SWAZILAND PEOPLE IN NEED 638k PEOPLE TARGETED 350k REQUIREMENTS (US$) 92.0M AVAILABLE FUNDS, GOV. 6.8M AVAILABLE FUNDS PARTNERS 3.0M Sectors Requested Food 350k People Targeted Wash 175k People Targeted Nutrition & Health 317k People Targeted Education 197k People Targeted Protection 112k Overview/Context Key Humanitarian Needs The devastating drought has impacted all sectors and increased social protection concerns. According to preliminary SwaziVAC 2016 results, 350,069 people are in need of urgent food assistance until the next harvest season in March 2017. At least 66,000 cattle have perished and an estimated 100,000 more are at risk. A decline in food access (both in quantity and quality) is likely to reduce the HIV treatment adherence of about 167,615 people (UNAIDS 2015); while 200,000 people and 78 per cent of schools are facing critical water shortages. There is urgent need to provide food and cash assistance to 350,069 people, as well as livelihood support and access to water to affected households and 516 schools. If this is not done, there is a risk of more food insecure people and deaths, increased acute malnutrition rates (underweight prevalence is 5.8 per cent and stunting is at 25.5 per cent), increased dropout rates (especially of adolescent girls), increase in defaulter rates for ARV treatment, and outbreaks of waterborne diseases. As the impact of the drought worsens, more negative coping mechanisms will see an increase in SGBV against women and children. All these will compound the existing emergency which would further strain the country’s economy and human resources. Due to increased difficulty in accessing adequate amounts of food and water, there are concerns of increasing violence against women and girls as they trek longer distances in search of water and are exposed to exploitation and abuse. For the first time, the capital Mbabane has been forced to ration its water supply because the water level in Hawane Dam, the main water source, is below 20 per cent capacity. GDP growth has declined by 0.3 per cent to 1.4 per cent from 2015 due to sharp declines in agriculture (including sugar - the main cash crop which accounts for 21 per cent of the GDP). The critical water shortage has forced Swaziland to import all of its energy needs since its domestic hydroelectric generation (which provided 20 per cent of total needs) had ceased. Maize prices are already very high for the poorest households (63 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line) and are set to increase with recent fuel hikes. Swaziland imports 85 per cent of its commodities. Needs Mid terms Strengthen livelihoods through the provision of agricultural inputs (improved seeds and fodder), extension services, and construction of earth dams, rehabilitation and extension of existing water systems, and the establishment of a national strategic grain reserve. Ensure community access to piped water through the drilling of new boreholes, building of dams and dredging of major water reservoirs to maximize future rainfall. Encourage water harvesting in households and schools. Strengthen health systems (management of acute malnutrition, disease surveillance and response, health promotion) in affected areas and roll out to the rest of the country. Provide comprehensive social protection services including community sensitization and awareness on SGBV (information, education and communication material People Targeted 59