Assessment and IYCF-E Deployment: 29 July-30 September 2016
Reason for request:
The region of Diffa, has been facing a security crisis since 2013 due to recurrent attacks by Boko Haram. This security crisis has caused massive population movements and significantly deteriorated the already precarious humanitarian situation in an area previously weakened by recurrent food crises, malnutrition in all its forms, floods, epidemics as well as limited access to basic social services. The local population and refugees from Nigeria and Chad, specifically women and children, are most impacted by resulting difficulties including lack of food and water, lack of opportunities and high risk of violence. By mid-September 2016 the number of displaced, returned and refugees is estimated at more than 302,000.
A Tech RRT advisor was deployed to:
- Conduct a Rapid SMART Assessment in the displaced sites on the border with Nigeria to evaluate the nutrition status of children <59 months
- Conduct an Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) Assessment in the displaced sites to understand priority program needs and develop a response strategy
Outcome:
- Rapid SMART assessment results revealed the prevalence of acute and chronic malnutrition classified as ‘serious’ based on WHO evaluation thresholds.
- IYCF Assessment results identified priority IYCF needs in the displaced sites and results were validated and presented at both district and national level.
- Following the assessment, a workshop was held for district health workers and implementing partners to conduct a SWOT analysis and develop an action plan to address priority needs identified during the assessment and strengthen existing nutrition interventions.