OCHA Situation Report
Southern Africa Humanitarian Update
Report for October 2007
21 November 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HIGHLIGHTS

Regional: In preparation of the upcoming rainy season, eight countries 
in the region are revising their contingency plans with support from 
Regional Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for 
Southern Africa (OCHA ROSA) and the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and 
Recovery (BCPR). Given the propensity for increased levels of food 
insecurity, coupled with heavy rains and flooding during this time of 
year, this issue of the RIACSO bulletin focuses on humanitarian 
interventions aimed at disaster preparedness and response activities.

Mozambique: In preparation for the upcoming agricultural season, a total 
of 25,238 families will benefit from Input Trade Fairs implemented by 
FAO and the government, funded by South Africa and by Flanders, Belgium. 
Ahead of the country's cyclone season which lasts from November to 
April, and peaks in January to February, the government and humanitarian 
partners are each revising their Contingency Plans (CP).

Comoros: The tropical cyclone season will begin this quarter and 
predictions of above-average temperatures in the Indian Ocean may result 
in an increase in the frequency and intensity of cyclone development 
this season. OCHA ROSA and SAHIMS assisted the government and UN Country 
team in developing an emergency preparedness and response plan for 
cyclones, floods, and the possible eruption of the Kathala volcano and 
epidemiological outbreaks

Madagascar: Above average temperatures in the Indian Ocean is likely to 
result in increased rainfall, windstorms and flooding as well as cyclone 
development. In preparing for this season, OCHA supported the 
government, UN country team (UNCT) and partners' to assess their 
disaster preparedness and response capacity for this year's cyclone 
season. The plan is currently being finalised and as part of this 
process a simulation exercise will be held to test the practical 
implementation of the plan from 19 to 24 November.

Swaziland: The US$15.6 million Swaziland drought appeal is 54.7 percent 
funded. According to the latest information available on the Financial 
Tracking Service, the water and sanitation, early recovery and 
protection components of the appeal have received no funding. A 
Community and Household Surveillance (CHS) survey was completed this 
month in all four regions of the country by the World Food Programme 
(WFP). The results will be released shortly.

Lesotho: The US$18.9 million drought flash appeal is 58.3 percent 
funded. To date, no funds have been committed for the child protection 
and early recovery components of the appeal. A Community and Household 
Surveillance (CHS) survey will be conducted in Lesotho in all ten 
districts in November.

Angola: Pockets of food insecurity exist in the northern, central parts 
and southern parts of the county, following a poor harvest due to 
rainfall deficits. An unspecified number of moderately food insecure 
households exist in Ambuila, Bungo, Negage, Puri, Sanza Pombo and Songo 
(Uige) due to the impact of cassava mosaic virus on cassava production. 
An urgent assessment is needed to assess the impact of the virus on 
cassava production. The government and its partners have completed 
developing a Contingency Plan (CP) for five scenarios, namely floods, 
drought, epidemics, fire and landslides.

Zimbabwe: Preparations for the current agricultural season are underway. 
The Ministry of Agriculture is placing a greater emphasis on agriculture 
extension and intensification efforts to raise the yield level and area 
planted to three million MT from two million hectares last year. The 
water and sanitation situation in Bulawayo city remains critical. 
Humanitarian partners are working to address the situation through the 
rehabilitation and or drilling of boreholes. Findings of an assessment 
conducted by Refugees International (RI) on the humanitarian situation 
ofZimbabweans leaving the country to Zambia, Botswana and South Africa 
states the most pressing needs for the majority of Zimbabweans are food, 
shelter, healthcare and employment.

Zambia: In preparation of rainy season and the lessons learned from 
flood disaster earlier this year, the government and its partners, with 
support from Regional Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian 
Affairs for Southern Africa (OCHA ROSA) and UNDP's Bureau for Crisis 
Response and Recovery (BCPR), are in the process of developing a 
Contingency Plan (CP) for three scenarios, namely floods, drought and 
cholera. Coupled with this exercise, training of District Disaster 
Management Committees in disaster preparedness planning was carried out 
in eight of the 45 districts that were affected by floods.

Namibia: Drought conditions in the Kunene Region are worsening with 
numerous farmers losing large numbers of livestock. In response to this, 
the Government is subsidising communal farmers with transportation for 
their cattle to official quarantine facilities and registered abattoirs, 
so that farmers could benefit from the sale of the meat before the 
animals die. Further assistance is needed in the form of fodder, lick 
and enough boreholes for livestock. As a result of this year's flooding 
in the Caprivi region, the government and UN Country Team are developing 
a contingency plan which will specifically focus on flooding in the 
Caprivi area. Botswana: The UN in Botswana is in the process of 
finalizing the Common Country Assessment (CCA) in order to begin work in 
2008 on the UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), which is 
expected to be completed by 2010 and synchronized with the new National 
Development Plan.

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

October marks the beginning of the hunger season (October - March 20 08) 
with most countries showing a continued decline in food security 
conditions, as households deplete food reserves. According to FEWS Net's 
latest Food Security Outlook report, countries most at risk of extremely 
high levels of food insecurity are Zimbabwe and central and southern 
Mozambique. Already these countries are facing moderately to extremely 
food insecure.

To view the report visit:

www.sahims.net/doclibrary/Sahims_Documents/131107_FEWS_Exec_overview_food_security.pdf

In Lesotho and Swaziland, the situation is likely to be mitigated 
through ongoing emergency interventions targeted at vulnerable 
households. However adequate assistance will depend on improvements in 
the responses to appeals for resources by governments and humanitarian 
agencies. Currently the UN appeals for emergency assistance are 54.7 
percent funded in Swaziland, and 58.3 percent in Lesotho.

To view both appeals visit:

http://ocha.unog.ch/fts2/pageloader.aspx?page=emergemergencies& 
section=CE&year07

In countries in which the food security conditions is expected to 
decline, humanitarian partners warn that many households will likely 
engage in negative coping mechanisms. These include eating fewer meals, 
migrating in search of work, pulling kids out of school. Girls and women 
may exchange sex for food, increasing their vulnerability to contract 
HIV.

A recent study published in the October edition of the Public Library of 
Science Medicine journal by Dr Sheri Weiser of the University of 
California, San Francisco investigated the association between food 
insecurity and risky sexual behaviour as people seek to exchange sex for 
food. The study involved 1,255 adults in Botswana and 796 adults in 
Swaziland. The study showed a high correlation between food insecurity 
and risky sexual behaviour. The study recommended improving food 
security through targeted food assistance and supporting women's 
subsistence farming as ways to break the cycle of sex for food. The 
report also calls for programmes that enhance women's legal and social 
rights so that they have more control over food supplies as well as 
their sexual lives.

Full report available at:

http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=getdocument& 
doi=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0040260

This quarter also marks the beginning of the rainy season. A weak La 
Nina is developing over the Indian Ocean, which is normally associated 
with above-normal rainfall resulting in floods and cyclones. According 
to the OCHA Disaster Risk Trends Quarter four report, countries most at 
risk are Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and 
Zimbabwe.

Full report available at:

http://www.sahims.net/doclibrary/Sahims_Documents/2007/nov/131107_OCHA_Disaster_risks_trends_Q4.pdf

In preparation of the upcoming rainy season, eight countries in the 
region are revising their contingency plans with support from Regional 
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for Southern Africa 
(OCHA ROSA) and the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR).

Given the propensity for increased levels of food insecurity, coupled 
with heavy rains and flooding during this time of year, this issue of 
the RIACSO bulletin focuses on humanitarian interventions aimed at 
disaster preparedness and response activities.

Full_Report.pdf: 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=8C118FC451EFF5FEC125739A0033BD69&file=Full_Report.pdf

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