OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
27 June 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

GAMBELLA REFUGEE CAMPS UPDATE

Following the reports of high malnutrition rates in Fugnido and Bonga 
refugee camps in Gambella Region, re-screening of children under five is 
now completed and all severely malnourished are receiving treatment in 
Therapeutic Feeding Centers (TFC). In Bonga camp a total of 36 children 
have been admitted for therapeutic feeding. In Fugnido camp 112 children 
are currently under treatment. Three UNHCR tents utilized for TFC have 
been erected in the Anuak part of Fugnido camp in order to assure 
treatment of children living in this part of the camp. A temporary 
health post has also been established in the site and refugees have 
started receiving health services there. One additional nurse and a 
health assistant have been transferred to the Anuak site from the 
regional health bureau. Additional drugs for emergency response are also 
on the way to Fugnido camp from Administration for Refugee and Returnee 
Affairs (ARRA) Addis. WFP has transported blanket food to both camps, 
and blanket supplementary feeding started last week. Water tankering is 
being undertaken by UNHCR and ARRA. The pipeline for blended food for 
the refugee operation, recently a concern, is now sufficient until 2006 
due to a recent contribution. For further information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

BELG AND PASTORAL AREA ASSESSMENT TEAMS IN THE REGIONS

The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission led National Early 
Warning Working Group (NEWWG) started its seasonal pre-harvest and food 
need assessment on 23 June. Over all, 16 multi-agency teams comprised of 
Government, UN, NGO and donor representatives are in the regions to 
assess the impact of belg/gu season rains on household food security and 
determine food and non-food needs. The assessment will cover most 
crop-dependent and some livestock-dependent areas of the country. Unlike 
other years, the assessment will cover some areas which are not belg/gu 
season dependent, but are reportedly at risk due to the current crisis. 
This information, combined with an assessment of income sources and 
market access, will guide food and non-food relief targeting for the 
last six months of 2005. The findings of this and other non-food 
assessments will form the basis of the Appeal Update, which is planned 
in mid-July.

CRITICAL MALNUTRITION IN MENA ANGETU, BALE ZONE, OROMIYA REGION

Critical malnutrition has been reported in Mena Angetu woreda of Bale 
zone, Oromiya Region. The Federal DPPC and the regional DPPB/ENCU 
conducted a nutritional survey between 22 May and 5 June after recent 
reports of malnutrition. The team reported a 15.6 percent Global Acute 
Malnutrition (GAM) and 2.2 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with 
aggravating factors such as a high under-five mortality rate and a high 
prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases. According to the survey the food 
security situation is very poor and people have already migrated to the 
neighboring woredas in search of food and labour. The woreda officials 
report that in the last four months 12,250 livestock have died. 
Meanwhile the team recommended general food rations for the coming three 
months and targeted supplementary food for the moderately malnourished 
children and vulnerable groups. The team also recommended a community 
based therapeutic care program by NGOs and close monitoring on the 
continuity of payment for Safety Net beneficiaries.

CRITICAL MALNUTRITION IN FIK, HAMERO, SAGAG AND DUHUN WOREDAS OF SOMALI 
REGION

Save the Children-UK reported critical malnutrition in Fik, Hamero, 
Sagag and Duhun woredas of Fik zone in Somali Region in May. The team 
reported 16.1 percent GAM in Fik and Hamero and 20.7 percent in Sagag 
and Dehun woredas. A full report will be available after it is 
finalized. For further information contact: 
scukethiopia@savethechildren.org.uk

GERMAN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES US $1.6 MLN FOR ZIWAY DUGDA, OROMIYA REGION

The Oromo Self-Help Organisation (OSHO) in collaboration with German 
Agro Action (GAA) has begun a new developmental relief intervention in 
Ziway Dugda woreda, Arsi zone this month. The program supports 15,000 
households and is an expansion of former relief and development 
operations in the district. The programme will support 7,000 food 
insecure households through cash for work. In addition it plans to 
distribute 112 tonnes of drought resistant seeds to 3,300 households and 
will provide micro-credit for 120 women. The intervention provides 
capacity building trainings and will also distribute 125 Borena cattle. 
The program is coordinated at the woreda level in respect to the PSNP 
and all other agencies and NGOs. HIV/AIDS, family planning and gender 
are incorporated as cross cutting issues at all levels. The 
intervention, costing US$ 1.6 million, is financed by the German 
Ministry of Economic Cooperation until March 2007. For more information 
contact: osho@ethionet.et

GOVERNMENT, UNICEF AND WFP SIGN MOU FOR EOS/TSF FOR CHILD SURVIVAL 
INTERVENTIONS

The Federal Ministry of Health, the FDPPC, UNICEF and WFP signed an 
agreement setting out their roles in the Enhanced Outreach Strategy 
(EOS) including Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) for Child Survival 
Interventions on 18 June. The EOS targets 6.7 million children under 
five in 325 chronically food insecure woredas. It offers a range of 
life-saving measures from biannual vitamin A supplementation and measles 
vaccination to nutrition education and food distribution to malnourished 
children and mothers. The agreement set out the links between the EOS 
implemented by FMOH with UNICEF's support and the TSF implemented by 
DPPC with the support of WFP. For more information contact: 
igetachew@unicef.org

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