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Ethiopia: Emergency and humanitarian action weekly update - Week 52 (22-28 Dec 2008)

Countries
Ethiopia
Sources
WHO
Publication date
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HIGHLIGHTS:

- Amid growing demands for food aid in the predominantly eastern parts of the country, Relief, Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) resources remain short by 588,500 MT at the value of US$ 508.5 million for 2009.

- According to official reports from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), there are 58 new cases of AWD reported from Humbo woredas of Wolaita zone in Southern Nations Nationality and Peoples' Region (SNNPR)

I. GENERAL SITUATION:

a) Political, social, security overview for the week

- The overall security situation in the country remained stable during this week. No major security incidents involving humanitarian staff members have been reported.

b) Main events of interest/ concern for health (displacements, conflicts, disease outbreaks, etc.)

Food insecurity and malnutrition situation.

- FAO has completed the 1st and the 3rd phase of the WFP/FAO crop assessment; and the Meher needs is expected in mid January 2009. The 1st part of the FAO mission indicated that crop performance is good and harvest could be average especially for the main crop growing areas in the western parts of the country. However, teff production is likely to be below average due to the effect of the unseasonal rains received during October/early November. Harvest prospects are below average in the eastern half of the country.

- Cereal prices continue to show slight decline in parts of Amhara, Benishangul Gumiz and Gambella, Tigray, Oromiya, Somali and SNNP Regions, following the meher harvest. Livestock prices however, slightly increased in Liben and Degehabur zones of Somali Region due to higher demand while in most other regions have either remained unchanged or decreased. Prices of maize and small ruminants have slightly increased in some woreda (districts) of Sidama and Dawuro zones in SNNPR. In Tigray prices of cereals have slightly increased in urban markets, while the food aid intervention prices have stabilized in some markets.

- The concern for water and adequate pasture in arid areas of Somali, Afar, Tigray and Oromiya regions continue to be of concern to humanitarian partners. The water trucking for the chronic water shortage areas of Elidaar, Korrie, Bidu and Erebti woredas in Afar region continues this week as well. Availability of water and pasture has deteriorated in East and West Hararghie zone of Oromia Region.

- In Somali Region water rationing has started in three kebeles in Chinaksen woreda. Serious water shortage was reported in Harshin woreda of Jijiga Zone and Aisha woreda of Shinile zone. In Borana of Oromia Region, there is fear that the available water in damaged ponds may meet the water needs for about one month only.

- Rapid Assessments conducted by GOAL in Sayint woredas, Amhara Region were reviewed by the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU). The result indicated a need for close monitoring and strengthening of existing nutrition interventions in Sayint. An assessment conducted by SNNPR Food Security / Disaster prevention and Prepardness Bureau and ENCU in collaboration with zonal and woredas authorities in Gediyo zone (Dilla Zuria, Wanago and Kochere) indicated high levels of proxy Severe Acute Malnutrition and Global Acute Malnutrition.

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) Situation:

According to official reports from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), AWD has affected a new district called Humbo woredas of Wolaita zone in SNNPR. There are 58 new cases of AWD reported from this district. There are no new cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) reported in the past six weeks from other districts and regions. The national cumulative cases of the epidemic reported during 1st January to From 1st January to 21st December 2008 amounts to 3,862 cases and 23 deaths from 55 districts of six regions and Addis Ababa Municipality. Out of these woredas 25 are in Amhara, 14 in Oromiya, eight in Tigray, two in Afar, four in SNNP, one in Somali Regions and one in Addis Ababa municipality. The epidemic has been controlled in 51 woredas. Below are graphs comparing the AWD trend from 2006 since the epidemic to December 2008.