[pronut-hiv] MADAGASCAR: Under-resourced aid agencies struggle to raise nutrition levels

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MADAGASCAR: Under-resourced aid agencies struggle to raise nutrition
levels

JOHANNESBURG, 23 Jan 2006 (IRIN) - Despite efforts by relief agencies
to stabilise alarming malnutrition levels in southeastern Madagascar,
the nutritional situation remains fragile.

"The nutrition problem was being dealt with by the World Food Programme
(WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and cooperating
partners, but there are still critical challenges that need to be
addressed," WFP programme coordinator Soava Rakotaorisoa told IRIN.

According to the most recent nutritional assessment by government
agencies and UNICEF, 20.4 percent of the children surveyed suffered from
global acute malnutrition (GAM), and rates were higher in more remote
areas.

"The rapid assessment conducted in November had GAM levels at 38
percent - a rough indication, but it allowed us to mobilise immediately.
This more accurate assessment confirms the need for action - there is no
question that there is a need for an emergency response," Barbara
Bentein, UNICEF's resident representative, told IRIN.

Rakotaorisoa said the WFP had already distributed 942 mt of food in the
Manantenia and Vangaindrano regions near the southeastern coast,
targeting 7,800 families with moderately to severely malnourished
children.

"In November we established there was a need to treat 2,400 children in
the Nutritional Rehabilitation Centres (NRC) in Manantenia but we are
now treating 800; in the Vangaindrano region we expected 5,000 and now
treat 3,000," he noted.

The drop in the number of children in need was attributed to gradual
improvement in the situation over the past two months but Rakotaorisoa
said other factors, such as emigration to other regions, had also played
a role.

He mentioned more serious concerns in Vangandriano: "It is very
inaccessible, so it is difficult for people to reach the NRCs - that
means maybe only 3,000 are making it [to the NRCs]," he explained.

"Two big challenges remain: first of all, WFP resources in Madagascar
have reached critical levels and we are still waiting for additional
contributions from donors; second, reaching people in inaccessible
areas, where there are no bridges to cross rivers, is still a problem,"
Rakotaorisoa said.

Southern Madagascar is plagued by chronic food insecurity. In 2005
repeated flooding, insect infestation and drought affected the region's
rice and sweet potato crops, while the lack of a clove harvest due to
its biannual production cycle affected coping mechanisms and exacerbated
an already precarious situation.