The 2015/
2016 global El Niño event was officially declared in March 2015, peaked in
December 2015 and came to an end in May 2016. It resulted in unseasonably low
precipitation levels and increases in temperature by as much as 3 degrees
Celsius on average.
These weather abnormalities have resulted in what has been
characterized as “the worst drought in 50 years” for Southeast Asia.
The
hotter and drier conditions experienced during the 2015/2016 El Niño event
placed significant stress on households throughout the country.
Numerous
anecdotal reports emerged of crop losses, with many households needing to re
invest in seeds and other inputs to replant. Likewise, it was noted that in
certain parts of the country, fish stocks were suffering from the prolonged
period of lower than normal precipitation and from the extreme heat.
The
situation deteriorated significantly in April 2016 with prolonged reductions in
rainfall translating to widespread water shortages for households throughout
the country. According to the National Committee for Disaster Management
(NCDM), 2.5 million people across 18 provinces were severely impacted, with
parts of Banteay Meanchey, Battambang and Pursat provinces amongst the most
affected.
The
severity of the situation triggered a nationwide response. Targeted
distribution of drinking water began in the last week of April with up to 5
million liters of water delivered per day to the most affected provinces.
Complementing the Royal Government’s efforts, UN agencies, NGOs and the
Cambodia Red Cross also provided targeted water distribution to communities as
well as to affected health care centers and schools. Alongside water
distributions, UN agencies and NGOs redirected routine development programming
towards affected communities, with a focus on rehabilitation of water sources
such as wells and community ponds.
The
significant nationwide response by the Royal Government of Cambodia, which
officially ended at the end of May 2016, as well as the timely arrival of the
2016 rainy season has alleviated the acute concerns over household water
shortages.
Any impacts
on livelihoods, however, may be felt for the coming months and years.
Consequently, WFP, UNICEF and FAO, in collaboration with the NCDM and
Provincial Committees for Disaster Management (PCDMs) agreed to conduct a
series of three nationwide household surveys over the course of 2016 and 2017
which will enable a better understanding as to how households are impacted by
and recover from shocks, with the aim being to better understand household
risks and vulnerabilities in order to inform resilience building efforts
throughout the country. The surveys will also provide an evidence -base that
can be tapped into by organizations that would like to explore particular
issues impacting households.
The first
of the three surveys, the El Niño Situation Analysis, was conducted in May 2016
to provide a baseline food security and livelihoods analysis as the El Niño
period concludes. Follow up surveys will be conducted in December 2016 and May
2017 to assess the extent to which normality has returned and better understand
the strategies and mechanisms that enable households to recoup their losses.
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