OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
24 October 2003


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT BETWEENGOVERNMENT, WFP AND SEVERAL NGOS

WFP has recently signed tripartite agreements with the government and
several NGOs (CRS, CARE and World Vision) to make 340 tons of locally
procured pulses available to the NGOs to cover priority needs in Southern
Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in the districts where
they are responsible for general food distributions. This amount will
cover the needs of 226,400 beneficiaries for one month. Tripartite
agreements in recent years were usually limited to blended food for
supplementary feeding centres run by NGOs.

PREVENTION CAMPAIGN AGAINST MALARIA EPIDEMIC

The Harrari State Health Bureau launched a malaria prevention campaign in
the region the week ending 18 October. The malaria control team within the
bureau has sprayed anti-malaria chemicals in Harrar town and surrounding
kebeles. 2,508 impregnated mosquito nets (ITNs) have also been distributed
among the inhabitants of malaria prone kebeles of the region. Some 52
health professionals have been trained in diagnosing malaria for the
campaign and 1,092 cases were diagnosed. Similarly, in Amhara region, a
malaria epidemic has been reported in 10 woredas of South Wollo Zone.Some
56 kebeles have been sprayed to date, helping to overcome the outbreak.
Over 76,000 inhabitants have been protected against the disease since the
anti malaria campaign was launched in the zone, over 15,000 mosquito nets
were distributed in malaria prone woredas and 8, 448 people were treated
against the disease. To prevent the malaria epidemic, UNICEF has been
supporting both regions with ITNs and anti-malaria drugs.

RESETTLEMENT IN AMHARA AND SNNP REGIONS

Over 11,500 hectares of land has been made ready for resettlement
programs in Tsegede woreda of North Gondor Zone, Amhara region. Out of the
total hectares of land, 8,000 would be used by the resettlers for farms
while the remaining land would be used for the construction of shelters,
education and health facilities. The inhabitants in the woreda are now
engaged in contributing materials and free labour services to the
construction of residential units for 4,000 families who chose to be a
part of the program. The resettlement of the inhabitants is expected to
begin in December. Some 500 family heads who have been resettled in
fertile areas of the woreda have become self-supportive by cultivation of
cotton, sesame, and sorghum on 1,000 hectares of land. Likewise, temporary
shelters were being built in areas identified for resettlement programmes
in South Omo zone of SNNPR. 3,200 households from the zone are planned for
resettlement in Selamago woreda, South Omo zone starting from December
2003. Temporary residential homes construction is under way on the
identified 25,000 hectares of land is nearing completion to resettle
people from Konso, Derashe and Amaro special weredas of the state. The
State's Capacity Building Bureau has also finalized preparations to
construct feeder roads, potable water projects and health facilitates in
the resettlementareas.

MEASLES 'PLUS' CAMPAIGN

>From October through December 2003, some 9 million children between 6
months to 14 years of age will be provided with measles and Vitamin A
supplementation in 16 zones in Oromia, Amhara and Tigray regions. The
measles - Vitamin A campaign has been supported by the Measles Partnership
(UNICEF, American Red Cross, UN Foundation, CDC and WHO) and by CIDA,
USAID, SIDA, DFID, as well as the Governments of Japan, the Netherlands
and Belgium. The total available funding for the 2003/2004 measles -
Vitamin A campaigns is USD 10.75 million.Measles remains a major childhood
killer disease in Ethiopia. Children, weakened by malnutrition, are
particularly susceptible to the disease, which can lead to blindness,
deafness, brain damage and death. WHO estimates that there are 1.72
million measles cases and 69,000 child deaths annually in Ethiopia due to
the disease. The measles - Vitamin A campaigns, which started in December
2002, aim to protect all children under 15 years of age in Ethiopia with
particular emphasis on drought-affected areas. By the end of 2003, some 21
million children will have benefited from measles - Vitamin A campaigns.
Early next year, an additional 9.5 million children will be targeted for
measles and Vitamin A supplementation.

TETANUS TOXOID VACCINATIONS IN OROMIA AND AMHARA REGIONS

In addition to measles - Vitamin A and Polio Campaigns, the MOH, in
collaboration with partner organisations, will conduct a third round of
Tetanus Toxoid vaccinations in Oromia and Amhara regions in November,
targeting a total of 2.6 million women of childbearing age between the
ages of 15 to 49 years. The aim of this campaign is to help Ethiopia
achieve the goal of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) by
Year 2005.  The MNTE campaigns have been made possible through the
generous support of the US Committee for UNICEF, the UK Committee for
UNICEF and the Portuguese Committee for UNICEF. The total cost of the
campaign is estimated at USD 2.32 million.

For more information contact UN OCHA - Ethiopia 44 44 14/44 41 22


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