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UNICEF Angola Humanitarian Situation Report October 2018

Countries
Angola
+ 1 more
Sources
UNICEF
Publication date

Highlights

  • 88 suspected cases of cholera and two deaths were reported in Uige between the end of September and the end of October in the second outbreak occurring this year in the province.
  • 32,780 children under the age of 5 have been screened for malnutrition and 2,034 were admitted for treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in September in drought affected areas and in Lóvua settlement and communities, where DRC refugees are located.
  • 39 latrines for vulnerable refugee families were constructed in Lóvua settlement and supplies for self-construction of adequate household sanitation facilities were distributed to 432 refugees
  • Findings from a WASH Knowledge Attitudes and Practice (KAP) survey conducted in Lóvua settlement indicate that 75 per cent of DRC refugees know the importance of drinking safe water, 86 per cent use latrines to defecate, and more than 80 per cent know they have to wash hands on a regular basis with water and soap. This WASH knowledge was learned through UNICEF-supported mobilizers and community radios, the two main communication channels in Lóvua settlement
  • A current funding gap of 77 per cent impacts UNICEF’s capacity to respond to the needs of refugee children and Angolan women and children at risk of water-borne diseases and malnutrition.

SITUATION IN NUMBERS

1,038
Suspected cases of cholera in Uige, Cabinda and Luanda in 2018 - including 17 deaths (31 October, Cholera Data, MOH)
700,000
People estimated to need clean drinking water
(Projection for 2018 based on 2017 Vulnerability Assessment Committee SADC) and 36,107 refugees (Biometric Registration Update as of 15 October 2018, UNHCR)
408,100
Children estimated to need clean drinking water* (2017 Vulnerability Assessment Committee SADC)
including 18,946 refugee children (Biometric Registration Update as of 15 October, UNHCR)
43,000
Children under 5 to be admitted for SAM treatment
(Based on MOH data)

Situation Overview and Humanitarian Needs

Southern Angola is experiencing a chronic nutrition crisis stemming from the combined impacts of an economic downturn, higher prices of basic commodities, irregular rainfall, the deteriorating quality and reach of basic services which all contribute to an increased risk of acute malnutrition. Challenges include reduced coverage of nutritional screening and referral at community level, low quality of management of SAM cases and break of therapeutic products, which resulted in increased number of children who died and reduced number of children cured or defaulted in the treatment programme in some provinces.

Cholera remains a concern with three of 18 provinces reporting outbreaks in 2018. During the reporting period, a new cholera outbreak was declared for the second time this year in Uige province, with 88 suspected cases, and two deaths in five weeks’ time. UNICEF has identified and ranked seven out of the 18 provinces as being at high risk for cholera outbreaks. Although pre-positioning supplies and partnerships for those areas are key priorities in preparedness efforts, successive outbreaks and lack of funding and experienced partners is constraining UNICEF’s timely and adequate response. Access to safe water remains limited with over 700,000 people in need of clean drinking water, especially in the south. Recurring and more severe dry seasons and rainfall below average, continue to affect populations in the southern region and increase the need for investments in climate proof infrastructure and services. The Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the DRC, and consequent elevated risk of spreading cross border, prompted Angola to implement preparedness and preventative actions. Under the leadership of the Civil Protection National Committee (CNPC), and with UNICEF and partners’ support, Angola drafted and approved the 2018 Ebola National Contingency Plan, while immediately implementing a set of preventive measures in its border provinces, including training of health and administration staff, as well as community and religious leaders on prevention and case management.

Instability and potential for violence in the Kasai region of the DRC remains a matter of concern. Following the influx of over 35,000 Congolese refugees registered in Lunda Norte, access to basic services for both host communities and refugees remains limited, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. Following a government directive at the end of September, several irregular immigrants were rounded up and expelled from Angola. Although this measure did not target refugees, it ended up creating fear among refugee communities in Lunda Norte. Therefore, number of refugees willing to relocate to Lóvua became higher in October 2018. The expulsion of over 300,000 Congolese citizens over a short period, poses a massive threat to the already fragile and unstable context in the Greater Kasai Region.

Underfunding in most sectors continues to constrain UNICEF's response, particularly for children lacking education and child protection services. In August 2018, UNICEF Angola reviewed its Humanitarian Action for Children appeal (HAC) to adjust targets to align with the current situation. The changes included new child protection indicators with a focus on gender-based violence and child reunification that align with sectoral priorities and plans.