OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
18 August 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION

Food security remains an issue of high concern as shortages of water and 
pasture continue to affect crop and livestock production. Belg producing 
parts of the country currently face failed rainfall and high food prices. 
Although interventions appear to be working in some areas, the total 
number of children requiring emergency treatment for Severe Acute 
Malnutrition (SAM) is still rising. Meanwhile, humanitarian partners face 
serious resources shortages in supporting supplementary feeding programs 
in all affected regions. Partners are managing existing caseloads of SAM 
but children who return home where there is not enough food face a 
significant risk of relapse. Meanwhile, moderate malnutrition is also 
increasing.

SNNPR: some areas in the region remain extremely food insecure following a 
near failure current belg harvest whilst some areas have started to 
benefit from the green harvest. The situation is likely to continue until 
the next harvest period (October/November) for delayed belg crops, WFP 
notes. UNICEF reports that during last week, 64.38 MT of plumpy'nut has 
been delivered to the affected woredas in SNNPR. Moreover, 450 arm 
circumferential measuring tapes, 180 infant scales and 202 mattresses were 
delivered to SNNPR. Shortage and late arrival of agricultural inputs 
(fertilizer and improved seeds) are identified as potential challenges for 
production of meher crops: teff, wheat, barley and maize in Sidama, Hadiya 
and Siltie zones of SNNPR.

Oromiya: The cumulative effect of poor belg rainfall and army worm 
infestation in Borena and East and West Harerghe zones of Oromiya has 
severely affected this year's belg crop production, livestock condition 
and milk production. WFP reports that armyworm infestation has been 
reported in various woredas of South West Shoa zone of Oromiya. Further, 
reports from WFP indicate that malnutrition has become a concern in Bule 
Hora woreda in Borena zone and Elfeta, Geldu, Meda Kegne and Bako Tibe 
woredas of West Shoa zone of Oromiya requiring immediate assistance. 
Furthermore, increasing number of children are admitted to CARE/ECHO Case 
Treatment Center (CTC) in Moyale woreda of Borena zone, Haromaya of East 
Harerghe and Dire Dawa city Administration, CARE reports. WHO is providing 
support to the training of 45 Health Extension Workers and also 
facilitated the training of 61 community nutrition volunteers in Dire 
Dawa. UNICEF reports that 82.78 MT of plumpy'nut, 550 arm circumferential 
measuring tapes and 220 infant scales have been provided to Oromiya. 
Moreover, nutritional supplies have been delivered to Dilchora hospital in 
Diredawa (30 cartons of F75, 20 cartons of plumpy'nut and 10 cartons of 
F-100), UNICEF reports. CARE has distributed a total of 1,799 quintals of 
seeds in various woredas of the region.

Afar: Conditions in Afar are increasingly worrying as food insecurity has 
worsened. While it is hoped that the current karma rains may bring relief 
to drought-affected communities, the physical condition of livestock 
remains poor. Critical areas include: Northern Elidar, Kori, Dubti, Teru 
and Bidu. Government and NGOs continue to provide water trucking to 
affected areas. WHO allocated US$ 25,500 to support Health Extension 
Worker training in Afar Region for treatment of severe malnutrition cases. 
Similarly, UNICEF is conducting training to Health Extension Workers in 
Teru and Aysayita woredas. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, care.eth@ethionet.et, kmcdonald@unicef.org, 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int & info@dppc.gov.et

STRENGTHENING SOMALI RESPONSE

Key Issue: The food security situation in Somali Region has deteriorated 
following the failure of local crop production in the seven deyr receiving 
zones for three consecutive seasons, the Regional Disaster Prevention and 
Preparedness Bureau (DPPB) notes. The general food price increase and 
continued decline in livelihood especially from livestock production has 
further weakened the purchasing power of the community. Serious food 
shortage is reported in most of the rural areas particularly Fik, Korahe 
and Gode zones. The community is resorting to unusual coping strategies 
including large-scale rural-urban migration in parts of Degehabur, Gode 
and Fik; reduction of meals; high level labor migration; and sale of 
productive female animals in Shinile, Korahe, Fik, Warder and Afder zones. 
Water scarcity has further exacerbated contributing to increased 
migration. Further, partners report that the level of intervention in 
Somali region needs to be scaled-up as current interventions are meeting a 
proportion of the identified needs in the region.

Response: Emergency humanitarian response for Somali Region is being 
strengthened with the roll-out of emergency health and nutrition, water 
and sanitation and agriculture action plans. In addition, progress has 
been reported in the realization of a hubs-and-spokes food logistics plan 
for the region. Meanwhile, training for 67 Health Workers on rapid 
response to emergency health was conducted by the Regional Health Bureau 
with support from WHO and UNICEF. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, kmcdonald@unicef.org, who-wro@et.afro.who.int & 
info@dppc.gov.et

HEALTH UPDATE

WHO reports that active Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) cases continue to be 
reported during the past two weeks from Jawi and Banja woredas in Awi 
zone, Sekela in West Gojjam zone and Takusa in North Gonder zone of Amhara 
Region. Banja and Sekela are emerging hotspots.

WHO will support the Federal Ministry of Health and Regional Health 
Bureaus to facilitate strategic intervention to AWD and other communicable 
diseases in Ethiopia through a Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 
funded project.

Further, preparations are underway to conduct polio campaign in Somali 
Region by the Regional Health Bureau with technical support from UNICEF 
and WHO. For more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org & 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

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