GOVERNMENT, NGOS AND UNICEF PROVIDE
FOR THERAPEUTIC FEEDING INTERVENTIONS
The Government, NGOs and UNICEF have
expanded therapeutic feeding interventions considerably in April to meet
the needs of the increasing numbers of malnourished children in several
regions. 26 Therapeutic Feeding Centers (TFCs) are soon planned or are
currently in operation: six in Somali, one in Harar, four in Oromiya, nine
in SNNPR, four in Afar and two in Amhara. In addition, UNICEF this month
has sponsored two more training sessions on the management of severe malnutrition
in SNNPR for 34 health workers at Butajira Hospital and for 37 health workers
in Awassa. Finally, UNICEF fielded a mission to assess conditions of East
and West Hararghe migrants that where moved from their former Shawe Camp
in Bale zone to a new location in the same zone. UNICEF is working with
MSF Holland to address the therapeutic feeding needs as well as water and
shelter provisions.
NUTRITION SURVEYS IN THE SOMALI REFUGEE CAMPS
From 09 to 18 April, UNHCR/WFP/ARRA conducted nutrition surveys in the three remaining Somali refugee camps of Aisha (Degagu), Kebrebeyah and Hartisheik of Somali Region. Surveys are conducted regularly in the refugee camps. The recent survey results indicate that the nutrition status of children in Aisha camp improved significantly while slight improvement was noted in Hartisheik. In the two camps the nutrition situation is poor with GAM around 10% taking into account other aggravating factors. In Kebrebeyah camp the nutrition situation has deteriorated to a critical stage with GAM around 15%. Causes for reduction in Aisha and Hartisheik may be attributed to the relief food distributions to the IDPs surrounding Aisha and Hartisheik refugee camps. Sharing of food and health services between the refugees and the surrounding IDPs and permanent communities was reported to be a common practice in the past. In Kebrebeyah refugees are still sharing their food with the communities around Kebrebeyah.
WOLAYITA: MSF SWITZERLAND NUTRITION SURVEY REVEALS SEVERE MALNUTRITION
In response to the deterioration of the nutritional and food situation in Damot Gale Woreda, Wolayita Zone, MSF-Switzerland carried out a survey to assess the situation in the woreda from 7 - 15 April. According to the survey the prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) was 27.5% while Severe Acute Malnutrition was 8.2%. Regarding vaccines, 473 out of 934 aged between 9 and 59 months surveyed children were vaccinated against measles. The survey results suggest that, among population surveyed, the nutritional status of children between 6 and 59 months is very critical. The household food stock is very low as the result of the poor rainy season and the loss of the harvest. Cattle are in poor shape and started to die. MSF - Switzerland recommends the opening of a therapeutic feeding center in Boditi town, implementation of supplementary feeding center for the most affected woredas, organization of blanket feedings for 18,000 children under five and follow up on adequate food distribution. WFP will be working with the government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission to provide supplies of fortified blended food to the area to be included in general rations. Damot Gale Woreda was one of several woredas in SNNPR recently reassessed by multi-agency teams, and beneficiary numbers were increased as a result. Increased food allocations for the district were already made for March, ahead of the reassessment.
WABE SHEBELLE RIVER FLOODING IN SOMALI REGION
The belg rains in Ethiopia brought excess water to the main the Wabe Shabelle river in Somali Region. For the past week heavy rains were reported in most of the southern highlands of Ethiopia. These rains have raised water levels and started to flood riverside areas around Kelafo and Mustahil in southern Somali Region. Flooding is needed in the area for flood recession agriculture that has not been possible for the last two years because river levels were too low. But there will be an immediate negative impact because of displacement, submersion of low-lying fields where vegetables are grown using small-scale irrigation and increased health hazards. WFP monitors are on the ground in Kelafo assessing the impact of the floods, and the regional government is to conduct a survey soon. Contingency response plans are being prepared. UNICEF and the regional government are transporting non-food items including emergency medical kits, shelter material and jerry cans to nearby Gode town. Reports confirmed flood levels still high as of today.
TRAINING ON EMERGENCY NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT
A two-week (14 to 23 April) training on emergency nutritional assessment was successfully conducted in Mekele for the Early Warning Department staff of the regional DPPC of Tigray with funding from WFP. Similar training, coordinated by Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) has been conducted at federal and regional level DPPCs in SNNP, Oromiya and Somali Regions. This training is an effort to build DPPC's capacity at federal and regional levels to review and conduct nutrition surveys.