Ethiopia: Humanitarian Bulletin 17 Nov 2008

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Floods

Heavy rains in Somali Region and in the highlands of Oromiya during the past week forced Wabi Shebelle and Genale rivers to break banks causing floods in parts of Somali Region. The Region reported that floods affected communities in Mustahil, Ferfer and East Imi of Gode zone, West Imi and Dolobay of Afder zone, Gunegado woreda of Degehabur zone, Dolo Odo woreda of Liban Zone and Kebribeyah woreda of Jijiga zone. The floods have reportedly caused some displacement and damaged approximately 2,000 hectares of crop land. The Regional Health Bureau (RHB) mobile health teams are stationed in Ferfer, Kelafo, West Imi and East Imi to provide support. The RHB also plans to send additional team to Dolo-Odo woreda. WHO is finalizing preparations to send Emergency health Kits to Somali region based on recommendations from the Federal Ministry of Health. Immediate Sectoral responses including food, water, and health and non-food items provision are required. A multi-agency mission, which will commence on 2nd of December, 2008 is expected to identify Emergency and recovery needs. Humanitarian partners are advocating for strengthened preventive mechanisms as most of the areas are prone to flooding.

In SNNPR, overflowing waters from Woito and Omo rivers have affected communities in South Omo zone, According to initial assessment findings by Dasenech woreda administration on 07 November, 1,199 households have been displaced. In Hamer woreda, 36 households have been displaced. Additionally, floods during the past week affected a total of 423 households (2538 people) in Shashego woreda and six households in Wonko Kebele of Katchabira woreda in SNNPR, The displaced population is reportedly sheltered under temporary shades made of plastic sheets. The displaced figures are expected to decline as the water in Woito and Omo Rivers have shown decreases in their levels. For more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org & ocha-eth@un.org

Nutrition Update

During the week, 2,729 new admissions of severely malnourished children to the therapeutic feeding programs were reported from the hotspot woredas of five regions - SNNP, Oromia, Tigray, Amhara and Somali. In SNNPR, trends in new admissions have continued to decline. The situation is anticipated to improve following commitment by partners including Save the Children US, Save the Children UK, GOAL, Samaritan's Purse and World Vision Ethiopia to expand nutrition interventions to new areas. For more information contact: orlao@dppc.gov.et

Food

WFP reports that improvement in dispatches of food in Somali Region is expected with the start of the Hubs and Spokes food distribution system. Since the commencement of the system, some 9,000 MT (out of 18,500 MT allocated for October) has been dispatched from the DMFSS/WFP hubs in Dire Dawa to hubs in Degehabur and Gode and also to Food Distribution Points (FDPs) in Degehabur, Shinile, Warder and Jijiga zones. Meanwhile, the food distribution committee (DMFSS/WFP/JEOP/Donors) decided that in view of delayed food arrivals, the November rations will only include cereals (10kgs) and blended food (4.5 kg); pulses and oil will not be distributed. To meet the requirements, WFP will borrow 26,000MT of cereals from the Emergency Food Security Reserve Administration (EFSRA). Currently, resource shortfalls for relief, PSNP Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) programmes for the period until the end of 2008 amounts 85,819 MT worth US$ 74.1 million. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

HEALTH UPDATE

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) reports that Acute Watery Diarreah (AWD) cases continue to decline nationwide, with no reports of newly affected woredas during the past four weeks. Nine woredas continue reporting active cases in the past four weeks: four in Amhara (Awabel, Gonder Zuria, Tegede and Yilma Densa), one in Oromiya (Zway Dugda), one in SNNPR (Dugna Fango) and three in Tigray (A. Tsmbila, Kafta Humera and M. Zana). Meanwhile, teams from WHO, UNICEF and PSI are supporting Regional Health Bureaus in training health workers on AWD epidemic response. Further, preparations are underway to conduct training for 50 environmental health workers in East Shoa zone of Oromiya Region. For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int