OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
19 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

AWD CONTINUES TO BE OF MAJOR CONCERN IN AFAR

Despite collaborative efforts by Government and Humanitarian Partners, 
the AWD outbreak continues to be of great concern in Afar Region. The 
outbreak reached its peak during the week with reports of over 1,000 new 
cases and a high Case Fatality Rate (CFR) - 2.6%. Two new woredas in 
Zone 3 reported an outbreak over the week bringing the total number of 
affected people in the region to approximately 4,200. This has inflated 
the nationwide caseload, which has reached 59,163 with 684 deaths - 1.2% 
CFR. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) has sent two teams to the 
region to facilitate response. UNICEF sent 70,000 sachets of PUR for 
water purification to the region along with other health supplies. CARE 
together with the Regional Health Bureau is coordinating distribution of 
supplies in the severely affected woredas of Zone 3. Other partners 
including OXFAM, PSI and APDA are actively engaged in AWD interventions 
including public awareness raising campaigns. High cases have also been 
reported in Bale zone, Oromiya Region with an average of 90-to-100 new 
cases per week. The disease is also of concern in Borena zone, where 78 
new cases were reported this week. For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org

CERF ALLOCATES US$ 6 MILLION TO ETHIOPIA

The Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) managed by the Emergency 
Relief Coordinator in New York has allocated US$ 6 million for Ethiopia 
through its under-funded window. Technical experts from UN agencies, 
NGOs and DPPA met on 14 February to discuss the prioritization of 
allocations. Health and Nutrition; Water and Sanitation; and Refugees 
were identified to be given priority for this grant. In addition, a 
small allocation has been proposed to strengthen field security. 
Specific sectoral taskforces will decide on geographical prioritization. 
For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

FIRST ETHIOPIAN PLUMPY'NUT FACTORY TO BE INAUGURATED

The first Plumpy'nut factory in Ethiopia will be inaugurated in Addis 
Ababa on 21 February. This is a joint venture between UNICEF Ethiopia, 
Hilina Enriched Food Plc., a local factory, and Ms. Amy Robbins, 
US-based private donor. The demand for Plumpy'nut or 'Ready to Use 
Therapeutic Food' (RUTF), has increased over the years due to the rapid 
expansion and success of therapeutic feeding services in the country. In 
2006, UNICEF procured 637 tonnes of Plumpy'nut, with a total expenditure 
of US$ 2.9 million.  The supply of Plumpy'nut has, however, been 
hindered due to delays and large costs in importation. The first tubs of 
Ethiopian-made Plumpy'nut will roll off the production line in early 
2007.  At full capacity, the factory will be able to produce 12 tonnes 
of the paste a day - half in cups and half in sachets, which will be 
transported to therapeutic feeding centres and units in hospitals across 
the country. The Ethiopian Plumpy'nut factory is the fourth and largest 
plant to open in Africa and the first to package Plumpy'nut in sachets. 
For more information contact: aingabire@unicef.org

APDA UPDATE

Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) in its latest monthly 
update reported that pastoralists from Geega grazing areas have migrated 
to Dubti town due to shortage of pasture. Tree locust has destroyed the 
shrub forage in areas extending from Geega through Uwa, east Awra, parts 
of Mille and Zone 5. Furthermore, in Gawane and Buremedayetu woredas of 
Zone 3, there are reports that children and pregnant mothers are 
malnourished due to low milk production. According to APDA, this is 
caused by limited herd grazing due to the ongoing Afar/Issa conflict 
which has restricted normal herd movement. For more information contact: 
afarpastoral@telecom.net.et

UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO VISIT ETHIOPIA

UNICEF Executive Director, Ms. Ann Veneman will be visiting Ethiopia 
from 21-25 February to review breakthroughs made in fighting child 
hunger and progress made towards achieving child survival goals. During 
her visit, Ms. Veneman will inaugurate the Plumpy'nut (Ready to Use 
Therapeutic Food) factory. She will also travel to SNNPR, epicenter of 
the 2003 'green famine', to review present conditions on the ground 
including a visit to a therapeutic feeding center and an anti-AIDS club. 
In addition, Ms. Veneman will inaugurate a water supply scheme in a 
drought-prone woreda and meet with community members including coffee 
farmers who were adversely affected by the 2003 drought. For more 
information contact: aingabire@unicef.org

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