Vulnerable children in conflict and El Niño affected Mindanao
“We get our water from the deep
well, but because of the drought we have a hard time getting clean [water] to
drink,” says Rehana Sandigan, a 10-year-old from Barangay Tuka, Mamasapano.
“Sometimes we pour water into the well and pump it hard;hoping some water comes
out,” she says.
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Rehana
Sandigan, 10, fetches water from a well in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao,
where El Nino has caused drought. ©UNICEF Philippines/2016/Maitem
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As if being affected by the Mamasapano
conflict in 2015 was not enough, the Sandigan family have now had to grapple
with the effects of El Niño.Mamasapano is one of the municipalities affected by
the drought in Maguindanao. Farming is one of the main sources of income here,
producing mainly maize. Instead of lush green cornfields, people now see only
dry farmlands.
“We get water from the deep well in our area.
We use it for laundry, taking a bath and drinking as well,” 11 year-old Mardiya,
Rehana’s sister, chimes in.
“When the drought started it’s
getting hard to get water,” Rehana said.
In the Philippines, children are
among the worst affected by the scourge of El Niño. Drought
affects children’s health and well-being, limiting their access to clean water
and nutritious food. Since many families earn their living through farming, low
harvest resulting from damaged crops also affect their ability to feed and
provide for their children. Pregnant and lactating mothers unable to afford
nutritious food also put their babies in peril, resulting in low birth weight
or insufficient breast milk supply.
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| A teenager fetches water in a dried river in the drought-affected village of Kuya, South Upi, Maguindanao.©UNICEF Philippines/2016/Maitem |
“In the Philippines, at least 42
per cent of the country was affected by drought and dry spells, mostly in
Mindanao where a high percentage of children are already stunted.UNICEF is
concerned about worsening nutrition, increasing diarrhea and lack of water
supply. We must come together to help children by responding withimmediate
life-saving needs as well as increasing their resilience,” UNICEF Philippines
Emergency Specialist Verity Rushton says.
Water and food as basic rights
Access to water and proper
nutrition are basic human rights, yet children like Rehana and Mardiya have had
to work hard to get clean water and nutritious food to eat. After fetching
water from the well, they have to filter and boil the water to ensure it is
safe to drink. At times when the water becomes yellowish, the family pays P50
pesos daily for drinking water, putting further strain on the family’s
financial resources.
Rehana’s mother Norma shares that
it has been difficult to make ends meet since El Niño started. Because of the
drought, the harvest has been poor. Families have resorted to eating rice,
boiled banana, cassava and maize to stave off hunger.
“Before, I could harvest as much
as 25 sacks of corn. I got more than P10, 000 per harvest season every three
months. Now with the drought our income declined to P3, 000 per harvest,” Norma
said.
With the drought projected to
last until June 2016, the Sandigan family, like many others will have to find
other means to support their children.
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A farmer
shows the damage to the harvest caused by drought. Because of low harvest,
families have had to look for other sources of income to provide for their
families. ©UNICEF Philippines/2016/Maitem
|
Responding to nutrition and water needs
UNICEF’s Mindanao Field Office
has been working with partners on the ground to ensure support for children and
families suffering from El Niño.
In Maguindanao, UNICEF works with government partners
such as the Department of Health for micronutrient supplementation for pregnant
and lactating women and provision of micronutrient powder for children 6-23
months. For water, sanitation and hygiene, UNICEF works with NGO partners such
as Action Against Hunger International to work with local leaders on coping
strategies and influencing health habits.
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