Humanitarian Aid after Cyclone Kenneth in Mozambique & other topics - Daily Briefing (1 May 2019)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Daily Press Briefing on:
- Libya
- Cyclone Kenneth
- Malawi
- Somalia
- Ebola
- Myanmar
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
- World Press Freedom Day
- Events Tomorrow
LIBYA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that hostilities in Tripoli continue to impact health facilities and health personnel. There have been at least four fatalities among health workers since the beginning of this current conflict and 11 ambulances have to date been damaged or destroyed as a result of the hostilities.
The armed clashes, random shelling and explosives placed on roads are hampering the ability of humanitarian actors to evacuate civilians and to deliver needed aid, as well as the ability of civilians to move freely to safer areas or to be able to access vital goods and services.
The UN continues to remind all parties of their obligation under international humanitarian law to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, including medical personnel and medical facilities.
Since the beginning of the conflict, 102 civilian casualties have been verified, including 23 fatalities and over 45,000 people have now fled their homes due to the clashes, according to the UN Migration agency.

CYCLONE KENNETH
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that in Mozambique at least 41 people have been killed and more than 37,700 houses have been either totally destroyed or partially destroyed. Humanitarian partners have supplied shelter material, including tarpaulins, family kits, tents and hygiene as well as water, sanitation to families in need.
The World Food Programme has provided for over 14,600 people and yesterday, a team including two medics were deployed to Mutemo island, in Ibo district, with emergency health and water and sanitation as well as hygiene supplies.
In Comoros, the UN’s humanitarian arm says that seven people have died and over 200 people were wounded following the storm. Almost 80 per cent of farms and over 60 per cent of crops have reportedly been destroyed, and the cyclone also reportedly destroyed over 3,800 houses and including 400 schools. The United Nations has deployed team members to assist the Government of the Comoros in rapid assessment and response and emergency supplies are in place for the health, education, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene. 

MALAWI
The UN and partners have reach over 400,000 people who are impacted by Cyclone Idai. The UN has provided immediate life-saving relief support including food, medicine, shelter, protection services, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies.
Beyond addressing the immediate needs, the UN is also supporting the Government to assess post-disaster recovery needs that will inform early and long-term recovery efforts. This includes providing support for people who were displaced by the cyclone and wish to return home.

SOMALIA
1.7 million people are expected to face crisis and emergency levels of food insecurity until June, representing a 10 per cent increase in food insecurity, following a second consecutive failed rainy season that has led to livestock losses and widespread crop failure.
Malnutrition rates are rapidly escalating due to the drought conditions and 954,000 children are anticipated to be acutely malnourished, and that’s including 174,600 children who are severely malnourished.
The Humanitarian Country Team is preparing a Drought Response Plan to address food gaps in the most severely affected areas and to prepare for substantial increases in needs between May and October.
So far, Somalia’s 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan, which is seeking $1.08 billion, is only 19 per cent funded. Insufficient funding has led to the scaling back of water, sanitation and hygiene activities despite serious water shortages across the country.
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