Sir JOHN HOLMES, USG AND ERC, TO VISIT ETHIOPIA

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Sir John Holmes, will visit Ethiopia from 1 to 3 September. The mission aims to discuss the country's humanitarian needs and challenges and determine ways in which the United Nations system and its partners can continue to support the Government's efforts to address the needs. The ERC will also travel to SNNP and Somali regions to see first hand the cooperative actions by the Government, UN and humanitarian partners to address critical humanitarian needs. During his visit, the ERC will meet with Government officials, the diplomatic community, donor mission, NGOs and the UN humanitarian team. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org.

HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS

Food security and malnutrition continue to affect people living in most of the drought affected regions. The situation has improved in some pocket areas due to the availability of some green maize, teff and beans harvest. Access to water has improved in some areas due to kiremt rainfall.

Resource Shortfall

WFP reports that breaks for relief, PSNP and TSF pipelines are immediate. The total national shortfall for relief, PSNP and TSF stands at 170,000 MT valued at US$ 138.8 million. The current food shortfall has resulted in reduced rations for July and August allocations. The capacity of local factories to produce enough RUTF to meet the demand has been reduced by insufficient supplies. Partners are calling for Ethiopia to receive priority allocation of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to respond comprehensively to the needs.

Continued Malnutrition/ Food insecurity

The Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) reports that the overall admission rate of children to Therapeutic Feeding Centers remains high. A substantial number of children in hotspot woredas are in need of life saving therapeutic feeding. An additional 34 hotspot woredas in Afar, Amhara, Oromiya and SNNPR have been identified by WFP. Extreme shortage of water and pasture are reported from Somali, parts of Afar and Oromiya Regions. In Oromiya, unusual movement of livestock from Borena to areas in Moyale where pasture and water are available for livestock are placing strain on limited resources, reports CARE. In addition, livestock disease locally named "birte" with symptoms of bloody urine is being reported from Moyale. Further spread of the disease is expected due to high concentration of livestock in the area.

Heavy rains and flood

Heavy rain and hailstorms have damaged crops in South Gonder zone in Amhara and East Harerghe zone in Oromiya, reports CARE. Crops in South Tigray have been damaged by hailstorms. Flooding has reportedly displaced over 3,700 people in East Shewa zone of Oromiya, according to WFP.

Clan conflicts and displacement

Conflicts between clans over limited resources have been reported from Oromiya and Somali Regions. In Borena zone of Oromiya, people have been fighting over limited pasture and water resources. Conflicts in Somali have been over farm land in Ferfer woreda of Gode zone, reportedly leading to displacement of local villagers.

Health

WHO reports that AWD cases are spreading to new sites. Newly affected areas include Gimbichu, Ada'a and Lume woredas of East Shewa zone in Oromiya Region. In response, WHO has deployed a technical expert to identify priority interventions and gaps. In addition WHO provided financial support to Amhara Regional Health Bureau for training of health workers. The training includes case management and construction of 68 pit latrines for Wonkesht holy water site users in Dara woreda of South Gondar zone. The current rainfall is likely to increase the number of cases and affected woredas. This highlights the need for addressing risk factors including poor safe water supply, inadequate sanitation facilities and poor hygiene practices.

In support to AWD response, UNICEF has sent drugs and Case Treatment Center (CTC) materials to Oromiya and Amhara Regions. In addition, UNICEF provided essential drug kits to Gulina, Adaar and Elidaar woredas in Afar, addressing 7,500 people for two months. During the last two months, a total of 445 cases of bloody diarrhea were reported from Raya Azebo in Tigray and Gumer-Ezha in SNNPR, WHO reports. For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int, kmcdonald@unicef.org, care.eth@ethionet.et, info@dppc.gov.et & wfp.addisababa@wfp.org.

STRENGTHENING RESPONSE IN THE SOMALI REGION

In response to continued food security concerns in the region, the Special Committee for Somali Region is strengthening response efforts. The Framework for Action has been dispatched to the region to allow the practical implementation of Action Plans. OCHA-Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) has provided US$ 3.4 million to seven partners operating in the region since July. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org & info@dppc.gov.et.