Weather Update One week after the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) officially declared the dispersal of La Niña conditions, the Climate Prediction Centre forecast the development of El Niño conditions during the June to September 2012 period. Contrary to the La Niña, the El Niño conditions are characterized by hot, humid air over the ocean fueling stronger and bigger storm systems. Heavy rain and flooding would be expected across the country during an El Niño. In addition to the physical damage to infrastructure, houses and other buildings and households assets such as planted crops and livestock, outbreaks of water-related disease, including acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), are at higher risk during an El Niño period. On the other hand, the former La Niña, which initially developed in mid-2010, led to the failure of the 2010 deyr (October to December) and 2011 belg (mid-February to May) and gu/ganna (April to June) rains, which resulted in widespread drought across much of eastern last year; as well as the failure of the 2012 sapie (December-January) rains in SNNPR and delayed onset of the 2012 belg rains, which continues to negatively affect food and nutritional security in belg-producing parts of the country. For more information, contact: [email protected]

Health Update One new case of suspected meningitis was reported from woreda of Kembato zone (SNNPR) in the past week, down from four cases reported two weeks ago. Meanwhile, the SNNP Regional Health Bureau (RHB) conducted the opening phase of a mass vaccination against meningitis planned for high-risk parts of the country from 14 to 21 May in Kacha Bira and in woreda in (SNNPR). Also in SNNPR, 13 suspected cases of measles were reported from Sodo Zuriya woreda, , while six cases were reported in Begi woreda, West Wellega zone (Oromia Region). To the east, new cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) continue to be reported in Degehabur zone (Somali Region), where an outbreak has been ongoing since 20 March. In addition, a new outbreak of AWD is suspected in Shekosh woreda, where heavy storms in mid- to late-April damaged water and sanitation facilities. The Somali Regional Health Bureau has deployed a team to Shekosh to investigate the outbreak. New AWD cases were also reported from Bona woreda, Sidama zone (SNNPR). Regional authorities and health partners continue to implement case investigation and management in AWD-affected areas. The Oromia RHB and WHO have trained 47 health focal persons from West Shewa, South West Shewa and Horo Gudru zones on Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM). The SNNP RHB, Regional PHEM centre, WHO and Plan International conducted a similar training for 120 focal persons from Wolayita, Dawro, and Kembato Tembaro zones, as well as Alaba and Basketo special woredas in the past week. For more information, contact: [email protected]

Nutrition Update In SNNPR, admissions of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) to therapeutic feeding programme (TFP) sites increased by 30 per cent from March to April, with a total of 12,518 cases admitted during the month. Overall, the regional caseload for April is of a similar size to that of 2011, although the rate of increase is lower (compared to the 90 per cent registered between March and April 2011) as admissions started to increase earlier and faster in 2012 than 2011. Following the completion of nutrition screening last month, WFP has started implementation of targeted supplementary feeding (TSF) in all 27 priority 1 hotspot woredas in the region. TSF coverage will be expanded to the 16 priority 2 woredas in SNNPR after completion of the nutrition screening that started on 24 May. The Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit projects that the combination of relief food, PSNP and TSF interventions in all priority 1 and 2 woredas in SNNPR is likely to slow the increase in SAM cases in the coming months (June to August). However, as past experience indicates, the caseload is likely to remain elevated for some months before a significant decrease is seen at the beginning of September. For more information, contact: [email protected]

Food Assistance Update Second round relief food dispatches targeting 2.9 million people reached 92 per cent as of 22 May, while dispatch of the third round, which targets 3.2 million people, reached 60 per cent. Humanitarian partners have expressed concerns over the delays in dispatch and distribution of relief food, as each round is meant to be a one-month ration. For example, the fourth round dispatch was initially planned for May, but is now scheduled to start in early June. Meanwhile, WFP has expressed concern over cereal shortages for the fourth round due to pipeline breaks. However, the Government committed to purchase 20,000 tons of cereals to address the shortfall and the fourth round allocation will be a full ration of all commodities. A loan from the Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSRA) may also be arranged should there be further delay in purchase and shipment of additional stocks. As of 21 May, EFSRA had approximately 85,000 tons of stock at hand (uncommitted). For more information, contact: [email protected]

Education Update Flooding in early May in Kalafo woreda, Gode zone (Somali Region) affected the schooling of 3,665 (1,483 female) children in 19 facilities in the area, while some 3,538 (1,254 female) children in Cherati and West Imi woredas, Afder zone, and Shekosh woreda, Korahe zone (Somali) also had their schooling interrupted by storms that damaged schools in the area, according to the results of a rapid education needs assessment by the Education Cluster. In western Ethiopia, one primary school was partially destroyed by heavy winds in Odabuldi-Guli woreda, Assosa zone (Beneshangul Gumuz), affecting 456 (114 female) children. The Regional Education Bureau and UNICEF estimate that the education of more than 8,700 (4,089 female) Ethiopian students living near Tonga, Sherkole and Bambasi refugee camps have been affected by stress on the already-limited capacity of local schools. For more information, contact: [email protected]