OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
28 May 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN AFAR REGION CONCERNING

The food security situation in Afar Region is of great concern. Chifra, 
Telelak, Dewe, and neighbouring areas of Awra and Uwa are the worst 
affected woredas. Poor performance of the rains coupled with the delay 
in transfer of safety net resources has exacerbated the situation. A 
rapid assessment by the regional Disaster Preparedness and Prevention 
Bureau (DPPB) in collaboration with humanitarian partners identified 
immediate requirements that include supplementary food. Federal Disaster 
Preparedness and Prevention Agency (FDPPA) has notified the Federal Food 
Security Bureau and line ministries including Ministry of Health (MoH), 
Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural 
Development (MoARD). Meanwhile, FDPPA is facilitating the transfer of 
supplementary food to the region. Senior experts from Save the Children 
UK will travel to the region to identify gaps and assist with the 
response. For more information contact: dppaewd@dppc.gov.et

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHOEA UPDATE

This week a total of 515 new cases and two deaths were reported from 23 
woredas of Oromiya, SNNP, Afar, Amhara, Somali and Harari regions. Four 
woredas in Oromiya and Amhara regions also reported cases for the first 
time bringing the total affected woredas nationwide to 197 since April 
2006. In Jijiga town, a team comprised of the Federal MoH, Regional 
Health Bureau (RHB), Jijiga hospital laboratory and WHO confirmed the 
presence of AWD in a Sister of Charity camp which hosts approximately 
500 Somali refugees. To date, 16 cases with two deaths have been 
confirmed. Absence of clean drinking water, poor sanitation, and a lack 
of community education programs have exacerbated the outbreak. For more 
information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

STANDARD NUTRITIONAL SURVEY UNDERWAY IN BONA WOREDA, SIDAMA ZONE, SNNPR

On the recommendation of the recent rapid nutritional survey's 
preliminary findings to Bona woreda, Sidama zone in SNNPR, a team 
comprised of GOAL, Save the Children US and regional Emergency Nutrition 
Coordination Unit (ENCU) departed on 15 May to conduct a standard 
nutritional survey. The preliminary results are expected by mid-June. 
The findings of the rapid survey conducted on 23 April indicate that 3.7 
percent of children are severely malnourished and eligible for the 
Stablisation Centre/Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP). In addition, 
13.3 percent of children are reported to be eligible for Therapeutic 
Supplementary Feeding Programme. For more information contact: 
rrpcoordinator@goalethiopia.com

FOOD ALLOCATION TO RETURNEES IN ZELAMBESA TOWN, EAST TIGRAY ZONE, TIGRAY 
REGION

The Federal DPPA has allocated 324 tons of grain, 10.8 tons of oil, 32.4 
tons of pulses and 34 tons of Corn Soya Blend (CSB) for 7,200 returnees 
in Zelambesa town in East Tigray zone for a period of three months. The 
returnees were displaced to Adigrat town during the Ethio-Eritrea border 
conflict and returned to their areas of origin following the cessation 
of hostilities. They continue to face food insecurity as their 
traditional livelihoods and coping mechanisms have been interrupted by 
the unresolved border situation. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

ENHANCED OUTREACH STRATEGY CAMPAIGNS ONGOING

UNICEF continues its support to the Enhanced Outreach Strategy/ Targeted 
Supplementary Food (EOS/ TSF) for Child Survival Interventions with six 
monthly campaigns in more than 300 drought prone districts. Afar has 
already finalised its third round while Benishangul Gumuz, Tigray, 
Oromiya and Amhara are currently at the implementation state. Campaigns 
are forthcoming in Somali, Harare, Dire Dawa and Gambella regions. With 
financial support from CIDA and the EC, UNICEF has distributed 130,000 
ITNs and provided vitamin A supplementation, de-worming, nutrition 
screening and referral to TSF component of the EOS. In addition to the 
ongoing campaign in SNNPR, UNICEF commenced distribution of 291,600 ITNs 
on 22 May. A further distribution of 250,000 ITNs - donated by the 
Japanese government- will begin in Amhara Region on 31 May. Plans are 
underway to provide active fever care detection and treatment through 
EOS with anti-malaria drugs as part of the Millennium Anti-Malaria 
Campaign. For more information contact: aingabire@unicef.org

RIFT VALLEY FEVER TRAINING

Preparation is underway to conduct training for health workers on Rift 
Valley Fever (RVF) surveillance in identified high risk zones. Areas 
targeted for training include Afder and Liben zones in Somali Region, 
South Omo zone in SNNPR and Borena zone in Oromiya Region. RVF 
surveillance guidelines for health facility and community workers and 
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for specimen collection, storage and 
transportation have now been developed. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

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