FOOD SECURITY UPDATE
The food security situation in pocket areas of Oromiya, Amhara and Afar regions is deteriorating and is in need of close monitoring in Somali Region. While the 2006 dayr season has been instrumental in preventing a serious decline in the food security situation of Somali Region, the situation in southern zones is fragile and in need of close monitoring especially as the dry "hagaa" season begins. Food availability is deteriorating due to limited relief food distribution this year. Meanwhile, in response to rapid verification assessment findings, the Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA) has allocated 9,627 tonnes of relief food commodities for 528,500 beneficiaries in Warder, Shinile, Degehabur, Afder, Korahe, Liben, Gode and Fik zones. In Oromiya Region, the food security situation in lowland woredas has continued to deteriorate. Based on the DPPA led verification assessment recommendations, DPPA has allocated 2,024 tonnes of relief food commodities for 112,443 beneficiaries in Agarfa and Gasarena woredas of Bale zone; Chinaksen woreda of East Hararghe zone; Ginde Beret, Adda Berga and Meta Robi woredas of West Shewa; and Jarsi woreda of West Wellega zones. In addition, World Vision with funding from the European Union commenced emergency food aid distribution to 9,200 beneficiaries in Gedeb Assasa and Sude woredas of Arsi zone. In Amhara Region, the regional DPPFSB has identified 14 woredas to be of concern in five eastern zones due to the poor 2006 meher harvest and belg production prospects. Meanwhile, following reports of food insecurity in zone 1, 2, 4 and 5 of Afar Region, the Federal WASH taskforce deployed a team to assess the overall situation on 11 June. DPPA has allocated 145 tonnes of supplementary food to the most affected areas to complement ongoing Productive Safety Net Programme transfers. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, aingabire@unicef.org & haileyesus_dinka@wvi.org
GAMBELLA UPDATE
Ongoing movements of displaced Jikany Nuer from Itang woreda through Burebey to Akobo and others areas of in western Gambella Region continue to cause humanitarian concern. Reports indicate that the Lou Nuer have moved into South Sudan vacating the land they occupied in preparation for the arrival of the Jikany. Latent tensions, however, remain between these two Nuer factions. The local administrations of Akobo county, South Sudan and Tiergol woreda, Gambella Region are organizing a peace dialogue between the two communities in collaboration with PACT International. Both communities are in need of food and non-food humanitarian assistance. Ongoing rains could also amplify cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) and other water borne diseases. The Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) is considering applications for life saving interventions. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org
RAINS INCREASE AWD CONCERNS
The forthcoming rainy season threatens to amplify cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) nationwide. Currently five of Ethiopia's nine regions are still officially reporting cases with the majority of cases coming from Bale, East Hararghe and Borena zones, Oromiya Region; Sidama and Bench Maji zones, SNNPR; Oromiya zone, Amhara Region; Harari Region and Dolobay, Dolo Odo and Degehabur zones, Somali Region. Since the beginning of the epidemic the disease outbreak has been successfully contained in 104 affected woredas, 64 woredas, however, continue to report cases. WHO has intensified its response in Somali Region where increased cases have been reported with trainings on surveillance and case management ongoing in newly affected areas. In addition, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and treatment guidelines have been distributed. Four cholera kits and two emergency health kits donated by the Norwegian government have also been deployed. Contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int
POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN TARGETS 14 MILLION UNDER FIVE CHILDREN
The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, launched a four-day, house-to-house polio immunization campaign on 8 June. The campaign targets 14.1 million children under the age of five across the country. Operational costs will be covered by the European Commission. Polio cases have not been reported in Ethiopia for over six months with the last case being reported on 7 November 2006 in Korahe zone of Somali Region. For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int
BELG ASSESSMENT PREPARATION UNDERWAY
Preparation is underway to conduct the seasonal belg assessment in hotspot areas across the country. This year the Household Economic Approach (HEA) will be implemented in the three regions of Tigray, SNNP and Somali; while the traditional method will be applied in Afar, Amhara and Oromiya regions. Gambella and Beneshangul Gumuz regions will not be covered as they are not belg dependent areas. Emerging needs from these regions will be addressed through the verification assessment in line with the new approach. For more information contact: dppaewd@dppc.gov.et
CLUSTER APPROACH UPDATE
The rollout of the cluster approach is ongoing. UN cluster leads have now nominated focal persons for the implementation of the approach. For Emergency Health - Kebba Jaieth (jaitehk@et.afro.who.int) from WHO; Nutrition - Isaack Manyama (isaackm@dppc.gov.et) from UNICEF; Agriculture - Alberto Pasini (alberto.pasini@fao.org) from FAO; WES - Ewan Chainey (echainey@unicef.org) from UNICEF; Camp Management and Emergency Shelter and NFIs - Ajit Fernando (Fernanda@unhcr.org) from UNHCR and Cecilia Omole (comole@iom.int) from IOM; and Protection - Annika Sandlund from UNHCR. Focal persons for other Working Groups include - Ulrich Muller (muelleru@un.org) for Early Warning from OCHA; Takele Teshome (takele.teshome@undp.org) for Early Recovery from UNDP; Yohannes Katsaros (Yohannes.katsaros@wfp.org) and Zemedkun Girma (Zedmedkun.girma@wfp.org) for Logistics from WFP and James Nightingale (nightingale@un.org) for Emergency Telecoms from OCHA . For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org
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