Ethiopia: Humanitarian Bulletin, 14 June 2010

Food Security Update

The latest WFP Food Security Update indicates that the general food security situation continues to improve as a result of the ongoing rains, which have led to good belg crop performance and availability of green maize.

An increasing supply of food commodities in the market has also partially contributed to stabilized or slightly decreased cereal prices. However, heavy rainfall in recent weeks, accompanied by flooding, hailstorms and landslides, are negatively impacting both belg and recently-planted meher crops in some areas. Excessive rains are also affecting coffee planting in SNNPR. Further monitoring of the situation in identified food-insecure areas, including parts of Afar, eastern and northern Amhara, Gambella, the lowlands of eastern Oromia, SNNP, Somali, and eastern and southern Tigray, is required to continue. Control measures for army worm in areas where infestations have been reported are underway, although on a limited basis due to shortage of pesticides.

For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

Nutrition Update

The Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) reports that, between January and April 2010, 76,196 malnourished children were admitted to therapeutic feeding programmes (TFPs) in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray (overall reporting rate of 71.5 per cent). Based on the January to April figures, the number of admissions to TFPs represents 71.6 per cent of projected admissions, as per the 2010 Humanitarian Requirements Document, which estimated TFP beneficiaries from January to June at 106,457.

Looking specifically at TFP admission in Oromia, which accounted for 25.6 per cent of the 18,182 children admitted at 4,719 TFP sites in April and which consistently achieved a reporting rate of more than 80 per cent for four consecutive months, there has been a decreasing trend in admissions. Meanwhile, admission trends in SNNPR (accounting for 36 percent of April admissions) have been fluctuating. ENCU notes that, if decreasing trends continue to be reported in TFP sites in most of the regions over the next three months (June to August 2010) - although this time period is normally characterized by increased admissions to TFP services - the overall TFP admission trend will have been reversed for the first time in 8 years.

Meanwhile, GOAL, Samaritan's Purse, Save the Children UK, World Vision Ethiopia, and CONCERN conducted a number of nutritional surveys in six regions (Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray) between April and May 2010 in response to regional requests for emergency nutrition assessments or for monitoring of nutrition intervention performance. According to the results verified by ENCU, the survey conducted in SNNP showed a normal nutritional situation, while other five surveys (three in Amhara, one in Tigray and one in Oromia) indicated poor nutritional situations. Four other surveys (two in Amhara, one in Gambella and one in Somali) classified the nutrition situation as serious, while one survey in Oromia rated conditions as critical. Crude and under-five mortality in all the surveys were reportedly normal: below the national and sphere standards emergency thresholds. Additional emergency standard assessments are planned to take place in some areas in June, 2010. For more information contact: isaackm@dppc.gov.et

Health Update

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) reported 107 new cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD), with one death, through the country between 31 May and 6 June. Of those, 70 cases were reported from Jijiga (Somali) and 37 cases from Oromia. UNICEF has provided financial and technical assistance to support response activities to the outbreak in Somali Region.

FMoH also reported 877 new cases of measles in SNNP during the same week; no death has been reported. A joint assessment mission (FMoH, Regional Health Bureau [RHB], WHO and UNICEF) visited the worst affected woredas - Benissa and Aroressa - from 5 to 7 June to assess the impact of the outbreak, the extended immunization and health extension programmes and evaluate on-going response mechanisms. The team also provided guidance to the RHB on long-term response strategy while recommending an immediate financial, technical and medical support. Meanwhile, UNICEF provided three emergency drug kits to support response for the measles outbreak in Keffa zone, in the region. For more information contact: whowro@ et.afro.who.int & kmcdonald@unicef.org

Flood Response

In light of continuing impacts of floods in parts of the country, particularly in Somali Region, humanitarian partners are scaling up response efforts. UNICEF has provided water treatment chemicals to support 2,800 families to get access to clean water supply for one month. Non-food items (NFIs) including kitchen utensils, blankets and shelter materials were also provided to 835 flood-affected households in Warder, Shilabo and Kebridehar. UNICEF is further preparing to dispatch 1,375 NFI kits to Mustahil, Kelafo and East Imey zones.

Meanwhile, the assessment team comprising the Regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau, UNICEF, OCHA, FAO, MERLIN, CHF and ADRA that visited Mustahil and Kelafo is compiling reports. For more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org