Extreme weather events have been happening in various parts of the globe, leading to human suffering. This is the case in the Southern region of Madagascar, where extreme drought has left people with severe food insecurity. The drought has affected a population of 725,620 people in the regions of Andrefana, Androy, Anosy, and Atsimo. Food insecurity in this area created numerous cases of malnutrition (ReliefWeb, 2020). Non-Governmental Organization Coordination (NGOs), Civil-Military Coordination, and On-Site Operations Coordination Centre Coordination (OSOCC) provided humanitarian aid to the people in this region. The stakeholders include the Malagasy Military, the government of Madagascar, United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECPH), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC).
OSOCC coordination between organizations such as UNICEF, USAID, WFP, World Bank, and ECPH has helped reduce human suffering in several ways. USAID, Social Protection and Promotion of Women, and the Ministry of the population through the Catholic Relief Services and Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance set up the Maharo program, which entails donating funds to the victims. Approximately 3,000,000 funds in Malagasy currency were donated in the Maharo program (ReliefWeb, 2020). Fifty-five thousand eight hundred eighty households benefitted from the program, each receiving the money to restore their income-generating activities. UNICEF coordinated efforts with the Government of Korea and the World Bank to support education through television programs. 28,000 handwashing facilities were supplied to schools ensuring education is ongoing with COVID-19 measures in place, and 636,000 guides were provided for self-learning in public schools (Mueenuddin, 2021). The organizations have also coordinated their efforts to ensure that subsidized water supply, health services, and COVID-19 preventive measures such as masks and hand washing facilities were available to the communities. WFP mobilized funds from donors such as the World Bank and the Central Emergency Response Fund to provide food to 400,000 vulnerable people (WFP, 2020). The African Development Bank donated $ 686,000 to WFP to help in the food relief program across the hunger-stricken region of South Madagascar (WFP, 2020).
NGOs involved in the situation include the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement (RCRC) and Malagasy Red Cross Society (MRCS). MRCS and RCRC coordinated their efforts in managing the food insecurity crisis. The organizations receive funds from the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) and other donors. They took part in assessing the number of people affected and how critical the situation was. They found out that 725,620 people were vulnerable to the situation from the investigation (ReliefWeb, 2020). The organizations made donations to the affected families ensuring they have food, education, and improved sanitation. The French Red Cross Society supported them by providing non-food items such as kitchens and wash kits.
Civil-military coordination from organizations such as the civil society groups and the Malagasy Military have also helped the affected people massively. The Malagasy government and army collaborate mainly in supplying water, food, and security in the affected areas. The government donates funds while the military is involved in the execution of the activities. They offer protection to the stakeholders providing humanitarian aid in the affected region. Several civil society groups such as the Catholic Society and the Food Aid have joined hands in providing food and other donations to people in the affected regions. The societies contribute funds to a common pool and plan which services they will provide.
During difficult times, multiple efforts from various stakeholders make a significant impact. In the Southern part of Madagascar, several organizations, both locally and internationally, have been on the frontline in helping the affected people access the basic needs. The organizations coordinated efforts to provide funds for the people to restore their businesses. They also provided food aid, health services, and funds to facilitate the continuation of education. The combined efforts make it cheaper and easier to speed up the response, to reduce human suffering and to facilitate humanitarian aid as more funds are donated and coordinated by numerous organizations locally and internationally.
References
Mueenuddin, L. (2021). Real-Time Assessment (RTA) of UNICEF’s Ongoing Response to COVID-19 in Eastern and Southern Africa, 9.
ReliefWeb. (2021). All disasters. Madagascar: Drought – 2018-2021, 13.
ReliefWeb. (2020). Madagascar: Food insecurity emergency plan of action (EPoA) operation, 1. Web.
United Nations World Food Program- WFP. (2021). New releases: African Development Bank funds emergency food effort for thousands starving in southern Madagascar. Web.