ont exprimé lundi leur préoccupation concernant les graves pénuries d'aide alimentaire qui affectent environ deux millions de réfugiés situés dans 10 pays africains notamment dans la Corne de l'Afrique.

Dans un communiqué conjoint, les deux agences humanitaires onusiennes ont annoncé que les rations alimentaires ont été considérablement réduites sur certains terrains d'opérations de l'ONU, notamment au Cameroun, au Tchad, au Kenya, en Mauritanie, au Soudan du Sud et en Ouganda. Des réfugiés se trouvant au Burkina Faso, à Djibouti, au Burundi et en Éthiopie ont vu leurs produits de subsistance, tels que des aliments mélangés enrichis en micronutriments nécessaires pour assurer un régime alimentaire de qualité adéquate, réduits.

Le nombre de réfugiés en Afrique a presque doublé ces cinq dernières années, passant de 2,6 millions en 2011 à près de 5 millions en 2016. Bien que le financement des donateurs pour l'assistance aux réfugiés ait augmenté au cours de cette période, il n'a pas suivi le rythme rapide des besoins. Par conséquent, la réponse humanitaire est nettement sous-financée, ce qui a entrainé une réduction de l'aide alimentaire pour certains groupes de réfugiés.

« Nous ne pouvons pas imaginer combien la vie est difficile pour des milliers de familles de réfugiés sans nourriture, et qui se voient souvent refusés la possibilité de travailler ou de s'offrir d'autres manières de survivre. Les réfugiés sont extrêmement résistants, mais les coupes dans l'aide alimentaire parfois aussi élevées que 50% ont un impact dévastateur sur la santé et la nutrition de milliers de familles », a déclaré M. Grandi. « Le droit à l'alimentation est un droit humain fondamental. Nous travaillons avec le PAM pour veiller à ce qu'aucun réfugié ne se couche la faim au ventre, mais le soutien doit venir rapidement », a ajouté le Haut-Commissaire.

Les réfugiés tentent de faire face à la situation critique en évitant les repas, en retirant leurs enfants des écoles pour rester à la maison ou travailler et vendre des biens familiaux.

Les chefs des deux agences humanitaires onusiennes ont prévenu que sans nouvelles ressources pour répondre à ces besoins, ces pénuries alimentaires pourraient empirer dans les mois à venir et avoir des conséquences désastreuses sur la santé et la protection des personnes vulnérables.

HIGHLIGHTS

• New displacements registered in the north of the country

• Humanitarian access: 68 incidents recorded in 2016

• Children are the most affected by mines and explosive remnants of war

• Increase in the number of reported cases of genderbased violence

Nearly 2000 new displacements due to conflicts in the north

About 2,000 people have been displaced due to insecurity in the north of the country during the months of December 2016 and January 2017. Particularly, nearly a thousand people have moved from Anefif in the region of Kidal, to Bourem in the region of Gao, following the alert about fighting between armed groups in the area. In the region of Timbuktu, a conflict between Tuareg communities has caused more than a thousand other people to move within the “Cercle” (administrative level 2) of Gourma Rharous. In addition, in the region of Menaka, intercommunity conflicts have also caused the displacement of several households, while the arrival of 400 people coming from Niger were also recorded.

Ongoing assistance
Humanitarian organizations have provided the necessary assistance to the displaced persons, especially those who have recently left their community due to the conflict.
Evaluations have been conducted on the field to identify the needs and to provide response. Approximately 800 vulnerable households (4,000 people) in Ntillit and Tilemsi (region of Gao) have notably been targeted through one or several forms of assistance (food, cash, non-food items, hygiene and sanitation product, shelters). Nearly 750 other households (3,750 people) - including a hundred refugee families from Niger - have also been targeted for assistance in Anderamboukane, Tagalatet and Alata (region of Menaka).

The Local Social Development and Solidarity Economy Service (SLDSES) of Menaka with the support of the NGO Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) initiated the identification of 160 refugee households from Niger in the “Cercle” of Anderamboukane at the end of January. These people are reported to have crossed the border as a result of the operations carried out since November 2016 by the Nigerien army following the attack against the Banibangou camp in Niger.

FAITS SAILLANTS

• De nouveaux déplacements de populations enregistrés dans le nord du pays

• Accès humanitaire : 68 incidents enregistrés en 2016

• Les enfants sont les plus touchés par les mines et autres explosifs de guerre

• Augmentation du nombre de cas rapportés de violences basées sur le genre

CHIFFRES CLES

Nb. de PDI (rapport CMP, 31déc. 2016) 36 690

Nb. de réfugiés dans les pays voisins (rapport CMP, 31déc. 2016) 138 811

Nb. de retournées (rapport CMP, 31déc. 2016) 474 231

Nb. De rapatriées (rapport CMP, 31déc. 2016) 56 594

Population en insécurité alimentaire (Cadre harmonisé nov. 2016) 2,5 millions

Nb. d’enfants malnutris de moins de 5 ans (SMART 2016) 622 368

FINANCEMENT

293 millions Fonds requis ($ US) pour le financement du HRP 2016 0,3% financés

Conflits dans le nord : près de 2000 nouveaux déplacements

Environ 2000 personnes se sont déplacées en lien avec l’insécurité dans le nord du pays au cours des mois de décembre 2016 et janvier 2017. En particulier, près de mille personnes ont quitté Anefif, dans la région de Kidal, pour aller à Bourem, dans la région de Gao, en raison de l’alerte de combats entre groupes armés dans la zone. Dans la région de Tombouctou, un conflit entre communautés Touaregs a poussé plus de mille autres personnes à se déplacer à l’intérieur du cercle de Gourma Rharous.
Par ailleurs, dans la région de Ménaka, des conflits intercommunautaires ont également provoqué le déplacement de plusieurs ménages, tandis que l’arrivée de 400 personnes en provenance du Niger a aussi été enregistrée.

Assistance en cours

Les organisations humanitaires ont apporté l’assistance nécessaire aux personnes déplacées, surtout celles qui ont récemment quitté leur localité à cause des conflits. Des évaluations ont été menées sur le terrain pour identifier les besoins, et assurer une réponse. Environ 800 ménages vulnérables (4000 personnes) à Ntillit et Tilemsi (région de Gao) ont notamment été ciblés à travers une ou plusieurs formes d’assistance (vivres, argent, articles non alimentaires, produits d’hygiène et assainissement, abri). Environ 750 autres ménages (3750 personnes) – y compris une centaine de ménages réfugiés du Niger – ont aussi été ciblés pour une assistance à Anderamboukane, Tagalat et Alata (région de Ménaka).

Le Service Local de Développement Social et de l’Economie Solidaire (SLDSES) de Ménaka avec l’appui de l’ONG Conseil Norvégien pour les Réfugiés (NRC) a par ailleurs lancé une mission d’identification de 160 ménages nigériens réfugiés dans le cercle d’Anderamboukane à la fin janvier. Ces personnes auraient traversé la frontière consécutivement aux opérations menées depuis le mois de novembre 2016 par l’armée nigérienne à la suite de l’attaque du camp de Banibangou au Niger.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

WORSENING SITUATION IN BAMBARI

Humanitarian partners fear that recurring clashes between factions in towns neighbouring Bambari in the country’s centre could spill over to the city, triggering a renewed humanitarian crisis. Flaring up since November 2016, violence between armed groups has reached the town of Ippy, on the road to Bambari. As a result, many families living in villages along the Bria – Ippy – Bambari axis have fled the area. Security measures have also been stepped up.
Resumption of the conflict in Bambari could trigger large scale displacements, as the town is home to 160,000 people and 45,000 IDPs.

CAMEROON

21 CASES OF ‘SPOTTED FEVER’ IN THE FAR NORTH

The Ministry of Health reported two new cases of ‘spotted fever’ of unknown origin in the Far North region. A total of 21 cases and nine deaths among infants between 5 and 24 months have been recorded since January 2016. Experts suspect the fever to be a type of ‘monkey pox’, but await the upcoming results of laboratory tests. On 18 February, a rapid investigation team from the Ministry of Health comprised of epidemiological surveillance experts was deployed to the region.

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

CASES OF AVIAN INFLUENZA REPORTED

In early 2017, tests of ducks in a farm in the southern town of Bassam proved positive to virus H5N1. Other outbreaks have been identified since in Bouaké, in the centre, in the capital Abidjan, and in Agnibilékro, in the east. Over 72,000 poultry have been slaughtered and a 12-month response plan is ongoing. About 150 farmers have received a financial compensation but a strong indemnity programme is required to encourage farmers to report suspected cases. The Food and Agriculture organization has reinforced its team on the ground to support the Government.

NIGERIA

BOKO HARAM ATTACK TARGETS IDP CAMP

On 16 February, suspected Boko Haram assailants launched a major attack using guns and explosives targeting a site that hosts more than 9,000 IDPs, and the ‘Muna Garage’ area, which serves as assembly point for aid convoys to be escorted out of Maiduguri. The number of civilian casualties remains unknown. Security agents from a nearby checkpoint reportedly repelled the attack in a gunfight that lasted hours. ‘Muna Garage’ has been a flashpoint of attacks in recent months.

REGIONAL

ARMYWORMS’ COULD SPREAD TO WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

On 16 February, the UN warned that the invasion of ‘armyworms’ which already destroys cereal plantations in several Southern African countries, could quickly spread, threatening food security and trade. West Africa is on display, as the first specimens of this larva were spotted last year in Nigeria and Togo. Some experts suspect that they have crossed the Atlantic with air imports from South American plants, adding that it is probably only a matter of time before most of the region is affected.

RÉPUBLIQUE CENTRAFRICAINE

AGGRAVATION DE LA SITUATION À BAMBARI

Les partenaires humanitaires craignent que des affrontements récurrents entre factions dans les villes voisines de Bambari, au centre du pays, puissent se répandre dans la ville, déclenchant une nouvelle crise humanitaire. La violence entre les groupes armés a atteint la ville d'Ippy, sur la route de Bambari. En conséquence, de nombreuses familles vivant dans des villages le long de l'axe Bria-IppyBambari ont fui la région. Les mesures de sécurité ont également été renforcées. La reprise du conflit à Bambari pourrait déclencher des déplacements à grande échelle, car la ville abrite 160 000 personnes et 45 000 personnes déplacées.

CAMEROUN

21 CAS DE FIÈVRE POURPRÉE DANS L’EXTRÊME-NORD

Le ministère de la Santé a signalé deux nouveaux cas de «fièvre pourprée» d'origine inconnue dans la région de l’Extrême-Nord. Un total de 21 cas et neuf décès chez des nourrissons entre 5 et 24 mois a été enregistré depuis janvier 2016. Les experts soupçonnent la fièvre d'être un type de «variole du singe», mais attendent les résultats des tests de laboratoire. Le 18 février, une équipe d'enquête rapide du ministère de la Santé composée d'experts en surveillance épidémiologique a été déployée dans la région.

CÔTE D’IVOIRE

DES CAS DE GRIPPE AVIAIRE ENREGISTRÉS

Au début de 2017, des tests effectués sur des canards dans une ferme dans la ville de Bassam, au sud, se sont révélés positifs au virus H5N1. D'autres foyers ont été identifiés depuis à Bouaké, au centre, dans la capitale Abidjan, et à Agnibilékro, à l'est. Plus de 72 000 volailles ont été abattues et un plan d'intervention de 12 mois est en cours. Environ 150 agriculteurs ont reçu une compensation financière, mais un programme d'indemnisation solide est nécessaire pour encourager les agriculteurs à signaler les cas suspects. La FAO a renforcé son équipe sur le terrain pour soutenir le gouvernement.

NIGERIA

DES ATTAQUES DE BOKO HARAM CIBLENT DES CAMPS DE DÉPLACÉS

Le 16 février, des assaillants suspectés appartenir à Boko Haram ont lancé une attaque majeure à l'aide de fusils et d'explosifs visant un site qui accueille plus de 9 000 personnes déplacées et la zone de «Muna Garage» qui sert de point de rassemblement pour les convois d'aide escortés de Maiduguri. Le nombre de victimes civiles demeure inconnu. Les agents de sécurité d'un poste de contrôle voisin auraient repoussé l'attaque lors d’une fusillade qui a duré des heures. «Muna Garage» a fait l’objet d’attaques répétées ces derniers mois.

REGIONAL

RISQUE DE PROPAGATION DE CHENILLES LÉGIONNAIRES

Le 16 février, l'ONU a averti que l'invasion de «chenilles légionnaires» qui détruisent déjà les plantations de céréales dans plusieurs pays d'Afrique australe pourrait rapidement se propager, menaçant la sécurité alimentaire et le commerce. L'Afrique de l'Ouest est exposée, car les premiers spécimens de cette larve ont été repérés l'an dernier au Nigeria et au Togo. Certains experts soupçonnent qu'ils ont traversé l'Atlantique avec des importations aériennes de plantes sud-américaines, ajoutant que ce n'est probablement qu'une question de temps avant que la majeure partie de la région ne soit affectée.

KEY DRIVERS OF THE CRISIS

Recurring natural disasters such as droughts and floods, combined with the volatility of markets, pushed many households and communities into chronic vulnerability.

Conflict in northern Nigeria and CAR has led to an influx of refugees in Cameroon and caused internal displacements. In addition, increasing insecurity in the Far North Region and along the border of CAR hampers humanitarian access.

Poor coverage of sanitation and access to clean water remain the main causes of malnutrition and water-borne diseases.

People are constantly on the move in South Sudan’s Leer and Mayendit counties, where shifting front lines of conflict frequently force residents to flee their homes. Repeated attacks on the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in Leer have further complicated the situation, necessitating new approaches to health care provision. Here, MSF doctor Philippa Pett describes how her team has adapted to provide health care to people on the move through a flexible network of mobile clinics.

Picking Up the Pieces

"When I arrived in Leer in March 2016, the hospital had recently reopened after being looted five months earlier. It wasn’t long before the hospital had to be evacuated again for security reasons, and in July I had to fly back home [to the United Kingdom]. It was difficult to leave knowing the situation we had left behind.

Our South Sudanese staff wanted to continue giving health care, to ease the suffering of their communities and families, and I wanted to help them do that. As soon as MSF offered me the chance to return there, I said yes.

The situation in this area is very volatile. There is no place where you could set up a hospital that would be safe for patients to reach for an undefined period of time. We needed to make sure we wouldn’t be asking them to cross front lines to get treatment.

So we decided to take a different approach. Instead of a hospital, our community health workers have formed themselves into teams that run clinics six days a week in the areas where they live. They are all people from the local community who are trained in providing health care for common complaints like malaria, skin diseases, and diarrheal diseases. They are the constant for the community; they are the project.

Forced to Flee

When people are forced to leave their homes because of fighting nearby, the community health worker teams move with them, as they would normally, and provide them with health care. Some had to flee several times in November and December alone. This is their everyday life. Our staff say they never know if they are going to see the morning. And in the morning, they don’t know if they will see the night.

But this is exactly why the new approach works. As the local population moves, our staff go with them to places of safety. This means they can reach the displaced people, while at the same time they are safe themselves and remain with their families. They tell me they feel much safer now that they don’t have to cross frontlines to work in the hospital.

Our South Sudanese staff love the teaching we give them. Many had no formal education because of the conflict, so they really value this teaching. Their capacity to learn is huge—they are very driven and they really want to make a difference.

Providing Support

As international staff, our role is to provide support to the South Sudanese staff. We visit two or three clinics over the course of a ten-day trip, traveling on foot or by canoe through the swamps. When we reach the mobile clinics, we answer the team’s questions, resupply them with medicines, and provide supervision and training, but they have ownership of the clinic and the patients. My role is to make sure standards are kept high, that patients are safe and health workers are well-trained.

There are limits to what we can do medically in these conditions. You see people with very complex conditions and it is frustrating not to be able to test and treat them, but you need to focus on what you can do. You cannot underestimate the importance of basic health care.

The main challenge at the moment is food. All the crops were looted in July and many people missed the planting season because they were running from the conflict. The markets are mostly empty, with only tea and salt available. Where food is on sale, the prices are too high. Around the islands, at least they can fish, but in some areas, people are surviving by eating the seeds of waterlilies.

I think that people here accept things that wouldn’t be acceptable in any other situation—they are incredibly resilient. But the conflict still has a major impact on their life. You can see it among our patients and among our staff. But still they want to make things better for their communities. They take pride in the work they do, and we are proud of them for doing it."

Statement from International Development Secretary Priti Patel and summary of how UK aid is already helping.

Following the declaration of famine in parts of South Sudan yesterday (Monday 20 February) – the first famine in the world for six years – there has been widespread media coverage including by the BBC, ITV, Sky, Guardian, Times, Financial Times and the Independent highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis.

‎What is happening in South Sudan?
The situation in South Sudan is dire and almost half the population are in urgent need. Nearly 5 million people do not have enough food, 100,000 people are facing starvation and a million more are on the brink of famine. This is caused by prolonged conflict, ongoing violence and sexual atrocities which has displaced millions, and deteriorating drought which is threatening lives, and risks destabilising the region.

We are expecting the number of people facing the daily struggle of not having enough food to eat to rise even further.

The areas where famine has been declared have seen some of the most intense fighting between Government and opposition forces, and restrictions on access for humanitarian organisations trying to provide vital food, water and shelter for the most vulnerable people.

People are being forced to flee from their homes and almost 2,400 South Sudanese refugees are arriving in Uganda every day on average.

The UN has today launched an appeal for $1.6bn for South Sudan and has previously highlighted the growing risk of genocide and widespread atrocities if the conflict escalates. The world can’t allow that.

What has UK aid achieved?

Last year, UK aid in South Sudan:

• Reached 440,000 people with food
  
• Provided clean water and sanitation for 490,000 people
  
• Provided 660,000 people with health and medical support, including mothers and children
  
• Provided 130,000 people with shelter
  
• Treated 360,000 children against severe acute malnutrition.

In 2016, the UK’s support to Uganda provided:

• food for 650,000 people including 45,000 children
  
• shelter for 56,250 people
  
• blankets, water containers and sanitary towels for 64,000 people
  
• Vaccinations for 210,000 children.

What is the UK doing?

The UK has led the way in providing support to vulnerable people in South Sudan, giving over £500 million over the last three years to ensure millions get urgently needed food, water and medicine, as well as longer term support to provide much-needed education. We are helping more than 1 million children to go to school and supporting over 1,000 health facilities to cope with two years of civil war.

We are also providing support for the region, bolstering help for neighbouring countries such as Uganda – now the largest refugee-hosting nation in Africa with over one million refugees - to cope with the influx of South Sudanese families who have been forced to flee their homes. The vast majority (85%) of those arriving are women and children in dire need of assistance and protection.

This year, up to 400 UK troops will deploy to support the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), providing vital engineering and medical assistance to help improve security at UN camps and support UNMISS’s capacity to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian access, which is central to their mission.

We are working with the international community to support the African Union and region to pressure the Government of South Sudan to engage meaningfully in peace and in a genuinely inclusive dialogue. We are also working through the UN to ensure the Government are held to account and we are strong supporters of an arms embargo and placing sanctions on individuals who are driving the conflict.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said:

This is an urgent and severe crisis, with almost half the population in desperate need.

Almost 5 million face the daily threat of going without enough food and water and 3 million people have been forced from their homes because of ruthless violence and widespread use of rape.

The UK is ensuring millions of people in South Sudan get urgently needed food, water and medicine, as well as longer term support.

The UK will not look the other way while people of South Sudan suffer: the Government of South Sudan must put an end to ethnic violence, allow humanitarian access and deliver long-lasting peace.

The international community now needs to step up alongside Britain to stop famine spreading and help support stability in South Sudan and the region, which is firmly in all our interests.

Find out more

For more information about how the UK is helping in South Sudan, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/world/south-sudan

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Lutheran World Relief is currently active in Kenya, Tanzania South Sudan and Uganda in East Africa. Due to the dual phenomena of El Niño, which began in 2015, and ensuing La Niña, many areas of East Africa have experienced shortened and erratic rainfalls, leading to reduced crop production, poor rangeland conditions in pastoral areas and food insecurity. The January harvest of maize, a staple food crop in the region, was expected to be 50 percent below normal. As a result, many areas of these countries are predicted to experience IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) conditions by May 2017, meaning families are engaging in coping strategies such as skipping meals or reducing portions, looking for off-farm labor opportunities, or selling household assets, including livestock, to support food consumption.

On February 10, 2017, the President of Kenya declared the drought a national disaster in 23 counties.1 The Kenyan government projects that about 1.3 million people are currently affected by the drought and in need of immediate support. This number is estimated to increase to 2.4 million people by April 2017.

On February 20, 2017, the Government of South Sudan declared portions of Unity State in famine or high likelihood of famine due to war and a collapsing economy. Approximately 100,000 people are currently facing famine with an additional 1 million on the brink of famine.2 A formal famine declaration means that people have already started dying of hunger. Urgent action is needed to prevent additional deaths.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE EFFORTS

Most international attention to date has been placed on Nigeria, Yemen, South Sudan and Somalia, which face a credible risk of famine (IPC Phase 5) this year due to the multiplier effects of drought, insecurity and economic instability. While the needs in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are expected to be great, it is unclear at this time if additional support will be provided in these countries this year.

Lausanne, 21 February 2017 – East Africa, and in particular the Horn of Africa, has been in a state of crisis for a good part of the 21st century. However, the UN’s official announcement yesterday declaring a state of famine in several areas of South Sudan underlines the extreme severity of the humanitarian situation.

Medair has been active in East Africa for the past 23 years, delivering critical and emergency health and nutrition aid to South Sudan and Somalia.

In Somalia, UN agencies are warning that half of the population, more than six million people, are facing acute food insecurity and a real risk of famine, following in the footsteps of its regional neighbour, South Sudan. Somalia was the last country to have an officially declared famine, in 2011.

Whether the emergency is due to political conflict and displacement, like in South Sudan, or to natural causes, like in Somalia (which is also impacted by displacement), the UN call for action indicates how dire the situation has become. Indeed, 42% of South Sudan’s population is suffering from food insecurity.

Consequently, responding is more important than ever, as it will secure the future of these countries’ children. Medair is actively responding to urgent nutritional needs in South Sudan and in Somalia, focusing on the most vulnerable such as children under 5 and women in rural areas where land can no longer be farmed.

In South Sudan, where conflict has displaced thousands and affected millions, Medair is fighting the newly reported famine in Leer through its nutritional response team. More than simply feeding children with Plumpy’Nut, Medair is teaching mothers about appropriate feeding practices and disease prevention, two very important foundations for a more secure future. “While the nutritional needs are still very high, our teams have successfully treated hundreds of children suffering from malnutrition. We will continue supporting the most vulnerable across the country in the weeks to come,” says Caroline Boyd, Medair’s head of the South Sudan programme.

In Somalia, where El Niño has been particularly devastating, depriving the country of rain the past two seasons, Medair is ramping up its malnutrition activities to better respond to the food security crisis. Even in some of the most fertile areas of Somalia, rivers and wells have gone dry and crops have failed, leaving little to no fodder for animals and causing food prices to soar. To enable people to stay in their rural communities rather than having to flee to urban settings, Medair is working through NGO partners and trained community volunteers: "Although challenging due to the context, it has been encouraging to see how people in the community and within our teams are going above and beyond to help malnourished children in the extremely rural villages, as well as to treat outbreaks of disease due to the drought,” said Marian Wetshay-van der Snoek, Medair’s Country Director for Somalia.

In times of food disaster and crisis, Medair will continue providing immediate therapy and follow-up care for those already malnourished, and preventative services and long-term healthy solutions such as health care, better hygiene, access to safe water, and nutrition education to communities in crisis.

Medair’s projects in South Sudan are funded by European Union, the UK Government, US Agency for International Development, South Sudan Humanitarian Fund, US Department of State, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with Tear NL, and through the Dutch Relief Alliance Joint Response for South Sudan, and generous private donors.

For more information on Medair’s humanitarian projects in South Sudan:
www.medair.org/southsudan

Medair’s projects in Somalia are funded by US Agency for International Development, TEAR (AU), Ferster Foundation (CH), Resurgens Foundation (CH), Gertrude Hirzel Foundation (CH), Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Dutch Relief Alliance Response, in partnership with Dorcas Aid International (NL), and generous private donors.

For more information on Medair’s humanitarian projects in Somalia:
www.medair.org/somalia

For media

Interviews, photos, and stories are available upon request. Please contact Nath Fauveau, nath.fauveau@medair.org, +41.78.635.3095

• The food security situation continues to deteriorate in South Sudan, reaching an unprecedented magnitude. The newly released Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report declared localized famine in two counties.

• From February to April 2017, Leer and Mayendit counties are classified in famine with about 100 000 people at risk of dying. In total, 4.9 million people are in a crisis or emergency situation nationwide. At the height of the lean season in July, 5.5 million South Sudanese are projected to be in crisis or emergency situation.

• Furthermore, acute malnutrition remains a major challenge to public health. Out of 23 counties with recent data, 14 have showed Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates above emergency levels of 15%. In some counties in Unity, GAM levels above 27% and 30% have been recorded.

• Worsening malnutrition has also been found in the Greater Equatoria region, previously the bread basket of the country. This situation is atypical in the post-harvest season and is deeply alarming.

• The situation would be even worse if unprecedented humanitarian aid was not in place. However, access remains difficult due to security, restrictions by parties to the conflict and logistics constraints.