This operation has been modified and extended in time as per Budget revision 08 (see below).
Madagascar, with an estimated population of 18 million (2005), is classified as a low-income food deficit country, which ranks 146th out of 177 countries in the 2005 Human Development Report. More than 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line with a per capita income of US$300 in 2005. Chronic food insecurity affects 65 percent of the population, with an 8 per cent increase during the lean season.
Malagasy people are regularly exposed to natural disasters, particularly cyclones and drought. Over the past 35 years, at least 46 natural disasters, including cyclones, drought, epidemics, floods, famines and locust infestations have been reported, cumulatively affecting more than 11 million people.
The proposed protracted relief and recovery operation presents a programming framework to address the seasonal and transitory shocks that are an annual occurrence in Madagascar. The pre-positioning of contingency stocks in disaster-prone areas will allow WFP to respond immediately to the needs of those temporarily displaced by a natural disaster and to the most vulnerable populations (children, pregnant/lactating women, female-headed households).
Seasonal needs will be addressed by:
Inputs on beneficiary target groups and the possible options for interventions were derived from a comprehensive food security and vulnerability assessment conducted by WFP in August/September 2005.
The proposed programme is a central component of the United Nations country team commitment to support national efforts in the area of disaster management, and is in line with WFP’s strategic objective to save lives and livelihoods. The proposed PRRO, covering the period of July 2006 to June 2008, is estimated to cost US$ 13,072,479
