SITUATION UPDATE
The overall situation in the country has not changed significantly. Field assessments have consistently shown that the water situation is critical.
Members of the Water Crisis Committee and UNICEF visited the South Eastern part of the country where the drought is most severe. The water crisis was evident for example in one area where 50-60 households share a single shallow well. Families compete to get to the source before the trickle of water is exhausted. The competition is so severe that persons fetching water get up at 2-3 am, trek 25 minutes to the water source and wait for a turn to fill their plastic water containers.
The Minister of Regional Development and Youth Affairs, which houses the Disaster Task Force, conducted a field trip to Lubombo region to assess the situation of water and launch rigs in the sites that are earmarked for drilling as soon as pledged Government funds are released.
UNICEF RESPONSE
Nutrition
The Swaziland National Nutrition Council (SNNC) held its first emergency task force (TF) meeting on 12 July. This newly established group includes UNICEF, WFP, WHO, Médecins Sans Frontières - Belgium, which is establishing an office in Swaziland, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture and the Mbabane Government Paediatric Hospital. The Task Force (TF identified 19 health facilities from Shiselweni and Lubombo that will serve as nutritional surveillance centres. Each site is expected to report weekly on several indicators for children under five, including the number of consultations and data on nutritional status (MUAC, Weight-for-Age and Weight-for-Height). The TF asked UNICEF and WFP to propose Neighbourhood Care Points (NCP) that can also serve as sentinel sites. In addition, the TF identified the 42 Education for All Schools to serve as sentinel sites to monitor the situation of school children.
With input from UNICEF, the SNNC identified the first three facilities to be designated as therapeutic feeding centres: the Mbabane Government Hospital, Hlatikulu Government Hospital and Good Shepherd. Apart from technical assistance, UNICEF will provide therapeutic food for these sites.
Child Protection
3,500 blankets for orphans and vulnerable children have been procured from South Africa. These items will be distributed to OVC in the coldest areas of Hhohho, Shiselweni, and Manzini.