Attachments
Highlights
-
With support from the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), UNICEF provided safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene messages to 15,897 drought-affected people in 5 districts, from January to September 2017. Since the start of the DFID-funded programme in July 2016 and up to September 2017, a total of 131,267 people (51% female) gained access to WASH services in 33 communities, 25 primary schools and 4 health centres in 5 districts (Berea, Mafeteng, Thaba Tseka, Quthing and Botha Bothe).
-
Since January 2017, 1,072 children (563 boys and 509 girls) have been admitted and treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM).
-
A total of 4,105 people, including 2,463 children (1,256 girls) in three community councils (Qhoasing, Qobong and Mtjanyane [Likhohlong]) were provided with cash and seed packages—each family receiving M1,000 (US$ 76) for two quarters.
-
A multi-sectoral team of 55 participants—comprising social workers, programme officers, police officers, NGO community officers, commodities officers, humanitarian accountability officers and the media were trained by an accredited Global Protection Cluster Facilitator on child protection in emergencies, including in psychosocial support (PSS).
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The preliminary results of the first integrated urban and rural vulnerability assessment, undertaken in June 2017, projects a total of 306,942 people facing food insecurity from September 2017 to March 2018 (224,664 rural and 82,278 urban).
The report also indicates that, while acute food security needs are reducing due to improved harvest from 24,727 to 238,361 metric tons of cereal production, there has been an increase in chronic malnutrition (36 per cent). The findings further indicated that 68.1 per cent of households have an adequate water supply through communal taps, piped water, protected and unprotected springs, and other sources. However, 6 of the 10 districts reported a high percentage of households using unprotected water sources (10 – 17 per cent). About 80 per cent of households are using improved sanitation facilities, showing a 10 per cent increase from last year. Although, there LVAC 2017 shows a marked improvement in the numbers of people in need of humanitarian assistance, there is still a need to cater for over 300,000 people facing food insecurity until March 2018.