OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
2 April 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SERIOUS MALNUTRITION IN DOLO ODO AND DOLOBAY WOREDAS, SOMALI REGION

Save the Children-US reported serious malnutrition in Dolo Odo (Liben 
zone) and Dolobay (Afder zone) woredas of Somali Region at the end of 
February 2007. The survey indicated a 22.5 percent Global Acute 
Malnutrition and a 2.7 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition with 
aggravating factors such as high prevalence of morbidity and low 
vaccination coverage of BCG and vitamin A supplementation. Critical 
household food insecurity and inadequate clean water supply have also 
aggravated the nutrition situation. In line with the new approach as 
outlined in the 2007 Humanitarian Appeal, a joint verification team will 
depart in the coming days.  For more information contact: 
ussave.children@savechildren.org.et

AWD UPDATE

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) continues to spread in many parts of the 
country with 580 additional cases and 7 deaths reported this week - the 
majority in Oromiya Region. Since June 2006, the region has reported 
27,152 cases and 286 deaths with a case fatality rate of 1.1%.  This 
week, an additional 456 cases and 4 deaths were confirmed with the 
majority of cases in Bale, Guji and Borena zones. WHO supported training 
on AWD prevention, treatment and control for 40 zonal health officers in 
Goba town, Bale zone. WHO and UNICEF are supporting Bale zone with 
supportive supervision and training of CTC staff on case management. 
Additional cases continue to be reported from SNNP and Afar regions 
while the situation continues to be of concern in Somali Region despite 
no new confirmed cases. WHO has sent consultants to support Amhara, 
SNNP, Afar and Somali regions. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

VERIFICATION TEAMS TO DEPART TO SOMALI AND GAMBELLA REGIONS

Joint government and humanitarian partners' verification teams will be 
deployed to Somali and Gambella regions in the coming days following 
emergency assistance requests by the regions. Somali Region requested 
immediate relief assistance for 30 woredas of Jijiga, Shinile, Fik, 
Degehabur, Warder, Korahe, Gode, Afder and Liben zones. In addition, 
Gambella Region appealed for emergency assistance for approximately 
28,000 people in 11 woredas. The verification assessments will be 
conducted in line with the new approach outlined in the 2007 Joint 
Humanitarian Appeal utilizing new assessment tools developed by the 
Early Warning Working Group Technical sub group. For more information 
contact: ocha-eth@un.org

HUMANITARIAN UPDATE ON BORENA AND GUJI ZONES, OROMIYA

A team composed of UNOCHA and UNICEF visited Borena and Guji zones, 
Oromiya Region from 14-26 March 2007 to assess the humanitarian impact 
of recent clan clashes. The mission visited displaced populations in 
Arero, Moyale, and Dire woredas in Borena zone and Shakiso woreda in 
Guji zone. Among the adverse impacts of the conflicts are displacement, 
mortalities and disruption to livelihoods. The team briefed the regional 
bureau on its findings which included an assessment of needs for 
immediate relief assistance and continued close monitoring of the 
situation. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

YARENJA CAMP CLOSES, BENISHANGUL GUMUZ REGION

On 28 March 2007 the third and final voluntary repatriation convoy from 
Yarenja camp departed for Sudan with 494 refugees. This convoy brings 
the total number of refugees repatriated from Yarenja in March to nearly 
1,500. The camp is the first of the five camps in Ethiopia hosting 
Sudanese refugees to be successfully closed since repatriation commenced 
last year. The return of refugees from the remaining Sudanese refugee 
camps in Ethiopia will continue provided resources are available. For 
more information contact: gegziabk@unhcr.org

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