asia-pacific inter-agency regional overview el … · • awareness raising sessions on child...
TRANSCRIPT
This overview collates available evidence on the devastating impact of El
Niño across the region. It provides country overviews information on
national and local level impacts, needs and responses. The countries
featured include Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua
New Guinea, The Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu and Viet
Nam.
Note the total number of affected and funding summary information
shown in this overview is incomplete and needs further updates from all
organizations responding to El Nino in Asia-Pacific.
Save the Children would like to thank CARE, World Vision, People in
Need, Plan, Oxfam, UNOCHA, and the Swiss Agency for Development
and Cooperation for providing updates and data for this brief.
9 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 2
About this Brief
Impact of El Niño on the region
9 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 3
Asia and the Pacific
Mongolia:
313,580 people affected, incl.
28,290 children under 5
Myanmar:
143,000 children
under 5 affected by
floods
India:
330 million
people affected
Cambodia:
2.5 million
people affected
Indonesia:
1.2 million people in
need of assistance
Vanuatu:
69,000 people affected
Timor-Leste:
400,000 people in
affected municipalities
Papua New Guinea:
1.8 million people affected
The Philippines:
12 million people
estimated to be affected
Viet Nam:
2.3 million people affected
Thailand:
Reservoir levels
reduced by 40-50%
32.5 million people
affected in 10 countries
in Asia Pacific
(not including India)
What happens if we do not act?
WHAT HISTORY TEACHES US
El Niño in 1997-98: 23,000 deaths and 35-45 billion USD in damages globally and had devastating impacts on the region:
• It caused a 15% spike in poverty rates in some countries.
• In Indonesia, 5 million people were affected by drought.
• In the Philippines, 2.6 million people were affected by drought.
• The Indonesian Government was forced to import 5.8 million tons of rice due to crop failures; the Philippines
imported 2.2 million tons.
• In Cambodia, an additional 100,000 participants were enrolled into WFP Food for Work scheme.
• In Papua New Guinea, 336,000 people were food insecure.
• Forest fires in Indonesia burned 5 million hectares and increased global temperatures. It cost governments in
the region up to 45 billion USD.
• Families and those reliant on agricultural livelihoods were forced to take negative coping mechanisms. Many had to
sell livestock or migrated in search of work.
• 250 million people across the region were left without shelter and possessions after La Niña flooding in 1998.
9 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 4
What happens if we do not act?
Comparing 2015-2016 to 1997-1998
• Past El Niño events and weather forecasts for the next few months indicate the crisis will
intensify in the region with millions more suffering if no action is taken.
• The current El Niño is comparable to the 1997-98 El Niño in terms of severity, but:
• unlike the 1997-98 El Niño that followed a relatively neutral year in 1996, 2014 witnessed
several months of a mild El Niño;
• although the worst of the 2015-16 El Niño has passed, it has already stretched over a longer
timeframe than the 1997-98 El Niño.
9 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 5
Current Response I
Food Security and
Livelihoods
• Cash transfers to help families cope with
reductions in income due to failed crops
(INO)
• Fodder distribution to support livestock
(MNG)
• Seed packet distribution (T-L)
• Awareness sessions on agricultural approaches
(T-L)
• Food distribution, such as rice, (PNG, VN)
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 6
Overview of inter-agency activity
Water, Hygiene and
Sanitation
• Distribution of WASH NFIs (PNG)
• Hygiene promotion training (PNG)
• Water filters for HH and schools (VN)
• Providing water containers to households (T-L)
• Installing community water storage tanks
(Vanuatu)
• Installing water supply facilities, including water
pipes and wells (VN)
• Mobile health clinics (VAN)
Current Response II
Nutrition
• Nutrition assessments among children after reports on
malnutrition (PNG)
• Awareness raising sessions on child nutrition and diet diversity
(IND)
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 7
Overview of inter-agency activity
Education
• Awareness raising sessions on education access, in response to
negative coping strategies (IND)
• Catch-up-schooling for children of herder families (MNG)
Health
• Providing fuel to hospitals, to
provide healthcare to herder
communities (MNG)
• Providing psycho-social support
to children (MNG)
• Vaccination campaigns (PNG)
Planned Response I
Food Security and
Livelihoods
• Cash-for-food transfers for households with
children of under 5 (VN)
• Expanding already existing cash transfer
schemes (INO)
• Improving access to agricultural inputs to
return to crop yields to pre-PAM Cyclone
levels (VAN)
• Improved seed storage to improve resilience
(T-L)
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 8
Overview of inter-agency activity
Water, Hygiene and
Sanitation
• Improve hygiene knowledge and good practice
(PNG)
• Providing drinking water (THL)
• Improving access to clean water (VN)
• Providing water containers (water tanks and
filters)(VN)
• Water purification treatment (T-L)
• Improving protection of water sources that are
currently unprotected and might (T-L)
Planned Response II
Nutrition
• Provision of MNP for children (VN)
• Nutrition programming for children (PNG)
• Nutrition scanning at existing health posts
(T-L)
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 9
Overview of inter-agency activity
Education
• Improving school WASH facilities (CAM,T-L)
• IEC materials will be distributed (CAM)
Health
• Improving access at targeted health care posts
(PNG)
• Following increases in cases of dengue, diarrhea,
and foot and mouth diseases among livestock,
improve access to water (VN)
Cambodia
9 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 11
KEY FINDINGS
• El Niño induced high temperatures and low rainfall have resulted in water shortages for
both human consumption and dry season crops throughout Cambodia.
• 12 out of 25 provinces are severely affected.
• At the end of 2015, already 93,503 families were affected by the drought in Cambodia.
• The most urgent needs are WASH and FSL related.
• In Koh Kong province, the most common coping strategies are taking out loans to deal
with the affects of El Niño, migrating out of Koh Kong to Thailand, and changing daily
diet.
• The Prime Minister has issued a public call for saving water during the wet season and
army forces have been deployed to deliver water to affected communities. There is
generally low capacity to respond to the crisis at local government level.
• Children are highly at risk of long-term impacts of drought (malnutrition, migration,
children left behind by migrating parents, lack of education/drop out of school to support
families with livelihoods).
APPEAL: No appeal has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene2.5 million
people affected*Number of children
affected not known
Health*Source: Vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), Nhim Vanda, on May 5th
Cambodia
WASH
• El Niño induced drought coupled with increased
temperatures of up to 40 Degree Celsius in some places
has resulted in lowered water levels.
• The main rivers – Mekong River and Tonlé Sap – have low
water levels compared to most years.
• In March 2016, water shortages were being reported
across Koh Kong and Oddar Meanchey provinces, with
other provinces starting to report similar concerns.
• Koh Kong: an assessment by NGOs showed that HH daily
water consumption throughout March was far less than a
typical year.
• Water scarcity has also impacted personal and family
hygiene due to a lack of WASH coping mechanisms.
• There is not enough water to tend to livestock, to maintain
crops, and to grow seeds.
• HHs are now forced to buy water due to water shortages.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 12
Overview of the impact
FSL and Household Income
• Crops have been planted later with many dying as
seedlings due to drought with some provinces reporting
90% crop failure. Kampong Speu, Battambang and Pursat
have suffered most.
• In the early months of the drought in 2015, already 185,451
hectares of agricultural land had suffered from dry
weather conditions.
• The low water levels in the Mekong have decreased fish
productivity and fertilizer availability.
• Especially those living in poverty are facing food shortages.
• Farmers in some parts of the country report they have
gotten into debt and have little means to repay it after the
likelihood of reduced profits from crop failures.
• The worst affected groups are the hand to mouth
families, small scale farming families and the poorest
families who have no capacity to manage water storage
for consumption.
Health
• The continuing drought and heat wave have increased health concerns, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, pregnant and
lactating mothers, children and elderly.
• The quality of water available has decreased, e.g. due to contamination, which has been associated with an increase of communicable
and water-borne diseases.
Cambodia
• People in Need in partnership with Save the Children
and CARE are launching a response in 20 villages in
Koh Kong Province. The initial response focuses on
FSL and WASH interventions.
• CARE International has 42,000 USD to provide
livelihoods and WASH support in Koh Kong; Ratankiri;
Mondulkiri; Krachi; Prey Veng.
The response is still being determined and will start as
soon as possible.
• Save the Children is monitoring the situation and will
be partaking in an inter-cluster assessment. The
planned response is still being developed, but WASH
will be focus point (e.g. IEC materials, WASH in
schools, water containers).
• World Vision are working to reach 47,028 beneficiaries
with 400 metric tonnes of food in the provinces of
Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear.
9 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 13
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
2.5 million*
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
FSL, WASH
Sectors targeted:
FSL, WASH
“My family faces so many difficulties due to the water
shortage, especially now that I have to buy water.”
Chet, a rice farmer in Mongkol Borey district’s Russei Krork
commune, explains the impacts of the drought on his family
*Source: Vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), Nhim Vanda, on May 5th
India
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 14
KEY FINDINGS
• One in four Indians are affected by the water shortage.
• More than 60% of people in 12 states (Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha Jharkhand, Bihar, Haryana and Chattisgarh) have been affected by severe drought conditions and its effects.
• More than 160 people have died in 2016 from the high temperatures, this number is likely to rise if temperatures do not decline.
• The loss of agriculture and water scarcity have led to. food crisis, water crisis, fodder crisis, loss of livelihood and concomitant migration
• The price of sugar has increased by 18% compared to Q4 2015.
• The State Governments have requested Central Government support; the Central Government has pledged resources and has taken steps to address water scarcity.
APPEAL: An appeal has been launched for 67 million USD
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
330 million
People affected
136 million
Children
affected
Education
Health
India
FSL
• Around 40% of all districts were declared as drought
affected.
• The situation in Bundelkhand Region of Uttar Pradesh and
Madhya Pradesh states of India and Marathwada Region of
Maharashtra State are the worst hit. In Bundelkhand and
Marathwada regions 80% of the people have been affected.
• Rainfall was twelve per cent less than normal in 2014, which
affected food grain production by ten million tons.
• Loss of agriculture and water scarcity have led to food-,
water- and fodder crisis, loss of livelihood and
concomitant migration.
• The small and marginal farmers, 85% of which are land
holders and the rest landless, are the worst affected.
• Women and children are most at risk as they traditionally
eat food last in the house and often undertake additional
activities to try and maintain the household income.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 15
Overview of the impact
WASH & Health
• Water has become India’s scarcest resource.
• Rivers have dried up in a way not witnessed for 130 years
in some places.
• Rainfall was fourteen% lower than normal in 2015, with
water levels in reservoirs down by 30%.
• The Government is trying its best to provide water to the
most affected areas.
• More than 160 people have died in 2016 from the high
temperatures, this number is likely to rise if temperatures
do not decline.
• Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of the
heatwave, for example when engaging in farming activities,
playing in the sun, fetching water or living on the streets.
• Bundelkhand region, in Uttar Pradesh, is the most
neglected and worst affected by the drought, with high
scores of malnutrition and low birth weight.
Education• In April, schools have been closed due to the heatwave in a number of provinces, including Orissa and Telangana
India
• The Central Government has pledged resources
and water is being delivered (e.g. a train with 2.5
million litres water to the area of Latur).
However, this will not completely meet the needs
of those suffering and in need of urgent water
supplies.
• Save the Children India is currently focusing
on the three states: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh
and Telanga. The immediate response targets
marginalized farming communities, daily wages
earners, and children in both urban and rural
areas. It will include cash transfers, installation of
sun shades, ORS distribution, drinking water
supply, water purification sachets. A long term
oriented activity will be the initiation of water
and soil conservation plans in coordination with
Local Self Governance Units.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 16
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
FSL, WASH, Health
Sectors targeted:
FSL, (incl. cash),WASH,Health
• World Vision are working to provide Food Security, WASH,
Livelihood/ Cash, Livestock support to 183,119 households
(806,973 people) in seven Area Development Program
locations in the drought hit districts in seven States including
Utter Pradesh, Andhara Pradesh, Maharastra, Karnataka,
Madhaya Pradesh, Odisha and Telengana. They have raised
USD 861,119 of the 3 million USD they require to meet the
needs assessed.
Indonesia
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 17
KEY FINDINGS
• The south and southeast regions, including South Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Java, Bali
and Nusa Tengara Timor (NTT) have been most impacted by the drought.
• 22 million have been affected, namely those who rely on agriculture with 1.2 million
people in need of assistance (roughly 720,000 are children).
• In September 2015, the Government declared a state of emergency in several regions
due to water shortages, low crop production and forest fires.
• Due to severe drought, crops were planted 6-8 weeks later than normal, which has
resulted in low production of staples for the year. This will have significant impacts on
food security and on the poorest families whose income relies on agriculture.
• Forecasts show rainfall is likely to remain significantly lower until the end of May.
Coupled with the likelihood of a strong La Niña, this will stretch the most affected people
even further. If rainfall remains low, health, nutrition and WASH needs may rapidly
increase.
APPEAL: No appeal has been
launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
1.2 million people
need assistance
720,000 children
need assistance
Education
Nutrition
& Health
Indonesia
Food Security
• The drought has resulted in major delays of 6-8 weeks in
planting of the main season crops (e.g. rice, maize), delaying
harvest and leading to lower crop productions. This has resulted
in price increases over the past 12 months (rice prices 20%
higher than normal, maize by 30%, beans by 50%, meat by 25%).
• Food insecurity: second and third highest rates are in Kupang:
41% of households are extremely or moderately food
insecure, followed by 38% in TTS. These households should be
prioritized for assistance to prevent irreversible coping
behaviours and the consequences of extremely poor diets.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 18
Overview of the impact
WASH (water shortages)
• The drought and delay in seasonal rains has been felt most
keenly in NTT and Papua provinces, where the
Government has provided some additional rice stocks,
drinking water supply, and agriculture support, including
cash payments to affected farmers.
• In NTT, the main source of drinking water is from hand-dug
wells and/or springs. Due to the dry conditions, 60% of the
assessed villages reported water scarcity on a household
level, with reports of increased water borne diseases incl.
diarrhoea, skin disease, and fevers.
Household Income and Expenditure
• According to survey undertaken by agencies working in the area, as much as 80% of assessed households in the worst affected provinces
reported a reduction in income due to the drought. This reduction is likely to negatively impact debt levels, which were found to be
more than 1 million IDR per household.
• There is a rise in negative coping strategies, most notably: unseasonal sale of livestock, abnormal labour migration, reducing education
expenses and increasing school dropout risks, eating less preferred food, borrowing food or buying on credit, limiting portion sizes, and
reducing the number of meals eaten in a day.
• Severe food-based negative coping strategies have resulted in concerning FCS (with below acceptable FCS for 49% of assessed
population, and 39% at a critical level).
• Given the reduced harvests and financial strain, the nutritional status of children is a serious concern; especially considering the high
levels of stunting in the worst hit provinces prior to El Niño.
Indonesia
• CARE International will provide cash and agricultural
in-kind (seeds, vines etc.) transfers, food security and
water interventions to 2500 households (15,000 persons)
in two districts of NTT province. They estimate funding
needs of 1,500.000 USD to respond to the El Niño
impacts.
• Oxfam plan to provide FSL and WASH support to 5458
people directly and 1,306,768 people indirectly over eight
months in four districts of East Nusa Tenggara Province.
They need 200,000 USD for these interventions. Oxfam
are already working with national and local government
and stakeholders to get them to engage in the response
and to also develop better response models and
preparedness measures for recurring La Niña and future
El Niño events.
• Plan International’s current response focuses on
providing water tanks and clean water, hygiene promotion
and DRR awareness for sub-districts and districts. The
response has an initial period of 45 days and targets two
districts in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Nagekeo and
TSS. Plan is engaged with the HCT and other START
agencies.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 19
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
FSL, WASH, Education, Health, Nutrition
Sectors targeted:
FSL, WASH, Education, Health, Nutrition
• Save the Children is one month into an El Niño response initially
focusing on NTT. This is primarily cash transfers to vulnerable
households accompanied by awareness-raising sessions on infant and
young child feeding, child rights to education and protection, as well as
positive parenting skills. Save the Children will also undertake advocacy
work at district and provincial government levels to ensure the impact
of El Niño is acknowledged and action is taken to mitigate current and
future slow onset disasters.
• World Vision (as part of the START network) plan to help 197,157
people from 13 sub-districts in five districts located in Timor Island of
NTT Province with cash transfers over 45 days in East Sumba.
Mongolia
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 20
KEY FINDINGS
• Mongolia is in the list of high-priority countries for early action related to El Niño (according
to FAO).
• 50 districts in16 provinces are experiencing dzud conditions which refers to a summer
drought followed by a severe winter. Another 120 districts in 20 provinces are experiencing
near-dzud conditions.
• The severity of the current dzud in Mongolia is thought to be linked to the El Niño effect.
• A total of 313,580 people, incl. 28,290 children under five years old, has been affected.
• 20% of the country still had snow cover in early spring and conditions remain unseasonably
cold.
• Experience of past dzuds suggests that the number of animal deaths may increase to as high
as 1.2 million during spring.
APPEAL: an appeal for 14.3 million has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods313,580
People affected
28,290
Children under 5
affected
Mongolia
Food Security and
Household Income
• A total of 313,580 people, including 28,290 children
under five years old, has been affected.
• 41% of Mongolia’s total herder population (225,788
people) has been affected by the harsh winter of
2015/2016; especially 11,800 households with less
than 100 animals are considered most vulnerable.
• Around 860,000 livestock have died as a result of
harsh conditions since January 2016. What is more, in
the eastern provinces of Mongolia, over 4000 animals
have been slaughtered due to an outbreak of sheep
pox, which is likely to spread further.
• Herders are currently suffering from a lack of access
to basic services, food insecurity, loss of
livelihoods, and psychological trauma. Many lack
cash or income and debt levels are rising.
• Loss of livestock has especially affected children,
as the herd is the main source of animal milk, animal
fur to keep them warm, and income, which ensures
access to education and healthcare.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 21
Overview of the impact
Photo credit: Tansagmaa Tsog/Save the Children
Five-year-old Enkhnyam, who Save the Children is supporting,
clutching one of his family’s baby goats, who has managed to
survive despite the brutal dzud in Mongolia.
Mongolia
• The HCT is supporting the Government of Mongolia
and NEMA in particular with the dzud response. The
HCT is seeking 14.3 million USD to provide immediate
assistance over the next six months in food security,
nutrition, protection, agriculture, livelihoods and early
recovery. 6.36 million USD has so far been secured by
the international community to complement the
Government’s efforts.
• 2.4 million USD has been allocated to the response
through the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
This response is divided in four project: UNDP providing
cash for early recovery, FAO providing animal feed
packages for agriculture, UNFPA providing health
packages for pregnant women, and UNICEF covering
food security and micronutrients.
• World Vision have received USD 609,771 of CERF
funding via UNICEF to distribute food rations for two
months to 5190 households (20,760 people) in six
provinces including Zavkhan, Uvs, Bayankhongor,
Arkhangai, Dundgobi and Sukhbaatar. They also received
USD 129,931 in START funding to provide food for two
months to 2200 people in 550 households in four
provinces including Khuvsgul, Bulgan, Tuv and Khentii.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 22
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
313,580
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
FSL
Sectors targeted:
FSL
• Save the Children has been executing a response in Mongolia with
START funding, since mid March. It has provided unconditional cash
transfers to 550 extremely vulnerable herder families and fodder
distributions to approximately 625 affected households. In addition, 7
hospitals have received fuel support to sustain their health care
provision to herder communities in the region. Save the Children will
be targeting a total of 15,5000 beneficiaries. Together with World
Vision, Save the Children has been coordinating food distributions.
Myanmar
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 23
KEY FINDINGS
• Cyclone Komen hit Myanmar in July 2015 causing extensive flooding
to agricultural land.
• 143,000 children under 5 were affected by the floods.
• Over the last few months, Myanmar has experienced extremely high temperatures, which pose
severe problems for people, including unusual rainfall patters, acute water shortage and diseases.
APPEAL: No appeal has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
Not known Not known
Health
Nutrition
Myanmar
FSL and WASH
• After Cyclone Komen, most of the country
recovered well, but farmers and communities in
remote areas, particularly Chin and Rakhine, were
less able to recover. Rakhine requested funds from
the central government for water supplies, but due
to the current transition to a new government
funds are unlikely to be delivered.
• 15 districts are at risk of having significantly
reduced water reserves.
• Farming households and communities in these areas
face severe food shortages and require
immediate relief assistance as they did not recover
as fully as in less remote areas.
• Rice prices are around 37% higher than last
year (as of February 2016).
• Farmers in the most affected areas also require
seeds, storage containers for seeds, drying nets,
post-harvest equipment, replacement livestock,
fishing gear and boats.
• Cash and/or vouchers and rebuilding/
reconstruction of assets and infrastructures would
provide the best form of relief to reach those most
severely affected.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 24
Overview of the impact
Health and Nutrition
• The flooding lead to losses of livestock and fish, leading to a reduction in
animal protein intake in the most affected areas. Reduced availability of food
and increases in price have made it harder for the poorest families to access
nutritious food.
• More than 1 in 3 children under 5 years old are too short for their age and
one in thirteen are too thin for their age. Evidence also shows flood-affected
children are at higher risk of stunting a year later, and wasting within few
months after the flood. Malnutrition has a long term impact on the health of
children, as this could affect the long term development of children, as
well as their capacity to engage in learning.
• There is limited evidence available, but findings from the Crop and Food
Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) study demonstrate a ‘moderate
deterioration of the children’s nutritional status and limited change in
breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices due to flooding’.
Repeated episodes of wasting can lead to stunting in children and so action
towards nutrition resilience in already vulnerable children should be
prioritized.
• Any cash or vouchers would be most successful with incorporated
nutrition education and counselling to care-givers, in addition to provision
of blended food.
• There is also need to closely monitor the food situation in pocket areas,
particularly in Rakhine and Chin, where food assistance may be required.
Myanmar
• The Government of Myanmar is currently the lead
for the monitoring and the assistance for water shortages
in most of the areas. Cluster coordination is with the
government is decentralised. In addition, Myanmar is
currently in a state of transition to a new government
and therefore, government capacity is uncertain. This
means there is very little centralized support with little
known about when support will finally be available.
• Save the Children is monitoring the situation
concerning water shortages in our main areas of
intervention. In the past, Save the Children has provided
cash assistance for recovery in two states, Chin and
Magway. Although short term results were achieved,
more assistance is required to long term impact.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 25
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
Not known
Funding Gap:
Not known
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
Not known
Funding status:
Not known
Sector needs:
FSL, WASH, Nutrition, Health
Sectors targeted:
N.A.
Papua New Guinea
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 26
KEY FINDINGS
• 85% of all provinces likely to experience drought by the end of April 2016.
• 1.5 million people have been affected by frost or drought, of which 180,000 require immediate
food relief.
• Food prices are reported to be increasing in some markets.
• Most urgent needs are food and nutrition. In addition, needs in agricultural recovery, WASH,
health and early recovery sectors require response.
APPEAL: an appeal for 37 million has been
launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Nutrition1,473,000
People affectedNumber of children
affected not known
Papua New Guinea
FSL and Nutrition
• Since April 2015, a combination of frost in high altitude locations, drought, and flooding caused by heavy rains has
led to severe loss of crops.
• Despite slight improvements in water supply in some areas of the country due to late January rains, various locations still
face severe food and water insecurity. These include Western Province, high-altitude locations in Enga and Hela
Provinces, and Milne Bay Province.
• Food security of approximately 1.5 million people has been affected, with extreme food shortages faced by 180,000
people, who require urgent assistance (located in the aforementioned provinces).
• Since the beginning of January, reports indicated a worsening of food security, including reports about extremely
malnourished children in Western Province.
• There are strong indications that malnutrition rates in extremely food insecure Local Level Government Areas have
increased beyond pre-El Niño rates of 14 per cent Global Acute Malnutrition, due to the food security resulting from El
Niño.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 27
Overview of the impact
Papua New Guinea
• The CERF has allocated over 4.75 million USD to
food and nutrition interventions.
• CARE International has reached 19,918
households (99,590 individuals) (aiming to reach
125,000 individuals in total) since the end of January
2016, located in Morobe, Eastern and Western
Highlands, Chimbu, Enga, and Gulf.
The response has included nutrition assessment
of children, a vaccination top-up campaign, hygiene
promotion training for community members and the
distribution of WASH NFIs and food.
The planned response will focus on improving
access to safe drinking water and good hygiene
knowledge and practice, improving food security for
affected households, improving access to agricultural
inputs, improving access to health care, and building
monitoring and evaluation capacity. Funding status is
currently at 1.6 million USD with funding needs at 2
million USD.
• World Vision has been responding to the crisis in
Papua New Guinea, targeting WASH and FSL. In
addition, it has focused on DRR programmes and
the distribution of NFIs. Locations where World
Vision is active are the Highlands, Hela Province,
Morobe and Madang provinces, and Usino Bundi
District.4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 28
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
FSL, Nutrition
Sectors targeted:
FSL, Nutrition
• The Government of Papua New Guinea started food relief in
September 2015, but food relief and other coping mechanism were
depleted by the end of 2015.
• The El Niño Response Plan for Papua New Guinea focuses on
critical needs in food assistance, nutrition, health, WASH, agricultural
recovery and early recovery. 1.473 million people are targeted,
including 180,000 people in need of food relief and 210,000 in need of
support in agricultural recovery. The response is 37.57 million USD, but
only 23% of the appeal has been funded so far.
The Philippines
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 29
KEY FINDINGS
• The Philippines has experienced significantly below-average rainfall in most parts of the
country.
• Around 42% of the country experienced drought in 2016, which started in January.
Roughly 68 out of 81 provinces have been affected.
• The drought has already damaged farms, fisheries and forests and is expected to
continue throughout April and May.
• The impact was most strongly felt in Mindanao where 15 provinces were affected. The
two worst affected provinces were in the Visayas (Negros Oriental and Siquijor) and one
in Luzon (Palawan).
• The Government declared a state of emergency in many locations, including
Zamboanga, due to the drought.
APPEAL: no appeal has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
3.5 million
People affected
Number of children
affected unknown
The Philippines
FSL
• While Typhoons Koppu (October) and Melor (December) and the
northeast monsoon brought some respite, The Government has
estimated 3.5 million people have so far been affected by El
Niño mainly those relying on agriculture as a primary source of
livelihood, will be affected.
• El Niño induced typhoons have caused 83.7 million USD worth of
total damage and production losses in crops.
• Even before El Niño hit, small scale farmers were already suffering
poor crop production. The impacts of El Niño have pushed them
further into debt.
• Region XII of the Philippines accounts for over 40% of the country’s
food requirements. According to FAO, it also contributes 30% to
national food trade. Farmers in the region produce staple crops (incl.
rice and corn) and cultivate large plantations of cash crops (bananas
and pineapples), but 304,104 metric tons of crops have been lost.
• Livelihoods reliant on fishing are also threatened: the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources estimate the rise in sea temperatures
may reduce the volume of fish caught in open sea by 20%, and
in municipal water by 23%.
• 101.553 affected farming households need support to restart farming
activities in the next cropping season. At least 80% are from Mindanao.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 30
Overview of the impact
WASH (water shortages)
• Due to the recent drought, there is less drinking
water available.
• There are reports of increased prevalence in
communicable diseases.
WFP Assessment in Maguindanao
and Lanao del Sur provinces:
• 24.9% of households has
inadequate food consumption
• 33.1% eats fewer than three
meals a day
• 48.9% adopts emergency
coping strategies(2016)
The Philippines
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 31
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
FSL, WASH
Sectors targeted:
FSL, WASH
• Oxfam has launched a response in the Philippines,
targeting 32,000 families. The response has focused on
food security and livelihoods. The food security response
includes cash aid, rice, promotion of market-based
approaches to food aid, mapping of duration of food
needs. In terms of vulnerable livelihoods, the response
will support local vendors and small-businesses, provide
livelihood starter / capital support, construction of Small
Water Impounding Project or Small Farm Reservoir in
preparation of the rainy season, debt recovery plans, and
promoting gender sensitivity in all of these activities.
Oxfam is currently raising 1 million GBP in funds to start
the response that will primarily focus on support families
access food, water and other non-food needs through
market based interventions including cash grants and
vouchers.
• Plan are closely monitoring and coordinating the situation
with humanitarian partners, and maintain readiness to
respond if needed.
• World Vision are monitoring the situation and response
plans are still to be determined. World Vision have
programs running covering 18 municipalities in South
Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sarangani, Zamboanga del
Norte, Misamis Oriental, West Misamis and Bukidnon.
• Save the Children are monitoring the situation and are
already running livelihoods projects in Maguindanao and
Nueva Ecija.
• The Philippines Government plans to import around
800,000 tons of rice to ensure food security in the country.
• OCHA are convening a meeting with concerned Heads of
Agencies and cluster/sector coordinators to discuss key
strategic issues on emergency response preparedness for El
Niño, particularly the coordination and management
arrangements.
Thailand
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 32
KEY FINDINGS
• The Central and Northeast parts have been impacted the most by El Niño.
• A severe drought has caused severe depletion of natural water resources in several
regions of the country.
• Water scarcity is the main recorded impact on people living in the most affected areas.
• Some communities have been forced to find subterranean water sources or to buy
water from merchants.
• The Thai Government have not declared a state of emergency but have put some
preventative measure in place to manage the water scarcity.
APPEAL: no appeal has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
Number of
affected people
not known
Number of affected
children not known
Thailand
WASH (water shortages)
• Before 2015 El Niño hit, Thailand was already suffering
from depleted water resources from reduced rainfall in
2014. Reservoir water levels were down by 30 to 40%
resulting in the loss 800,000 million tons of rice in 2014.
Reservoir levels in late September 2015 were critically
low, 40 to 50% less than 2014’s drought affected levels.
• Many districts are now badly affected by water shortages
for daily consumption and residents have been forced to
drill artesian wells to get to subterranean water sources
while others have no choice but to buy water from
merchants.,
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 33
Overview of the impact
Food Security & Household Income
• Many provinces have been forced to make an
announcement forbidding residents from blocking, damming
or shutting of water supplies for personal use. The
announcement also forbids pumping water for use in off-
season (dry season) rice farming, because such action
could further deplete water supplies that are required for tap
water production.
• Water scarcity can have further negative impacts on
agriculture in affected areas. As water becomes scarce,
water prices go up triggering increases in the cost of living.
• Rice prices have increased by 5% from the same time
last year.
Thailand
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 34
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
WASH
Sectors targeted:
WASH
• The Government of Thailand has coordinated with
the Royal Thai Army and the Irrigation Department to
carry out massive dredging of sediment in waterways
and locating new, and expanding existing, natural water
sources. The Department of Disaster Prevention and
Mitigation has ordered water supplies to be transported
to affected villages to supplement people daily needs.
• Save the Children has no response plans as yet, but
are monitoring the situation.
• Plan is following the situation in Thailand but are not
planning to respond at this stage.
Timor-Leste
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 35
KEY FINDINGS
• 400,000 people have been affected.
• In the five worst affected municipalities, 120,000 people are severely affected by late
and reduced rainfall since October 2015.
• Close to 46% of all households will be facing food insecurity the upcoming months.
• Quantities of drinking water and water for household use have been reduced.
APPEAL: an appeal for 25 million has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
400,000
People affected
Number of affected
children is not known
Health
Timor-Leste
FSL
• Although Timor-Leste is largely affected by El Niño, its impact
has varied among the different regions. Some regions have
seen 68% less rain from October 2015 to January 2016,
compared to the year before.
• Highly reduced rainfall has delayed or stressed crop
planting, significantly reduced yield (or even no yield at all),
reduced water access and reduced food availability.
• According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 45.9% of
households are likely to suffer from food insecurity
from April to June 2016.
• Problems that have been identified are reductions in
number of meals, restricted diets, disruption of
normal food sources, and insufficient food stock at the
household level.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 36
Overview of the impact
WASH & Health
• Availability of clean drinking water, of water for
household use and water in schools has been limited.
• There is a lack of clean protected water sources, which in
turn has led to increased diarrhoea cases.
Nutrition
• El Niño is likely to elevate malnutrition in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 37
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Health
Sectors targeted:
WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Health
• CARE International will be targeting 90,000
beneficiaries in five districts/provinces (Ermera,
Covalima, Dili, Liquica, Viqueque). The planned activities
include community awareness sessions, covering
agricultural approaches, nutrition and food and water
conservation. It will also include the distribution of seed
packets and support the Government distributing seeds,
water filters, household storage containers, installation
of water ponds and community water storage tanks.
CARE have raised 200,000 USD out of 1 million USD
funding needs to provide this support, leaving a gap of
8000 k USD.
• Plan has an ongoing response in the Lautem
municipality, which focuses on WASH and DRR. Over a
period of six months, Plan aims to reach 2,749
households in 29 villages.
• World Vision aim to target 20,000 people in Aileu,
Bononaro, Baucau, Covalima districts with health,
livelihoods and DRR support. They also plan to continue
undertaking assessments of affected communities. The
response requires at least 86,000 USD.
• An Emergency Response Plan has been prepared by the UN
Resident Coordinator Office with the Government. Most
urgent sectors are WASH, food, nutrition, health, livelihoods and
education.
• Government of Timor-Leste: 9,000 tons of rice will be
distributed throughout the country in an effort led by the
Ministry of Interior
Vanuatu
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 38
KEY FINDINGS
• Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu in March 2015 and caused considerable damage. Over 180,000 people
(50% of Vanuatu’s population) were affected by the cyclone in five provinces.
• The damage caused by the Cyclone has been exacerbated by drought and heatwaves across the
country.
• Forecasters predict the worst of the drought is over but its impacts, such as crop failure and
food insecurity, are likely to still be felt for much longer.
• There are reports in the media that at least two children under five have died of illnesses linked
to malnutrition as a result of the drought.
APPEAL: no appeal has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
69,000
People affected
Number of children
affected not known
Education
Health
Vanuatu
FSL
• The impacts of Cyclone Pam (a Category five storm
which hit in March 2015) coupled with the more recent
reduced rainfall, drought and very high temperatures has
led to food shortages as well as significantly lowered
water levels after low rainfall during July, August and
September in Vanuatu.
• Crops in South Vanuatu never recovered from the
impacts of the cyclone and have been further damaged
by the drought and dry weather.
• A lot of households rely on food grown in their gardens
and there are reports that people are starting to feel
panicked about not having enough food.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 39
Overview of the impact
WASH
• Cyclone Pam destroyed some water reserves infrastructure,
which has been further damaged as they have been unable
to recollect water as a result of reduced rainfall.
• Many people now have to travel long distances for
drinking water. Women and children are often the ones
who collect the water leaving them at risk.
• Without a wet season arriving the upcoming months, water
supplies for communities will be not be replenished
until at the end of 2016 or the beginning of 2017, when
the next wet season is supposed to arrive.
Health & Nutrition
• There are reports of very young children dying of
malnutrition related illnesses caused by the recent drought.
• In North Tanna, there are reports that children have been
admitted to hospital with malnutrition. Children’s education
is also at risk as children suffering from illnesses cannot attend
school. There have also been reports of children fainting during
school hours and suffering from dehydration.
Vanuatu
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 40
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Health
Sectors targeted:
WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Health
• NGOs as well as the UN will be providing technical
assistance when requested by the Government.
• The World Health Organisation and partners have
initiated a nutrition screening process, which is
currently ongoing.
• CARE International will be targeting 27,5000
affected persons in Tafea Province. The response
will entail community awareness sessions on a
variety of topics, ranging from agricultural
approaches, water conservation, nutrition and food.
In addition, it will specifically target FSL and WASH
sectors, through distribution of seed packets and
WASH NFIs (including water storage containers
and filters).
• World Vision’s response will last over 12 months,
working with the Government to provide WASH
support.
• The Government and humanitarian partners are planning a drought
response. It is coordinated by the National Disaster Management
Office, supported by the clusters and humanitarian partners.
• Currently, emergency food deliveries are underway, to target 90,000
people (covering 18,000 households, schools and health centers). The
Government has also recently provided 480,000 USD in emergency
funding, to cover WASH, food security and logistics needs.
Viet Nam
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 41
KEY FINDINGS
• Viet Nam has been severely affected by drought and salinization in Southern Central,
Central Highland and Mekong delta. It is forecast that this will continue until June 2016.
• 14 provinces have declared a State of Emergency with a further 39 out of 63 provinces
requesting support from central government to respond to the drought.
• The drought has significantly affected livelihoods, food security and water supply. It has
also led to schools being closed and has impacted children’s nutrition with reports of families
in some provinces now eating 1-2 meals a day.
• The Government of Viet Nam has categorized this drought at Category 2 or Category 3.
APPEAL: an appeal for 48.5 million has been launched
SECTORS AFFECTED
Food Security
and
Livelihoods
Water,
Sanitation and
Hygiene
2.3 million
People affected
1,022,400
Children affected
Education
Health
Viet Nam
WASH (water scarcity)
• Since the end of 2014, El Niño has affected Viet Nam with
what is believed to be the worst drought over nearly a
century in the country. The drought has caused saline (salt)
intrusion in the Mekong Delta and affecting aquifers
(underground water sources), which usually supports the
domestic water demand. Medium and big reservoirs have also
reached low capacities on average; some reservoirs are at 60
to 70% of their full design capacity.
• There is an urgent need to provide drinking water to over
1.9 million people and to improve households’ access to
water. Also health care facilities are in in urgent need of clean
water (commune health stations in particular).
• There are a rising number of cases of dengue (from 0 to
66 case), diarrhoea (1,226 in 2015 to 2,277 in 2016), and
dysentery. Explaining factors are limited access to clean
water, and poor sanitation and hygiene practices (open
defecation).
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 42
Overview of the impact
FSL and Household Income
• UN assessments found raised concerns in terms of water
scarcity linked to food security with around 226,094
hectares of productive land affected throughout Viet Nam
and a further 352,832 hectares at risk if the drought
continues through to June. Agricultural yield is reduced by
up to 70% in some areas. Increasing numbers of foot and
mouth disease among livestock are also being reported.
There are also risks of forest fires in the Mekong Region.
• Around 1.75 million people have had their income
significantly affected due to the agricultural impact of the
drought. This includes not only severe loss of crops, but
also loss of livestock.
• Food shortages in two provinces in particular (Gia Lai and
Ninh Thuan) need to be addressed now to ensure that
destitute families survive until the drought impact subsides.
• Rice prices have increased by 10% from the same time
last year.
Viet Nam
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 43
Overview of the response (current and planned)
Summary *incomplete, need updates
Number affected:
TBC
Funding Gap:
TBC
Number of beneficiaries targeted:
TBC
Funding status:
TBC
Sector needs:
WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Health
Sectors targeted:
WASH, FSL, Nutrition, Health
• On 22nd March 2016, The People’s Aid Coordinating
Committee sent an appeal for emergency relief in
terms of FSL and WASH support.
• From 22nd to 24th March 2016, a joint assessment
coordinated by UN agencies was conducted in five
selected provinces.
• Save the Children launched its first emergency
response with 80,000 USD, supporting 1,600
households (about 8,000 people, including more
than 4,000 children) in terms of WASH, food
security and nutrition in two communes of Ayun and
Hbong in Chu Se district. The second response
planned will target 6972 people affected and include
the provision of water filters and rehabilitation of
water sources, clean water access in schools,
improving WASH facilities in schools, hygiene
promotion campaigns. It will also cover livelihood
support, the provision and promotion of the use of
nutritious food, and psychological support for
children. The total response target is 1.5 million
USD.
• CARE International will focus on Soc Trang
province, likely targeting 11,000 individuals. The
response will revolve around WASH activities,
including the provision of drinking water, safe water
for daily use, and containing rising cases of
diseases.
• World Vision’s response has focused on WASH and FSL. More
specifically, it included the provision of families most in need with small-
scale water supply facilities (water tanks, water pipes, digging wells). In
addition, it has promoted child-focused DRR-CCA, such as raising
awareness on climate change and disaster risks, measures for mitigation
and adaptation for teachers, children and communities, and enhancing
skills and capacity (such as ‘search and rescue’ and first aid).
• The Government has implemented some preventative measures, but
they do not reach all those affected. The Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development has mobilized different resources to respond to
the drought, including water trucking and repair/upgrading of irrigation
systems and reservoirs. The Government has also committed 2,000
tons of rice to address the food shortage in Central Highland.
Other countries affected by El Niño
There have been reports of impacts from El Niño from other countries in the region:
The Liaoning province of China witnessed, the lowest rainfall levels since 1951 which left more than 230,000
people without drinking water. Since June 2015,
Nepal has seen extreme drought, leading to a drop in summer crop production and a drop in the winter harvest (in
May 2016) is expected too.
As predicted, the middle of November 2015 witnessed extreme rainfall that caused severe flooding in northern Sri
Lanka experience severe flooding in the North after extreme rainfall in November. World Vision are monitoring the
situation in Sri Lanka and are planning to provide support should it be needed in food security and preparedness.
In parts the Lao People’s Democratic Republic excessively dry and hot conditions mean farmers have left fields
and rice paddies unplanted.
In Fiji, the Government sent hundreds of thousands of liters of water to parts of the Western Division, including the
outer islands.
In the Solomon Islands around 302,400 people have been affected by water shortages and low crop production.
World Vision are planning to support 9,762 people in 16 communities in Central Province and 10 communities in
East Malaita with WASH and food security interventions.
In Malaysia, there were reports that 250 schools were closed at the beginning of April 2016 due to heatwaves
after temperatures reached 37◦C.
4 May 2016Asia-Pacific Regional Overview - El Niño 44
Overview of interagency activity