OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
30 June 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FOOD SECURITY UPDATE

The food security situation in SNNP, Somali, Eastern Oromiya and certain 
areas of Amhara regions continues to be of great concern. In SNNPR such 
coping mechanisms as reduction of meals, migration, selling of farming 
tools and begging are widespread. Increased admission rates to Outpatient 
Therapeutic Programmes have been reported in Kembata Tembaro and Hadiya 
zones. The food security situation is rapidly deteriorating in Arsi, West 
Shoa, East and West Hararghe zones of Oromiya Region. IMC reported that 
admission to stabilization centers have increased in Moyale woreda of 
Borena zone. CARE also reported a similar trend in several woredas of East 
Hararghe zone. Furthermore, the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit 
reported that malnutrition caseloads remain high in Siraro and Shashemene 
woredas in West Arsi zone. The Regional Health Bureau is assessing the 
situation in Goro, Mena and Berbere woredas of Bale zone. The physical 
condition of livestock in Somali Region remains poor with the onset of the 
dry season, jilal. In Degehabur zone pastoralists have started migrating 
in search of pasture. Prospect for recession agriculture in Mustahil and 
Ferfer woredas is poor as river water level is very low. Agro-pastoralist 
production is also poor in the region. In addition, locally produced food 
items including maize and sorghum are absent in local markets of Fik and 
Hamaro due to crop failure. Rainfall has improved in Amhara Region during 
the week and farmers have started planting pulses, barley and other meher 
crops. Tigray Region reported that rains received during the week assisted 
farmers to plant meher crops. Nevertheless, the physical condition of 
livestock remains poor as pasture is still scarce. Afar Region has not 
received significant rainfall during the week. In Dire Dawa, WFP reports 
that drought is setting in, and there are reports of livestock deaths.

Emergency response is ongoing. During the week, UNICEF dispatched 69 MT of 
Plumpy'Nut to SNNP and 53 MT to Oromiya Regional Health Bureaus. The 
Plumpy'Nut will be further distributed to Therapeutic Feeding Units (TFUs) 
and Outpatient Treatment Centers (OTPs) in the regions inline with 
distribution plan finalized by Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit 
together with Regional Health Bureaus and NGOs. The supply is expected to 
treat more than 12,000 malnourished children for one month. UNICEF also 
recruited four nutrition consultants to SNNPR and Oromiya. The consultants 
will be deployed on 1st of July to support emergency nutrition response, 
including dispatch and distribution of therapeutic food. A third 
UNICEF-supported airlifted cargo of Plumpy'Nut has arrived in Addis Ababa 
on 26 June, bringing a total of 772 MT of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food. 
In addition, DPPA and WFP dispatched approximately 67,720 MT of emergency 
food to Somali, Oromiya, SNNP, Amhara, Gambella, Tigray, Afar and 
Beneshangul Gumuz regions from January to June 2008. Furthermore, a UN 
Country Team Mission led by the Humanitarian Coordinator traveled to visit 
malnutrition affected areas in SNNPR on 27 June. For more information 
contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, ocha-eth@un.org & kmcdonald@unicef.org

ARMY WORM INFESTATION

Army worm infestations have been reported from Oromiya, SNNP and Amhara 
regions. The extended dry weather and shortage of chemicals contributed to 
increased infestations. A new army worm infestation has affected 14 
woredas in Arsi zone. Borena, East and West Hararghe zones have also 
reported infestations. The army worm outbreak in Bale zone has been 
controlled. The infestation has damaged newly shooting grass and pasture. 
In Amhara Region, army worm has spread to South Wollo zone affecting 
approximately 5,100 hectares of farmland. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

HEALTH UPDATE

During the week AWD was reported from Akaki woreda in East Shoa zone and 
Sebeta Hawas woreda in South West Shoa zone in Oromiya Region. Takusa 
woreda in North Gondar zone, Ankesha woreda in Awi zone and Bahir Dar City 
from Amhara Region also reported cases. Unconfirmed cases are also 
reported from Warder zone in Somali Region. Hotspot areas are Takusa 
woreda of North Gondar zone in Amhara and Akaki woreda of East Shoa zone 
of Oromiya. An AWD working group comprised of Federal Ministry of Health, 
Ministry of Water Resources, UNICEF, OCHA, WHO, Oxfam GB, IRC, PSI, CARE 
was established on 24 June. The working group will focus on developing 
guideline and tools for implementation of effective AWD response. The 
group will also identify priority interventions, response gaps and will 
assist in project appraisal for AWD response.

One measles case was reported from Kirkos sub city in Addis Ababa during 
the week after stabilizing for more than six weeks nationwide. Meningitis 
has subsided during the week. WHO continues to provide technical support 
for AWD, measles and meningitis response to Federal Ministry of Health and 
Regional Health Bureaus in response to communicable disease outbreaks. 
National consultants have been assigned to Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar and SNNPR 
to support emergency preparedness, response and health cluster 
coordination. In addition, funds allocated to Oromiya and Amhara regions 
have been reprogrammed to support AWD response in affected woredas. For 
more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

UNICEF REQUESTS FOR US$ 43.6 MILLION

On 24 June UNICEF launched an Emergency Appeal for US$ 49.2 million. 
UNICEF has secured US$ 5.6 million against the Appeal, leaving US$ 43.6 
million net requirement. A total of US$ 27.9 million is needed to scale up 
ongoing response to immediate emergency needs inline with the Revised 
Humanitarian Requirements Document launched on 12 June. Additionally, US$ 
21.2 million is required to enhance mitigation and preparedness measures 
in acute malnutrition levels, to strengthen assessment and monitoring to 
ensure timely and adequate action, to strengthen the Government capacity 
to address the increasing needs; and to preposition essential supplies, 
including therapeutic food, essential medicines, water purification and 
sanitation materials. For more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org

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