Weekly humanitarian highlights in Ethiopia, 6 September 2010

Flooding Update

New incidents of flooding associated with the above-normal meher (June to September) rains continue to be reported. Additional flooding in Afar, caused by the overflow of the Logia River and the Tendaho dam in Dupti woreda on 27 August, resulted in the displacement of approximately 15,600 people and damage to planted crops and livelihood assets. Backflow at the Tendaho dam has also caused flooding in four kebeles of Mille woreda. The floods have destroyed roads and several strategic bridges. The regional authorities, with helicopter air support, rescued those surrounded by floodwaters and provided emergency food and temporary shelter materials in Dupti and Mille woredas. Together with humanitarian partners, the regional authorities are closely monitoring potential health risks, including malaria and Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD), due to overcrowding in temporary settlement sites and the inaccessibility of some affected areas. The Regional Health Bureau (RHB), together with UNICEF and CARE, has provided water treatment chemicals and sanitation materials, and the RHB has deployed mobile health teams to provide basic health services. UNICEF has pre-positioned six tents for temporary learning centers and ten school-in-a-box kits. Other contributions include the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) provision of non-food items (NFIs), including jerry cans, household utensils and insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA, a local NGO) preparations to send additional non-food items for 3,000 people. The various rapid assessments conducted by the regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau (DPPB), CARE, Save the Children UK, WFP and UNICEF report NFIs as the immediate requirement.

In Amhara Region, South Wollo and North Gonder zones are among the areas affected by new flooding in the past week, while the nearly 5,600 people severely affected in Artuma Fursi woreda, Oromia zone (including 4,658 people surrounded by floodwaters and 925 people displaced) have received helicopter-supported relief assistance. Among the emergency aid provided were 261quintals of food, enough for a one-month food ration (comprising famix, biscuits, flour, pulses and other local foods), and NFIs, including ITNs, tents, water-guard and medical supplies. In addition, four nurses have been deployed to the flood-affected areas in the zone to provide medical assistance. According to zonal authorities, critical remaining gaps in the response include food items (flour, famix and biscuits) and rubhalls (portable warehouses that would be used to establish temporary distribution sites). The zonal coordination meeting is convened daily at present to update information, revise needs and prepare the recovery plan.

Meanwhile, the water level in key rivers in Gambella and Somali regions are reaching their maximum, indicating potential for further flooding. In Gambella Region, the Baro, Akobo, Gilo and Alwero rivers are running high, posing risks of additional flooding in the downstream woredas of Jor, Lare, Itang, Akobo, Jikawo and Wanthowa. A flood watch remains in effect for the region and preparedness and response planning continue, based on the regional Emergency Preparedness and Response and Plan. Among other preparedness measures, the sixth round of food aid has been pre-positioned by the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), WFP, while UNICEF has pre-positioned three boats to support potential search-and-rescue efforts and assist in the transportation of emergency items to inaccessible areas. In Somali Region, the Wabishebelle river is abnormally high for the time of year, indicating the possibility of early flooding in the basin areas of Gode and Afder zones.

At the federal level, the national flood task force is meeting regularly and is preparing a Flood Monitoring and Reporting Matrix to identify affected areas, analyze responses and gaps. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org & kmcdonald@unicef.org

Health Update

The Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed new cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) only from Oromia Region between 23 and 29 August, with 17 cases reported from Adola woreda (nine cases with three deaths), Sebaboru woreda (four cases) and Shakiso woreda (four cases) of Guji zone. UNICEF sent water treatment chemicals sufficient to provide 8,570 families with clean water for two months. WHO also provided water purification chemicals to Oromia and SNNPR and has a team supporting the training of 82 health workers from five woredas of Guji zone, coordinating response and monitoring AWD control activities.

New cases of measles also continued to be reported from Oromia and SNNPR during the same week, with 645 cases (with five deaths) reported from West Arsi (50 cases), Bale (60 cases), Arsi (10 cases) and Guji (7 cases) zones of Oromia, and Sidama (251 cases) and South Omo (267 cases, with 5 deaths) zones of SNNPR. Suspected cases have also been reported in North Gondar zone of Amhara Region. In order to support case management and social mobilization in nine affected zones in Oromia, the RHB, with technical support from UNICEF, has prepared a measles response plan. UNICEF also dispatched two essential drug kits to North Gondar zone. WHO continues to support the MoH and RHBs to coordinate public health emergency management in response to this widespread outbreak. For more information contact: who- wro@et.afro.who.int & kmcdonald@unicef.org

School Feeding Progamme Expands in Somali Region

The Regional Education Bureau, in collaboration with WFP, announced the expansion of the School Feeding Programme in Somali Region, which will now cover 80,911 children in 223 schools in 52 woredas. The Programme will be introduced for the first time in Korahe (18 schools), Fik (15 schools) and Warder (23 schools) zones, and will expand its coverage in Degehabur, Afder, Gode, Liben, Shinile and Jijiga zones. A total of 147 schools are to benefit in the first phase implementation of the programme during the coming academic year. The criteria used for selection of the schools included location, infrastructure, food security and gender disparity. Current school enrolment and dropout rates were also considered. The effort is expected to result in increased enrolment and reduced drop-out rates, particularly among girls. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

Contributions are welcome. Please submit to UN OCHA by Thursday 16:30hrs, Email: ocha-eth@un.org