Eswatini
1.1 Eswatini Humanitarian Background

Disasters, Conflicts and Migration

Natural Hazards

Type

Occurs

Comments / Details

Drought

Yes

The country is recovering from L3 drought suffered in late 2015 to mid-year 2017. Drought is an inherent feature of the current semi-arid climate. Rainfall levels have consistently reduced over the last years (since the 2011/12 season). The El Niño phenomenon has exacerbated the drought as well as irregular rainfall and prolonged dry spells during the 2017-2018 October-to-March rainfall season.

Earthquakes

No


Epidemics

No


Extreme Temperatures

Yes

The country occasionally suffers from heat-wave that hits the country from lower middle-veld to the low-veld resulting in instant drying up (wilting) of crops.

Flooding

No


Insect Infestation

Yes

Outbreak of Fall Armyworm—an invasive agricultural pest that affects maize and other crops impeded food production in the 2017/2018 crop season.

Mudslides

No


Volcanic Eruptions

No


High Waves / Surges

No


Wildfires

Yes

Although not severe on major crops in the growing season, the fires usually have a huge impact on livestock as they normally destroy vegetation.

High Winds

No


Other Comments

The country sometimes receives rains late in the year. Due to people having been affected by draught and poor rains in previous years, they get discouraged by the delays in anticipation of a looming draught. With most farmers practicing livestock and crop farming, the late rains normally benefit livestock than it does to human in terms of increasing food availability and accessibility.

Man-Made Issues

Civil Strife

No


International Conflict

No


Internally Displaced Persons

No


Refugees Present

No


Landmines / UXO Present

No


Other Comments

Refugee influx only happened when there are civil wars in neighbouring countries (South Africa and Mozambique) but in the recent unsettlement in Zimbabwe, the country received a large number of Zimbabweans seeking refuge


For a more detailed database on disasters by country, please see the Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Country Profile.

Seasonal Effects on Logistics Capacities

Seasonal Effects on Transport

Transport Type

Time Frame

Comments / Details

Primary Road Transport

January to January

All Eswatini’s Primary roads are paved. However, due to on-going and continuous infrastructure developments, roads are being up-graded therefore causing traffic jams during day time.

Secondary Road Transport

October to March

During the rainy season the secondary roads are most often inaccessible due to road slippery.

Rail Transport


Rail transport is not affected by seasonal changes.

 

Eswatini has a one crop season which is in the summer months usually from August to April but due to the climatic change, the season trend has shortened and usually begins from October to March. During the crop season, depending on previous cropping year harvest most households face the leanest period in terms of food availability. Usually during this period food prices hike a bit considering the availability is only dependant on surpluses. Also, in terms of Logistics services roads are mostly damaged during this period due to rains.

The August to April period is one with most “Christian” holidays. These holidays normally have a huge impact on availability of contracted services including transport and other Logistics related services as most companies close for about 20 days between December and January. Also, the Easter holidays does lead to slow Logistics services as service providers observe these holidays same as they observe the December/January holidays. To add to the Christian holidays, there is usually some cultural activities (Incwala, Umhlanga and Buganu) which also affect the availability of transport for other Logistics Services.

Potential seasonal effects on miscellaneous commodity handling

Most grain crops are produced seasonally in the country mainly because they are mostly rain fed. Their availability throughout the year requires proper handling and storage to avoid spoilages and losses. Very few companies perform the drying and storage of maize grain. The handling and storage is mostly performed by individual farmers before grain is consumed by family members or some sold to the milling companies. The milling companies may perfume some minor but crucial grain handling and storage before processing and repackaging.

The production of grain crops in the country has not bean able to satisfy the country’s population demand. Maize for instance is produced in the maize belt area (Highveld, upper Middleveld and the Lubombo plateau) and there is considerable low production in the Middleveld and the Lowveld due to poor rainfall. This is followed by low productivity in terms of yield as a result of several factors such as pest infestation, poor agronomic practices and climate variation/extreme weather conditions.

Seasonal Effects on Storage and Handling

Activity Type

Time Frame

Comments / Details

Storage

From (month) to (month or months to year/s))

Poor resources from farmers such as proper storage facilities lead to improper storage of grain, thus a large percentage of grain is lost during storage. These losses can be physically or the quality of grain can be compromised making it unfit for both human and livestock consumption. Climate variation within the country makes the farmers to experience different kinds of loses from region to region and the Highveld being the one that experience huge loses and the Lowveld being the least in terms of grain loses.

Handling

From month to month

Grain handling differs from farmer to farmer depending on resources available. Transportation from field is usually done by ox-drawn or tractor drawn carts. More grain is lost as results of stomping on the maize cobs. Accumulation of moulds, pests, rodents, birds and livestock are the major stored grain enemies during the drying periods if the drying structures (i.e. maize cribs) are not properly constructed

Processing and repackaging

From day to day

Considerable loses are encountered during milling of grain. Poor sieving methods/equipment and milling grains at lower moisture contents results in the physical loss of grain (low milling weght).

Capacity and Contacts for In-Country Emergency Response

The National Disaster Management Act (DMA) was enacted in 2006 followed by a Disaster management policy in 2010. The act and the policy are key documents in DRR governance in the country. The Disaster Management Act 2006 gives NDMA its mandate and empowers the Deputy Prime Minister to be in charge of DRR whereas the Prime Minister (PM) is responsible for declaring a state of emergency during disasters. The Public Enterprise Unit (PEU) Control and Monitoring Act 1989 was used to establish NDMA as a parastatal.

The National Action Plan (NAP) for DRR (2008-2015) provides a framework for coordination of prevention and managing disasters. The plan is complemented by the National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan (MHCP 2012–2015), which is renewed annually and offers a roadmap for the implementation of the Action Plan.  In addition, the DMA provides that Disaster Risk Management should be implemented within a sector wide approach coordinated by NDMA constituting of 9 clusters listed as follows: Agriculture and Food Security, Health and Nutrition, Education, Water Sanitation & Hygiene, Transport & Logistics, Protection, Emergency ICT, Environment, and Camp Coordination Emergency Shelter & None Food Items.

The National Multi Hazard Contingency Plan (MHCP) was developed through an inclusive and participatory process involving all sectors from Government, the United Nations Agencies, Non- Governmental Organizations and Private Sector representatives. The MHCP act as a guiding document whenever the country is faced with a threat of a particular hazard in order to deal with the impacts accordingly. 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

 

Clusters

Lead and Co-Lead Organization

Partner Organizations

Overall Objective

Agriculture and Food Security

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP)

Swazi MET, World Vision International, ADRA, National Maize Corporation (NMC), NAMBOARD, Swaziland Dairy Board (SDB), CSO, Africa Cooperative Action trust (ACAT), Baphalali Red Cross Swaziland (BRCS), Save the Children (SCF) and CARITAS

Improve access to food and address the food insecurity through the provision of assistance delivery and support feeding programmes, saving lives and protecting livelihoods in emergencies.

Health and Nutrition

Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO)

Baphalali Red Cross Swaziland (BRCS), World Vision International, FLAS, NERCHA, USAIDs’ project PEPFAR, Ministry of Agriculture, Nutrition council, FAO, UNICEF, and WFP.

Strengthen national capacity to prepare for and respond to epidemics, outbreaks, malnutrition providing integrated health services, surveillance, and medical supplies for the affected population in a timely and coordinated manner.

Education

Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), UNICEF, Save the Children

Ministry of Health (School health, Environmental Health), Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy (Rural Water, Department of Water Affairs), Ministry of Agriculture (Nutrition Council), Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (Social Welfare, National Children’s Coordination Unit), National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA), World Vision International (WVI), Baphalali Red Cross Swaziland (BRCS).

To ensure continuity of teaching and learning sessions at all levels of education and retaining sufficient capacity, securing adequate resources for the functioning institutions during emergencies.  

Water Sanitation & Hygiene

Department of Water Affairs (WASH Forum), Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and UNICEF.

Ministry of Agriculture, Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC), Ministry of Commerce and Trade, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC), UN agencies (UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, UNAIDS), NGOs, CBOs and private sector partners.

To ensure access to adequate safe water for the affected communities and institutions and ensure favourable conditions prevail maintaining hygiene conditions and practices at the household and facilities level.

Transport & Logistics

Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MoPWT), World Food Programme (WFP) and Baphalali Red Cross Swaziland (BRCS).  

National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), Royal Swaziland Police Services (RSPS), Swaziland Fire and Emergency Services, Central Transport Authority (CTA). 

To ensure that response interventions in all phases of an emergency (before, during and after) reach the intended beneficiaries within the shortest time possible and in good condition, reducing further threats to life and property which may be caused by response delays.  

Social Protection

Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and UNFPA

National Surveillance System, Baphalali Red Cross Swaziland, Save the Children Swaziland, World Vision International, HIV/AIDS and TB Project Component 3, NDMA, Ministry of Health (MoH), SWAGAA, SWANNEPHA, NERCHA, Ministry of Labour, Family Life Association (FLAS), Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), the UN agencies (WFP, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNDP), Royal Swaziland Police Services (RSPS), Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), and DGFI.

To provide protection, resilience, strengthening national, regional and community based systems that prevent and mitigate all forms of violence, enabling survivors and persons at risk to access specialized care and support.

Emergency ICT

Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICT) and World Food Programme (WFP). 

 

Swaziland Communications Commission, Swaziland Post and Telecommunication, Mobile Companies (MTN and Swazi Mobile), NDMA, Royal Swaziland Police Services (RSPS), and Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF). 

To provide uninterrupted countrywide telecommunication, network connectivity and broadcast services supporting the disaster response activities.

Environment

Swaziland Environment Authority (SEA), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Swaziland Environment Authority, UNDP, Swaziland National Trust Commission (SNTC), Swaziland Meteorological Services (MET), Conserve Swaziland (NGO).

To conserve and protect the environment, balance the eco-system minimizing the impact of hazards and ensure minimal interruptions of energy generation and supplies.

Camp Coordination Emergency Shelter & None Food Items

Ministry of Home Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and Department of Social Welfare, WFP and Baphalali Red Cross Swaziland.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MoHUD), MoTAD, Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), Royal Swaziland Police Services (RSPS), UNICEF, Municipalities and Town Boards, UN agencies, NGOs, CBOs and Private Sector partners

To ensure the provision of fully managed temporary camps to accommodate displaced or affected people and provide appropriate basic shelter materials and NFI family packages.

Currently military resources are not used. The country is peaceful and the response mechanism is running smooth there are no cases reported which may need the involvement of military/ civil defence. However, in the past few years the NDMA engaged the Royal Eswatini Police and Umbutfo Defence Force as skilled labours when building houses for storm affected households. The military and/ or civil works can be engaged in recovery and reconstruction of houses when the scale of the disaster is huge. They have all the necessary skills and equipment. Their involvement can minimise turnaround time and labour cost. More houses can be built in a short space of time.

For more information on humanitarian agency contact details, please see the following link: 4.2 Humanitarian Agencies Contact List.


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