HIGHLIGHTS
Ethiopia Drought Situation
In Kebridahar, Somali Region, the number of suspected acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) cases reduced significantly during the last four days, suggesting stabilization of the outbreak. The on-going response is focused on case management, active case finding and a hygiene awareness campaign led by the Regional Health Bureau and supported by ACF, WHO and UNICEF. A WHO team from Addis Ababa arrived in the area during the week to support community level epidemiological studies for better understanding of the issues of transmission control.
The food security situation is improving in the drought-affected belg producing woredas in SNNP region. The haricot bean, green maize, barley and Irish potato harvest is currently underway in all belg producing woredas that until now have been experiencing critical food shortages. Field reports also indicate that production and productivity of livestock is slowly improving in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of the region.
Somali Refugee Situation
According to UNHCR, as of 27 September 2011, the total number of Somali refugee population in the four Dollo Ado camps and the transit center stands at 124,055. Over the past one week the average number of registered refugees per day has been increasing, with 408 arrivals on 26 September and 257 on 27 September.
UNHCR reports that enhanced health and nutrition interventions in the camps have resulted in a notable decline in the crude mortality rate in the Dollo Ado camps. In Kobe camp the mortality rate has gone down from 4-5 deaths per 10,000 to 1.1 deaths per 10,000 daily.
Nutrition partners in the camps have started to implement key recommendations from the recently completed rapid assessment on Infant and Young Children Feeding (IYCF) supported by UNICEF with the planned establishment of 21 baby friendly spaces/tents.
Sudanese Refugee Situation (Blue Nile State)
The influx of Sudanese refuges is increasing again as the security situation in the Blue Nile State continues to deteriorate. Since the influx started on 3 September, an estimated 25,000 have crossed the border into western Ethiopia. During the week, an estimated 1,500 new refugees arrived.
On 27 September 2011, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched a joint appeal for funds to help refugees fleeing into western Ethiopia from Sudan‘s Blue Nile State. The appeal amounts to US$18.3 million, including US$4.8 million for UNICEF supported activities in water, basic domestic hygiene items, sanitation, nutrition, education, children protection, and psychosocial services.