The Nutrition Cluster developed a Strategic Response Plan to guide the implementation of nutrition services in 81 municipalities prioritized by the Department of Health (DoH) within Regions VI, VII, and VIII-the areas affected by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Nutrition in Emergencies (NiE) activities have focused on the protection, promotion and support of Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF),

the treatment and prevention of acute malnutrition, and micronutrient supplementation, including the capacity development of nutrition and health workers.

The Nutrition Assessment and Monitoring Technical Working Group, including the DoH-National Nutrition Council (NNC), UNICEF, WFP, WHO, ACF and other NGOs, conducted a survey in the three affected regions from February to mid-March using the Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions (SMART) methodology. The survey’s purpose was to determine the nutritional status of children 6-59 months and women 15-49 years old; assess the coverage of Vitamin A supplementation, deworming, measles vaccination and feeding programmes; determine the prevalence of watery diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections; and assess IYCF practices.

To protect the nutritional status of mothers and children under age 5, the Cluster’s early response activities focused on IYCF counselling and the widespread screening and management of acute malnutrition. Acutely malnourished children simply were not being identified in large numbers, however. This result was confirmed by the SMART Survey, which showed a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rate of 4.1 per cent across the surveyed areas. But despite the low GAM rate, the SMART Survey confirmed that levels of chronic malnutrition, which manifests as child stunting, remain high. The Cluster organized a national workshop to disseminate the SMART Survey findings and recalibrate the targets. As a result, the Cluster has opted to focus on both preventative approaches and targeted management of acute malnutrition that reduces the risk of infant and child mortality. This approach is more cost-effective, sustainable and more likely to reduce rates of morbidity and mortality, as well as acute and chronic undernutrition.

OVERVIEW

NUTRITION CLUSTER

Estimates showed that 2.94 million individuals are at risk of undernutrition, including 400,000 boys and girls aged 0-59 months and up to 210,000 pregnant and lactating women. Revised targets based on the SMART Survey results estimate that approximately 790 boys and girls aged 6-59 months will suffer from severe acute malnutrition and up to 7,500 boys and girls between 6-59 months will suffer from moderate acute malnutrition in the next year in seven severely affected provinces alone.

URGENT HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

CLUSTER RESPONSE

The Cluster aims to reduce the risk of mortality and morbidity by maintaining the nutritional status of vulnerable groups at acceptable levels. Counselling services for optimal IYCF practices will be improved through a supportive supervision model and targeted communications. To date, the IYCF programme has reached 20,279 women using the network of community health and nutrition volunteers, mobile counsellors and baby-friendly spaces; scale will be reached for this activity through an integrated community-based nutrition response strategy employed by DoH-NNC and funded by UNICEF.

Three phases of blanket supplementary feeding with Ready-to-Use Foods and High Energy Biscuits are complete and addressed the immediate nutrition needs of over 100,000 boys and girls aged 0-59 months. The Cluster is also distributing sachets of micronutrient supplements for 191,000 boys and girls. Meanwhile, government partners will roll out routine Vitamin A supplementation for children aged 6-59 months and iron folic acid supplementation for pregnant and lactating women. To date, over 279,974 children under age 5 have been screened and this led to the detection of 8,968 cases of acute malnutrition-992 classified as “severe” and 7,976 classified as “moderate”. A targeted approach for managing these cases will be employed to provide life-saving interventions.

Cluster partners are leading Training of Trainer activities for community health and nutrition workers on core NiE activities, including malnutrition screening, referral to rural health units and other sites for acute malnutrition management, Vitamin A distribution, micronutrient supplementation and the delivery of counselling promoting optimal IYCF practices. The Cluster is supporting the enhancement of government information systems in terms of routine surveillance (Operation Timbang), capacity development on SMART methodology, and monitoring and evaluation systems for key interventions.

CLUSTER SNAPSHOT

2.94 Million

89%funded

15 Millionneeded

Response to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)

https://philippines.humanitarianresponse.info www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

11 April 2014

As of 11 April 2014

A challenge is convincing the public and donors that further support is required to ensure the acceptable nutrition status of the affected populations is upheld. The shock of Haiyan will contribute to protracted suffering and arrested socioeconomic development, while there is evidence that investment in preventative nutrition-related interventions will have a greater and more sustained impact on reducing the burden of recovery and rehabilitation.

Constraints early in the response, such as delays in the delivery of key services, would have been addressed by a thorough nutrition preparedness planning process of the Nutrition Cluster, in coordination with DoH and NNC. Achieving cluster targets involves investing resources to develop government capacity in terms of the delivery and monitoring of community-level counselling services that support optimal IYCF practices.

In spite of the direction of the guidelines on the Philippine Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition, the strategic vision, leadership and operational aspects for the management of acute malnutrition are still being formulated. The Cluster is faced with the challenge of transferring capacity from cluster partners to government counterparts by June.

Response to Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)

89%

Funding by sector (in US$)NUTRITION CLUSTER

funded

$15mtotal needed

CHALLENGES

Background on the crisisTyphoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) swept through the central Philippines on 8 November, killing over 6,000 people and displacing some 4 million people, flattening homes and damaging schools, health centres and other infrastructure. Some experts estimate the storm was among the strongest ever to make landfall. On 9 November, the Government accepted the UN offer of international assistance. The Government also welcomed the deployment, in the initial phase of disaster response, of a large number of countries’ military assets. The humanitarian community’s one-year Strategic Response Plan calling for $788 million has been released and is closely aligned to the Government’s Yolanda Recovery and Rehabilitation Plan launched on 18 December.

Cluster lead agency / co-lead agency Department of Health - National Nutrition Council / UNICEF

For further information, please contact:

Richard Wecker Nutrition Cluster Information Management Officer nutritioncluster.imo@gmail.com +63-917-502-1747

https://philippines.humanitarianresponse.info www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

11 April 2014

BATANJTS

IVISANUnicef PANAY

Intervida, IRCPILARUnicef

PONTEVEDRAUnicef

PRESIDENTROXASIntervida

ROXAS CITY (CAPITAL)ISRAID, Unicef

CITY OFBOGO

Unicef, WFP

CEBUCITY (CAPITAL)DPWH, ISRAID

DAANBANTAYANISRAID, Unicef

MEDELLINUnicef

SAN REMIGIODOH/NNC, Unicef

SANTA FEUnicef

BALASANIntervida

BATADIntervida

CARLESIntervida

CONCEPCIONAAI, Intervida,

ISRAID

ESTANCIAJollibee,

JTS, Korean Army, Unicef

SAN DIONISIOUnicef

SARAUnicef

ALANGALANGISRAID

BURAUENDepEd

ISABELGNIP

KANANGADPWH

LA PAZDPWH

MACARTHURDPWH

MERIDAGov

CHIN

PALOMPONDPWH

SANTA FEGov CHIN

TACLOBAN CITY(CAPITAL)E Archit,

GOAL, ISRAID,JTS, UnicefVILLABA

HITAPAZUnicef

ORMOC CITYGov CHIN, JTS

AklanBiliran

Bohol

Capiz

Cebu

Iloilo

Leyte

Masbate

NegrosOccidental

Samar

SouthernLeyte

Cebu City

Ormoc

RoxasCity

PHILIPPINES: Ongoing and Completed Nutrition activities as of 07 April 2014

Data Sources: The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United NationsCreation date: 11 Apr 2014 Glide number: TC-2013-000139-PHL Sources: 3W data provided by IASC cluster lead agencies and compiled by OCHA. Geographic data from NAMRIA. Feedback: kajtazi@un.org� www.unocha.org www.reliefweb.int

Region 7

Coordination Hub

Ongoing Activities

Completed Activities