Highlights
As of 17 April, new arrival figures reached an estimated 7,000 individuals since the start of the military intervention in Mali on 11 January 2013. This number includes an estimated 2,680 Malians who arrived in Mentes and Midal (Tillia region) during the last week of March. Given that the Level 2 Registration for refugees in Intikane, Mentes and Midal (Tillia region) has yet to take place, and that no departures were reported, the planning figure in Niger remains 50,000 individuals.
As of week 14 (1 to 7 April), 1,470 suspected cases of measles were recorded including 730 cases (50 %) in the region of Tillabéri and 440 (30 %) in the district of Filingué where refugee camps are located. An immunization campaign targeting unvaccinated children from 6 months to 14 years has been launched by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with partners responsible for health activities in the camp.
As of 7 April, 81,305 children under-five have been admitted to therapeutic feeding centres for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), while another 115,758 have been receiving treatment for moderate acute malnutrition (MAM).
The lack of emergency funding could jeopardize the 2013-2014 school year for all refugee children in Niger. An estimated US$2.5 million is urgently required to ensure uninterrupted emergency education.
Despite the fact that protection issues are on the rise in camps, funding is not forthcoming. Gender-Based Violence, Children Associated with Armed Forces and other armed Groups, Separated and Unaccompanied Children, psychosocial distress affecting children remain threats to their well-being that need to be addressed through prevention, tracing and/or treatment.
To ensure that host communities have equitable access to WASH facilities and are not deprived of their rights, UNICEF is advocating to immediately mobilize US$2.5 million for this sector.