United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York)
18 August 2008
press release
OOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION
Food security remains an issue of high concern as shortages of water and pasture continue to affect crop and livestock production. Belg producing parts of the country currently face failed rainfall and high food prices. Although interventions appear to be working in some areas, the total number of children requiring emergency treatment for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) is still rising. Meanwhile, humanitarian partners face serious resources shortages in supporting supplementary feeding programs in all affected regions. Partners are managing existing caseloads of SAM but children who return home where there is not enough food face a significant risk of relapse. Meanwhile, moderate malnutrition is also increasing.
SNNPR: some areas in the region remain extremely food insecure following a near failure current belg harvest whilst some areas have started to benefit from the green harvest. The situation is likely to continue until the next harvest period (October/November) for delayed belg crops, WFP notes. UNICEF reports that during last week, 64.38 MT of plumpy’nut has been delivered to the affected woredas in SNNPR. Moreover, 450 arm circumferential measuring tapes, 180 infant scales and 202 mattresses were delivered to SNNPR. Shortage and late arrival of agricultural inputs (fertilizer and improved seeds) are identified as potential challenges for production of meher crops: teff, wheat, barley and maize in Sidama, Hadiya and Siltie zones of SNNPR.
Oromiya: The cumulative effect of poor belg rainfall and army worm infestation in Borena and East and West Harerghe zones of Oromiya has severely affected this year’s belg crop production, livestock condition and milk production. WFP reports that armyworm infestation has been reported in various woredas of South West Shoa zone of Oromiya. Further, reports from WFP indicate that malnutrition has become a concern in Bule Hora woreda in Borena zone and Elfeta, Geldu, Meda Kegne and Bako Tibe woredas of West Shoa zone of Oromiya requiring immediate assistance. Furthermore, increasing number of children are admitted to CARE/ECHO Case Treatment Center (CTC) in Moyale woreda of Borena zone, Haromaya of East Harerghe and Dire Dawa city Administration, CARE reports. WHO is providing support to the training of 45 Health Extension Workers and also facilitated the training of 61 community nutrition volunteers in Dire Dawa. UNICEF reports that 82.78 MT of plumpy’nut, 550 arm circumferential measuring tapes and 220 infant scales have been provided to Oromiya. Moreover, nutritional supplies have been delivered to Dilchora hospital in Diredawa (30 cartons of F75, 20 cartons of plumpy’nut and 10 cartons of F-100), UNICEF reports. CARE has distributed a total of 1,799 quintals of seeds in various woredas of the region.
Afar: Conditions in Afar are increasingly worrying as food insecurity has worsened. While it is hoped that the current karma rains may bring relief to drought-affected communities, the physical condition of livestock remains poor. Critical areas include: Northern Elidar, Kori, Dubti, Teru and Bidu. Government and NGOs continue to provide water trucking to affected areas. WHO allocated US$ 25,500 to support Health Extension Worker training in Afar Region for treatment of severe malnutrition cases. Similarly, UNICEF is conducting training to Health Extension Workers in Teru and Aysayita woredas. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, care.eth@ethionet.et, kmcdonald@unicef.org, who-wro@et.afro.who.int & info@dppc.gov.et
STRENGTHENING SOMALI RESPONSE
Key Issue: The food security situation in Somali Region has deteriorated following the failure of local crop production in the seven deyr receiving zones for three consecutive seasons, the Regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau (DPPB) notes. The general food price increase and continued decline in livelihood especially from livestock production has further weakened the purchasing power of the community. Serious food shortage is reported in most of the rural areas particularly Fik, Korahe and Gode zones. The community is resorting to unusual coping strategies including large-scale rural-urban migration in parts of Degehabur, Gode and Fik; reduction of meals; high level labor migration; and sale of productive female animals in Shinile, Korahe, Fik, Warder and Afder zones. Water scarcity has further exacerbated contributing to increased migration. Further, partners report that the level of intervention in Somali region needs to be scaled-up as current interventions are meeting a proportion of the identified needs in the region.
Response: Emergency humanitarian response for Somali Region is being strengthened with the roll-out of emergency health and nutrition, water and sanitation and agriculture action plans. In addition, progress has been reported in the realization of a hubs-and-spokes food logistics plan for the region. Meanwhile, training for 67 Health Workers on rapid response to emergency health was conducted by the Regional Health Bureau with support from WHO and UNICEF. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, kmcdonald@unicef.org, who-wro@et.afro.who.int & info@dppc.gov.et
HEALTH UPDATE
WHO reports that active Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) cases continue to be reported during the past two weeks from Jawi and Banja woredas in Awi zone, Sekela in West Gojjam zone and Takusa in North Gonder zone of Amhara Region. Banja and Sekela are emerging hotspots.
WHO will support the Federal Ministry of Health and Regional Health Bureaus to facilitate strategic intervention to AWD and other communicable diseases in Ethiopia through a Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) funded project.
Further, preparations are underway to conduct polio campaign in Somali Region by the Regional Health Bureau with technical support from UNICEF and WHO. For more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org & who-wro@et.afro.who.int.
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Journalists need to be wary about using very general and questionable information from the UN, NGOs and other international agencies just to support the gist of their story. Where are the reliable and representative data for such assertions? Take the first paragraph of the Ethiopian article from the UN (OCHA)which uses such generalities: "interventions appear to be working in some areas";"total number of (malnourished) children is still rising";"significant risk of relapse"; "moderate malnutriti is also increasing". Ethiopia has been developing more reliable food and nutrition surveillance, monitoring and evalautions systems, and the UN should use the documented mortality… [Read Full Text]