OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia: Drought/Food Crisis
23 September 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights:

- Government announces enhanced food distribution mechanism for the Somali 
Region

- Cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) reported in Afar, Amhara and Tigray 
Regions

- Concern grows about the impact of food insecurity on communities in Afar 
and Somali Region.

Humanitarian Overview

Current Context

Government and humanitarian partners continue to respond to the range of 
health, nutrition and livelihood needs generated by the combined effects 
of the drought and food crisis in Ethiopia. In Oromiya and SNNPR, children 
continue to access treatment at therapeutic feeding programmes whilst 
concern grows about the impact of food insecurity on nutrition status of 
vulnerable groups in Afar and Somali Regions. The government has recently 
announced a revision of the estimated number of people in need of 
humanitarian assistance from 4.6 million to 6.4 million. The revision of 
the figures will necessitate additional resources in order to ensure that 
those in need receive appropriate level of assistance.

Sectoral Updates

Health and Nutrition

Key Issues

Nutrition: Government and humanitarian partners continue to support 
feeding programmes for children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition 
(SAM) in drought-affected regions of the country. In Oromiya and SNNP 
regions, where the crisis first manifested, children continue to access 
life-saving treatment at Therapeutic Feeding Units (TFUs) and 
Stabilisation Centres(SCs). In SNNPR alone, 2,901 children with SAM were 
admitted between 22nd and 28th August to TFPs bringing the total number of 
new admissions reported between 27th June and 28th August to 31, 236 
children1.

In Afar Region, reports from a range of actors point towards compromised 
food security at the household level with direct consequences for the 
nutrition status of vulnerable groups including children. The Regional 
Health Bureau and DPPA in Afar Region has identified an initial 12 hotspot 
woredas including Elidaar and Kori (Zone 1), Erebti, Berhale and Bidu 
(Zone 2), Gewane and Bure Mudaytu (Zone 3), Teru, Yallo and Gulina (Zone 
4) and Dalifage and Semurobi (Zone 5). The Emergency Nutrition 
Coordination Unit (ENCU) is urging all partners with the capacity to carry 
out nutrition surveys and subsequent interventions in Afar Region to 
scale-up response.

Health: The number of woredas reporting active cases of Acute Watery 
Diarrhea (AWD) continues to increase despite ongoing multi-agency efforts 
to minimise a further outbreak of the disease. The primary triggers for 
the spread of the AWD are increased rainfall in selected areas, poor 
quality of drinking water, limited access to sanitation services and poor 
hygiene practices.

Health and nutrition partners are particularly concerned about cases of 
AWD in areas classified as hotspot areas on the basis of nutrition and 
food security situation. According to WHO, Amibara woreda in Afar Region, 
Goncha, Dejen, Takusa, Ebenat and Fogera woredas in Amhara Region, Ada'a, 
Gimbichu and Lome woredas in Oromiya Asegede Tsmbila, Tahtay Adiyabo and 
Tahtay Koraro woredas in Tigray Region, are currently reporting cases of 
AWD.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=3FAD401E4F5AF5EAC12574CE00495580&file=Full_Report.pdf

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