OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
5 May 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FOOD SECURITY UPDATE

The deteriorating food security situation due to the delayed onset and 
poor performance of seasonal rains continues to be reported in SNNP, 
Oromiya and Somali regions. In SNNPR, delay in the start of the current 
belg rains combined with failure of the previous two consecutive rains 
significantly impacted lives and livelihoods. There are reports of 
increased malnutrition admission rates to Therapeutic Feeding Centers 
(TFCs). The extended dry season impeded planting of belg crops. The poor 
performance of the rains combined with crop damage caused by pests 
resulted in failure of the seasonal root crops that are major gap filling 
staples during the hunger season between March and June. The situation is 
anticipated to exacerbate in the coming two-to-three months with poor 
harvest prospects. The situation has significantly affected markets with 
limited supply of cereals and root crops. Grain prices have rapidly 
increased - the price of maize has more than doubled over the last six 
months. The areas most affected by the failure of the sapien and belg 
rains in the region include Awassa Zuria, Boricha and Loke Abaya woredas 
in Sidama zone; other woredas in Wolayita, Hadiya, Kembata Tembaro, Gamo 
Gofa and South Omo zones; and Burji, Amaro and Alaba Special woredas. In 
Oromiya Region, the extended dry season in the lowland areas Borena, Guji, 
Bale, East, West Hararghe and parts of West Arsi zones contributed to 
deteriorating nutritional levels. Some rains have been received in Oromiya 
and Somali regions temporarily resolving the critical water shortage. The 
impact of the rains on pasture regeneration has been, however, limited 
highlighting the need for continued feed interventions. The Afar 
Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) in its latest report also 
indicated continued water shortage in the chronically water insecure areas 
as well as increased malnutrition cases and animal disease outbreaks. 
Contact: ocha-eth@un.org & wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

HEALTH HAZARDS

Sporadic cases of meningococcal meningitis continued to be reported from 
Afar, Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP and Tigray regions. Last week, 42 cases and 1 
death were reported nationwide. Most of the cases were reported from Bore 
woreda in Oromiya Region. Containment vaccinations exercises have been 
undertaken in the affected woredas of Oromiya and SNNP regions. In 
addition, preventive vaccination campaigns were conducted in Tigray, Addis 
Ababa, Amhara and Gambella. Memorandums of understandings have been signed 
between DFID-WHO and CIDA-WHO to ensure funding for preparedness and 
response activities for a possible large scale meningococcal meningitis 
outbreak. Meanwhile, there is significant decrease in the number of 
reported measles cases. The Humanitarian Response Fund mobilized US$ 
700,000 to support response to measles outbreaks in Borena and Guji zones 
of Oromiya and in SNNP regions.

Suspected cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea have been reported in Amhara 
Region. The first suspected case was reported on 31st of March 2008 from 
Dera woreda of South Gondar zone. The outbreak spread to Denbecha and 
Ankesha woredas. The FMoH and WHO will shortly deploy a team to the 
affected woredas. Meanwhile, WHO has assigned an expert to provide 
technical support in the affected areas. Contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

REVIEW OF MOBILE HEALTH TEAMS

Review of the performance of the 15 mobile health and nutrition teams that 
have been deployed in Somali Region by the Regional Health Bureau with 
support from UNICEF was undertaken in Jijiga on 21and 22 April. During the 
last three months (Jan-Mar) a total of 47,175 patients - an average of 
1,210 patients per team per month - were treated by the teams. Among the 
total number of patients, 20,985 (44 percent) were children under the age 
of 5 years. The most common causes of diseases were diarrheal diseases, 
other water scarcity related diseases, respiratory tract infections and 
malaria. The mobile teams also provided water purification tabs to 4,530 
families as part of the water trucking interventions undertaken by the 
Regional Water Bureau, DPPB and UNICEF in the worst drought affected 
areas. The teams also reached approximately 43,405 people with hygiene and 
health education campaigns.

Meanwhile, UNFPA supplied basic clinical delivery kits to seven mobile 
health teams in Gode and Afder zones. Reproductive health kits were also 
provided to Denan, Kelafo, El-Kere health centers and Gode hospital. On 
23rd April 2008, UNFPA Reproductive health coordinator conducted a one-day 
training on maternal health issues for twenty members of the UNICEF/RHB 
mobile teams in Jijiga town. For more information contact: 
kmcdonald@unicef.org & arrault@unfpa.org

RELIEF FOOD DELIVERY

The DPPA has continued to distribute relief food in the drought affected 
areas. Approximately 24,772 MTs has been allocated to 956,000 
beneficiaries in Somali Region for the first quarter of 2008. To date, 
approximately 12,000 MTs has been dispatched and 2,769 MTs has been 
distributed. In addition, out of the allocated 26,578 MTs of food (Oct - 
Dec) to the five zones under military operation, 21,784 MT has been 
dispatched to the Food Distribution Points (FDPs) while 18,282 MTs has 
been distributed. During the last six months, WFP undertook monitoring 
activities in 120 FDPs in the five zones. Meanwhile, a total of 16,871 MTs 
of food has been allocated for approximately 746,767 beneficiaries in 
Beneshangul Gumuz, Gambella, Oromiya, SNNP and Tigray regions for the 
months of January to April 2008. A total of 10,845 Mts has been dispatched 
to date and 3,310 MTs has been distributed.

The national food aid pipeline faces significant shortfalls in light of 
the rising food needs due to the deteriorating food security situation. 
The shortfall against the 2008 food requirements stands at as follows: 
Relief food - 57,000 MTs; Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme - 
40,000 MTs; and for the Productive Safety Net Programme 70,000 MTs. 
Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -