OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
12 September 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

GOAL CONDUCTS NUTRITIONAL SURVEY IN DARO LEBU, OROMIYA REGION

GOAL conducted a nutritional survey in Daro Lebu woreda, West Hararghe 
zone in Oromiya Region from 21-25 August. The survey indicates a 6.5% 
Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and 0.7% Sever Acute Malnutrition (SAM) 
with 0.29 /10,000/day U5M.  According to GOAL the nutritional levels do 
not significantly vary from the results of a survey conducted in 
December 2004 (8.3% GAM and 0.8% SAM). GOAL says although the 
malnutrition rates seem normal for a chronically food insecure 
population, the aggravating factors make it poor. The report also 
indicates a serious Vitamin A deficiency in the woreda. The survey 
recommends urgent supplementation with Vitamin A in the woreda health 
office and also recommends that the general food distribution should 
continue until harvest time in the extreme lowlands of the woreda. 
Contact: goal.ethio@ethionet.et

REFUGEE UPDATE: TIGRAY REGION, SOMALI REGION AND FOOD PIPELINE

In Tigray region, registrations of refugees from Eritrea have been 
increasing steadily at Shimelba refugee camp.  Since January 2005 some 
2,000 new refugees have arrived, most of them young men. The total 
population of the camp is now approaching 10,000 people. In Somali 
region, nutrition screening is underway for Somali refugees in 
Kebribeyah camp to determine who will be admitted into the targeted 
supplementary feeding and therapeutic programmes.  WFP says the pipeline 
for Ethiopia's refugee operation is sufficient until the end of 2005 but 
new contributions are still required to maintain a full ration size for 
the refugees as of the beginning of 2006. For further information: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CARE SITUATION UPDATE IN EAST AND WEST HARARGHE

CARE in its monthly update reports a normal food security situation in 
most of its reporting woredas due to the ongoing food distribution 
through Safety Net and emergency programmes.  However, the situation is 
still critical in Grawa and Bedeno woredas of East Hararghe zone. The 
Community based Therapeutic Centre in Grawa woreda has received 125 new 
admissions of severely malnourished children following a campaign by 
CARE and the woreda health office. According to the report pasture and 
water availability were reported to be good in all woredas. However, in 
Grawa and Bedeno woredas, outbreaks of black leg and anthrax have killed 
more than 200 cattle and control measures are underway in both areas by 
the woreda agriculture office.  CARE also reports that it has completed 
the distribution of seed vouchers to about 16,000 families in three 
woredas of East Hararghe and 13,600 in three woredas of West Hararghe. 
In addition, CARE has received 250 tonnes of CSB as a loan from WFP to 
carry out targeted supplementary feeding for two months to 25,000 under 
five children in three woredas of East Hararghe in response to the poor 
food security situation. For more information contact: 
care.eth@ethionet.et

NUTRITION STATUS IN GAMBELLA REFUGEE CAMPS IMPROVING

WFP reports the high malnutrition rates recorded in May among the 
Sudanese refugee population in Fugnido and Bonga refugee camps in 
Gambella region has now improved as a result of joint interventions. By 
the end of August, the GAM in Fugnido camp was down to 11.6% from an 
earlier 20% rate, and the SAM is now 3.7%.  While this is a significant 
improvement the situation still remains to be poor. In Bonga camp, SAM 
rates have dropped to 0.3% from an earlier 2%, and eight children are 
receiving therapeutic treatment in the camp health centre.  The 
situation has improved as a result of supplementary feeding and the 
propositioning of three-month's food supply in order to avoid any delays 
in food distributions. In addition, UNHCR and ARRA have now ensured 
access to water in the Anuak part of Fugnido camp, and MSF-Switzerland 
has provided a provisional health and therapeutic feeding centre in the 
same location to treat the severely malnourished children.  Food rations 
for October to December are now under dispatch to all refugee camps in 
Gambella Region.  For further information: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

POLIO IN ETHIOPIA

As of 31 August, two new polio cases were reported in the country, 
bringing the total number of cases to 15 for 2005. Both cases occurred 
in July, one in Oromiya Region, near the border with Somalia and the 
other in Amhara Region.  The two cases occurred after Ethiopia's 
National Immunization Days (NIDs)  in late May.  WHO reported that the 
next NIDs will be in late October. Contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

TEENAGE GIRLS IN BENISHANGUL GUMUZ HARDEST HIT BY LACK OF LATRINES

Teenage girls in Benishangul Gumuz are dropping out of school because of 
appalling sanitation facilities, according to a study conducted by Water 
Aid Ethiopia (WAE), UNICEF and Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO). Only 4% 
of the population in the area has access to sanitation, the report 
found. Some schools had no toilets at all. And in many of those that 
did, more than 300 pupils often had to share one latrine. A number of 
the girls interviewed said that they could not bring themselves to go to 
a latrine in their school, especially during menstruation. Many said 
they went home instead. The report found that significant numbers did 
not return, choosing to drop out of school rather than face the 
facilities. UNICEF/Water Aid Ethiopia and the Government are trying to 
accelerate the school sanitation programme in these areas in order to 
improve health and enhance girls' education. Contact: 
igetachew@unicef.org

ETHIOPIA RANKS 170 IN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

The Human Development Report 2005, entitled "International Cooperation 
at a Crossroads:  Aid, Trade, and Security in an Unequal World," was 
launched in Ethiopia on Friday, 9 September. On the human development 
index, Ethiopia is ranked 170 of 177 countries. This is the same 
position it held last year, though its human development status has 
showed a steady improvement over the last decade.  Special emphasis was 
placed on the gender-related development index, in which Ethiopia ranks 
134 of 140 countries. The report can be accessed at http://hdr.undp.org.

For further information, please contact

UN OCHA -Ethiopia
Tel: 251- 1- 44 41 86/251- 1- 44 41 62
Fax: 251- 1- 511292
email: ocha-eth@un.org
Website: www.ocha-eth.org

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