EMERGENCY AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION (EHA)

WEEKLY UPDATE –WHO COUNTRY OFFICE ETHIOPIA: (Week 3, 12 – 18 January 2009) HIGH LIGHTS:

• WFP reports that current resource shortfalls, considering carryover stocks, stand at 44,500 MT valued at US$ 378 million for Relief, Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), and Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) Programs.

• No new cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) reported for the last three weeks and prevention interventions continue to prevent another outbreak with the beginning of the rain season.

• Seven suspected cases of meningitis have reported from Oromia Zone of Amhara Region and samples have been collected for laboratory investigation still awaiting confirmation.

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.

• Reports indicate that critical water shortages continue in parts of the country. According to UNICEF, water shortage continues to be a concern in Gulo Mekeda, Tseada Emba, Atsbi Wombera, Hintalo Wajirat and Raya Azebo woredas in Tigray Region. The January Somali Region Food Security update indicates that, although the deyr rains have helped in availing water and pasture, they did little in reducing the overall food security in the region. Water shortages are expected to deteriorate in the karan receiving areas including Aysha’, Northern part of Erer, Shinile and Dembel woredas of Shinile zone, Kebribeyah woredas and southern parts of Harshin and Babile in Jijiga zone. According to the report, failure of previous rains in 2007 and 2008 significantly contributed to poor livestock reproduction, high mortality and miscarriage, reduced milk production and poor physical conditions. Crop production has also been affected by early cessation of the rains and unanticipated flooding. The food security situation in the deyr receiving areas is anticipated to further exacerbate in parts of Fik, Warder, Liben and Gode zones in the coming Jilaal, long dry season (January – March).

• WFP reports that current resource shortfalls, considering carryover stocks, stand at 44,500 MT valued at US$ 378 million for Relief, Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP), and Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) Programs. Meanwhile, under the Relief Program, 98 per cent of October and 74 per cent of November allocations have been dispatched countrywide including Afder and Liben zones in Somali Region, Amhara, Oromiya and Tigray regions. A total of 3,056 MT of blended food and oil was distributed under TSF programs to 187,800 beneficiaries in Afar, Oromiya, Somali, and Tigray regions during July to December 2008. January to December 2008 PSNP food dispatches amount to 95 per cent to Afar, 100 per cent to SNNP, 100 per cent to Oromiya and 99 per cent to Tigray regions.

• Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) reports a total of 971 new admissions to Therapeutic Feeding Programs (TFPs) in SNNP, Somali and Tigray Regions with an overall reporting rate of 84.6 per cent. The highest TFP admissions were reported from Dilla zuria and Damot Pullasa woredas in SNNPR accounting for 59.3 per cent of the total admissions with 94 per cent reporting rate. Of the total admissions, Somali region (two weeks report) accounts for more than 37.4 per cent of which 68 per cent were reported from Degehabur Zone.

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) Situation:

• There are no new cases of AWD reported nationally for the last three epidemiological weeks in 2009. There is high risk of AWD outbreak due to the recent rain in some parts of the country. The situation is being closely monitored at the regional and district level with support from WHO field staff.

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II. ANALYSIS & HEALTH CONSEQUENCES: Health problems & Needs of affected populations. Food insecurity and malnutrition

• A rapid nutrition assessment conducted by Samaritan’s Purse in Yirgachefe woreda of Gedio zone in SNNPR indicate high level of proxies GAM and SAM requiring an emergency nutrition intervention, ENCU reports. The findings also show increasing trends of new admissions in the woredas. ENCU with Samaritan’s Purse and other humanitarian partners are discussing the possibility of facilitating a standard nutrition assessment for an emergency nutrition intervention in the woreda.

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)

• The continuous presence of risk factors such as poor quality water supply, inadequacy of health services in some districts, inappropriate sanitation, inadequate hygiene and inadequate food safety explained the persistence of the epidemic in Ethiopia.

• The 2009 joint humanitarian assessment covering all the regions in the country has identified 142, 705 AWD beneficiaries for the first 6 months of 2009 which will require $US709, 641.00 for support. The needs of the at risk population remains adequate access to health care, provision of adequate sanitation and portable water supply, good hygiene practices, strengthening surveillance and supporting case management. Prepositioning of drugs and medical supplies is a priority.

• Meningococcal meningitis: This week 7 suspected meningitis cases have been reported from Oromia Zone of Amhara Region and sample have been collected for laboratory investigation still waiting for confirmation. As part of the preparedness for this year, vaccines and medical supplies and fund for training and supervision been prepositioned in the high risk regions. III. ACTIONS (in relation or response to the issues mentioned above):

a) WHO activities (field trips, assessments, gap filling, coordination, information sharing, training, etc.) & needs (Human resources, material, infrastructure)

Food insecurity and malnutrition

• This week WHO has continued its technical support to regions in responding to food and nutrition crisis in Ethiopia. WHO has supported the FMOH to compile the 2009 emergency health and nutrition requirement document. According to the emergency health and nutrition requirements for 2009, an estimated number of beneficiaries for severe acute malnutrition for the first 6 months of 2009 is 34,379 and requires $US 8.594,865 for support.

Acute watery Diarrhoea (AWD)

• WHO continues to provide technical support for regions to strengthen surveillance, early warning system, assessment of AWD response, and on job training of health workers to improve the quality of AWD management. WHO continue to support FMOH to determine the gaps for 2009.

• Comprehensive AWD outbreak response, preparedness and prevention training planned by Afar RHB in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF and PSI for environmental health coordinators and IDSR focal person from zone, district and regional health bureau will take place from 19th to -21st January 2009. WHO provided financial support (US$ 7,545.27) for the training and will also send a technical officer to facilitate the training. Emergency drugs kits and funds for training and supervision have been allocated to all regions.

Meningococcal meningitis: This week 7 suspected meningitis cases have been reported from Oromia Zone of Amhara Region and sample have been collected for laboratory investigation still waiting for confirmation. As part of the preparedness for this year vaccines have been distributed to the following high risk regions as follows: Oromia 400,000 doses, SNNPR 400,000 doses Tigray 300,000 doses Amhara 300,000 doses and Addis Ababa 200,000 doses. The vaccines are expiring in January 2010. Medical supplies and drugs have also been prepositioned in these high risk regions. The sum of $US252, 072 and $US113, 159 has been provided to the high risk regions to support the vaccination exercise and training and supervision of health workers. V. Coordination:

• This week, WHO actively participated in the technical officers/UNOCHA, WASH cluster/MoWR, Nutrition cluster and Ethiopian Humanitarian Country Team (EHCT)/UNDP meetings held in Addis Ababa.

• Dr. Anwar Yibrie the NPO nutrition represented WHO for the visit of the Heads of Diplomatic Missions

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of Donor countries and the Representatives of UN based in Addis Ababa to the Eritrean refugee camps at May Ayni and Shimelba in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia from the 14th and 15th January 2009.

Heads of Diplomatic Missions of Donor countries and the Representatives of UN based in Addis Ababa visiting to the Eritrean refugee camps at May Ayni and Shimelba in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia conducted on 14th and 15th January 2009. VI. COMMENTS:

• There is a need for continued monitoring of food security and provision of necessary assistance based on the findings of the multi-agency meher season needs assessment mission.

• The zero report of acute watery diarrhea cases nationally calls for more vigilance and strengthening of prevention aspect in order to ensure full control of the epidemic in Ethiopia.