Relief Bulletin: Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia 25 July 2005

MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO CRITICAL MALNUTRITION REPORTS IN REFUGEE CAMPS

In response to the critical malnutrition reports in three refugee camps in Gambella and Somali regions, immediate actions are being taken by WFP and partners to address the concerns. The Government's implementing partner, Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) and UNHCR are relaxing the admission criteria to the supplementary feeding center in Kebribeyah refugee camp, and have agreed to screen children born since 1997 and issue them with ration cards. In addition, food rations will be increased and the refugees will receive the normal 15kg of cereals per person per month as of September 2005. In Fugnido the food ration will be increased from 10kg to 15kg per person per month from August 2005. The refugees in Bonga camp already receive the normal cereals rations. The cereals rations were temporarily reduced because of serious resourcing shortfalls in the refugee program at the beginning of 2005. Blanket and expanded therapeutic feeding programs were initiated at the Sudanese refugee camps at Fugnido and Bonga in June following reports of malnutrition in both camps. Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

ICRC DELIVERS SECOND ROUND FOOD AID TO THE IDPS AND RESIDENTS IN GURADAMOLE, SOMALI REGION

ICRC reported that it has distributed second round food rations for 1,300 IDPs and 700 residents in Guradamole town of Afder zone in Somali region. According to the report the assistance includes 10kg of maize, 5kg of beans and 1liter of vegetable oil for each family member and 15kg of seeds for each family. This ration is expected to maintain an adequate food security level for the displaced families to the end of August. Additionally, the seeds will give the displaced families, who are traditionally farmers, the opportunity to plant in the next agricultural season. The IDPs moved to the area in February from Bale zone, Oromiya Region after the results of the referendum were announced. For further information contact: addis_abeba.add@icrc.org

JOINT UNICEF/SC-DENMARK MISSION TO RESETTLEMENT AREAS OF AMHARA AND OROMIYA REGIONS

UNICEF and SC-Denmark, after consultations with concerned regional authorities, conducted a joint mission to three resettlement sites in two woredas of Amhara Region and in four sites of five woredas of Oromiya Region from 1- 7 July. The major objectives of the visit were to make an assessment of children's education in the resettlement areas and to identify gaps and problems with regards to fulfilling the rights of children in general. Findings revealed that the rights of children to basic education, health services and adequate clean water were far from being fulfilled and need to be improved. For more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

POLIO IMMUNISATION CAMPAIGN RESUMES

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a new round of the house to house polio immunisation campaign will be conducted nationwide except in Somali Region from 29 July-2 August. Two similar campaigns were conducted in April and May, where 15 million children had been vaccinated in each round. Currently, the polio virus has been detected in eight children in Tigray and in six children in Amhara regions. For further information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

WORLD VISION CONDUCTS DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MANAGEMENT TRAINING

As part of its capacity building endeavour, to strengthen response capacity of vulnerable and food insecure districts, World Vision Ethiopia provided a two-week training on disaster preparedness and management to 30 Government and World Vision staff from 12 woredas of Tigray, Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP and Benishangul Gumuz regions. The training covered disaster assessment techniques and management strategies, early warning, food aid management and monitoring and evaluation of relief programs. The trainees will provide similar training at woreda level and assist selected areas in preparing community level disaster preparedness plans. For further information contact: wveth@ethionet.et