Relief Bulletin: Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia 27 June 2005

GAMBELLA REFUGEE CAMPS UPDATE

Following the reports of high malnutrition rates in Fugnido and Bonga refugee camps in Gambella Region, re-screening of children under five is now completed and all severely malnourished are receiving treatment in Therapeutic Feeding Centers (TFC). In Bonga camp a total of 36 children have been admitted for therapeutic feeding. In Fugnido camp 112 children are currently under treatment. Three UNHCR tents utilized for TFC have been erected in the Anuak part of Fugnido camp in order to assure treatment of children living in this part of the camp. A temporary health post has also been established in the site and refugees have started receiving health services there. One additional nurse and a health assistant have been transferred to the Anuak site from the regional health bureau. Additional drugs for emergency response are also on the way to Fugnido camp from Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) Addis. WFP has transported blanket food to both camps, and blanket supplementary feeding started last week. Water tankering is being undertaken by UNHCR and ARRA. The pipeline for blended food for the refugee operation, recently a concern, is now sufficient until 2006 due to a recent contribution. For further information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

BELG AND PASTORAL AREA ASSESSMENT TEAMS IN THE REGIONS

The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission led National Early Warning Working Group (NEWWG) started its seasonal pre-harvest and food need assessment on 23 June. Over all, 16 multi-agency teams comprised of Government, UN, NGO and donor representatives are in the regions to assess the impact of belg/gu season rains on household food security and determine food and non-food needs. The assessment will cover most crop-dependent and some livestock-dependent areas of the country. Unlike other years, the assessment will cover some areas which are not belg/gu season dependent, but are reportedly at risk due to the current crisis. This information, combined with an assessment of income sources and market access, will guide food and non-food relief targeting for the last six months of 2005. The findings of this and other non-food assessments will form the basis of the Appeal Update, which is planned in mid-July.

CRITICAL MALNUTRITION IN MENA ANGETU, BALE ZONE, OROMIYA REGION

Critical malnutrition has been reported in Mena Angetu woreda of Bale zone, Oromiya Region. The Federal DPPC and the regional DPPB/ENCU conducted a nutritional survey between 22 May and 5 June after recent reports of malnutrition. The team reported a 15.6 percent Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and 2.2 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with aggravating factors such as a high under-five mortality rate and a high prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases. According to the survey the food security situation is very poor and people have already migrated to the neighboring woredas in search of food and labour. The woreda officials report that in the last four months 12,250 livestock have died. Meanwhile the team recommended general food rations for the coming three months and targeted supplementary food for the moderately malnourished children and vulnerable groups. The team also recommended a community based therapeutic care program by NGOs and close monitoring on the continuity of payment for Safety Net beneficiaries.

CRITICAL MALNUTRITION IN FIK, HAMERO, SAGAG AND DUHUN WOREDAS OF SOMALI REGION

Save the Children-UK reported critical malnutrition in Fik, Hamero, Sagag and Duhun woredas of Fik zone in Somali Region in May. The team reported 16.1 percent GAM in Fik and Hamero and 20.7 percent in Sagag and Dehun woredas. A full report will be available after it is finalized. For further information contact: scukethiopia@savethechildren.org.uk

GERMAN GOVERNMENT ALLOCATES US $1.6 MLN FOR ZIWAY DUGDA, OROMIYA REGION

The Oromo Self-Help Organisation (OSHO) in collaboration with German Agro Action (GAA) has begun a new developmental relief intervention in Ziway Dugda woreda, Arsi zone this month. The program supports 15,000 households and is an expansion of former relief and development operations in the district. The programme will support 7,000 food insecure households through cash for work. In addition it plans to distribute 112 tonnes of drought resistant seeds to 3,300 households and will provide micro-credit for 120 women. The intervention provides capacity building trainings and will also distribute 125 Borena cattle. The program is coordinated at the woreda level in respect to the PSNP and all other agencies and NGOs. HIV/AIDS, family planning and gender are incorporated as cross cutting issues at all levels. The intervention, costing US$ 1.6 million, is financed by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation until March 2007. For more information contact: osho@ethionet.et

GOVERNMENT, UNICEF AND WFP SIGN MOU FOR EOS/TSF FOR CHILD SURVIVAL INTERVENTIONS

The Federal Ministry of Health, the FDPPC, UNICEF and WFP signed an agreement setting out their roles in the Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) including Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) for Child Survival Interventions on 18 June. The EOS targets 6.7 million children under five in 325 chronically food insecure woredas. It offers a range of life-saving measures from biannual vitamin A supplementation and measles vaccination to nutrition education and food distribution to malnourished children and mothers. The agreement set out the links between the EOS implemented by FMOH with UNICEF's support and the TSF implemented by DPPC with the support of WFP. For more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org