29 September 2008

EMERGENCY BENEFICIARY NUMBER REVISED 
The Government has indicated that approximately 6.4 million people will be in need of relief food assistance for the coming months. The number is reported to include 1.9 million beneficiaries in the Somali Region. The 6.4 million is in addition to the 5.7 million Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) beneficiaries in drought affected areas that receive extended assistance (food and cash) for three months. The Government and humanitarian partners are currently revising the Humanitarian Requirements Document of June 2008 to capture the developments.

Heavy rains/Hailstorms 
Hailstorms and heavy rains continue to damage crops. Excessive rains in Gomo Gofa and Welayita zones of SNNPR have destroyed crops, according to WFP. CARE reports that intense hailstorms damaged planted crops in pocket areas of South Gonder in Amhara and Bedeno and Haromaya woredas in East Hararghe, Oromiya. In Haromaya woreda, maize crops have been significantly damaged.   

HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS
Food insecurity 
The combined effects of belg failure coupled with the delayed onset of meher rains and increasing food prices continue to deteriorate humanitarian conditions in some areas of the country. Konso, Amaro and Burji Special Woredas in SNNPR continue experiencing food insecurity and water and pasture shortages, notes WFP. Poor food security situations continue to be reported from East and West Hararghe zones and Dire Dawa. WFP has also reported worsening food insecurity in West Arsi, Bale, Borena and Guji zones of Oromiya Region. There has been serious shortage of water, depletion of pasture and deteriorated livestock physical conditions. Unusual livestock deaths also continue to be reported in some kebeles of Arsi and Borena zones. 

In Somali Region, critical water shortages continue to be reported from Jijiga, Degehabur, Fik and Shinile zones of Somali Region. Large numbers of livestock deaths have also been reported from Degehabur, Fik, Korahe and Warder zones, WFP reports. Continually increasing food prices have degraded purchasing power of the community. People as a result continue to resort to unusual coping mechanisms such as reduction of meals, selling of household assets, collecting firewood and migration to urban areas and food distribution points.  

In Afar, karma rains have improved water supply and pasture regeneration in most parts of the region, Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) reports. Most drought affected people have returned to their localities and milk supply has also resumed at the household level. Nevertheless, some areas including Northern Elidar, Biru, Kori, Konnaba, Berhale, Dalul, Erebti, Mille and Teru woredas remains to be of great concern due to chronic water shortage and significant herd loss. Critical water and pasture shortages have also been reported in Raya Azebo of South Tigray Region. 

Malnutrition 
The deteriorating food security situation continues to impact nutritional status of vulnerable groups in some areas in SNNP and Oromiya Regions.  According to the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU), 2,384 children in SNNPR have been admitted to Therapeutic Feeding Programmes (TFPs) during 12-18 September. In Oromiya, 1,114 children with severe acute malnutrition have been admitted to TFPs during the same period. In addition, ENCU reports that malnutrition in Afar remains worrying and capacities to respond are highly limited. 

Resource shortfalls 
The current shortfall for Relief, Productive Safety Net Programme and Targeted Supplementary Food programmes for September to December totals US$ 223 million or 275,000 MT of food, according to WFP. WFP also reports that September food allocations for both 6.4 million relief and 2.7 million PSNP beneficiaries have been approved. Allocations include reduced rations for all commodities (10 kg of cereals, 3kg of blended food, 1 kg of pulses/300g oil) for relief and PSNP beneficiaries with oils and pulses only provided to those beneficiaries in hotspot areas (priority 1 and 2).   

HEALTH UPDATE 
Active cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) continue to be reported from Amhara (eight woredas), Oromiya (three woredas), Tigray (six woredas) and Afar (two woredas), WHO reports. Emergency Health and Nutrition Task Force partners are advocating for integrated response to the epidemic. Recommended response areas include strengthening case management, provision of water purification products, hygiene promotion and surveillance, reports WHO. 

In response to the flood emergency situation in Gambella, a three days training was conducted on AWD prevention and containment. A total of 38 health workers participated in the training where UNICEF has provided financial support. Moreover, the Regional Water Bureau has distributed water treatment chemicals supplied by UNICEF to Itang, Lare and Abobo woredas.

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