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Since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the Government of Bangladesh has been putting its best efforts at reduction of child mortality and morbidity. Child mortality reduction is considered an important indicator of socioeconomic success under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Bangladesh fared well with respect to reduction of child mortality which is measured by under-five mortality rate (U-5MR) and infant (children under one year of age) mortality rate (IMR). The U-5MR has gone down from 146 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 84 in 2000 and further reduced to 40 per 1,000 live births in 2019. To understand the child malnutrition situation in the country, one important indicator we need to consider is the rate of underweight children under five years of age which decreased from 66% in 1990 to 22.6% in 2019. The Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) is being implemented for past several decades and it is an important way to deal with vaccine preventable diseases. About 85% of children 12-23 months are fully immunized in the country which is a major achievement made in this regard. The government for over two decades has been promoting early childhood development. It is well recognized by now that children's potential and capacities can be unleashed through early education, stimulation, psychosocial and cognitive development.

On April 2, 2007, an earthquake followed by a tsunami hit islands in Western and Choiseul Provinces of Solomon Islands. More than 36,500 people living in 304 communities were affected. Alongside other United Nations agencies, International and National Non-Government Organizations and Faith- Based Organizations, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has played a significant role in the emergency response. UNICEF mobilized staff and resources guided by the agency’s Core Commitment for Children in Emergencies (CCCs). Dialogue with government counterparts and partners led to an initial 6-month Emergency Management Plan (EMP) enabling coordination of UNICEF’s response to the needs of the affected population. This article describes the use of a rapid monitoring tool—the Omnibus Survey— designed to measure initial EMP targets for key child survival interventions 10 weeks after April 2. The article begins with an overview of UNICEF’s role in declared emergencies. A background to the April 2 disaster and UNICEF’s early work with partners is then provided, followed by an explanation of the Omnibus Survey. Immediate implications of the survey’s findings for UNICEF’s ongoing assistance are discussed together with broader lessons learned when preparing for and managing humanitarian crises in the Pacific.

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