EMERGENCY WHO AND HUMANITARIAN ACTION (EHA) Country Office WEEKLY UPDATE /

Ethiopia

Addis Ababa ECA New Building Ground Floor

World Health Organization (WHO) Week 11 (10 t0 16 March 2008) Emergency and Humanitarian Action (EHA)

- Cases of diseases with epidemic potential such as meningitis, diarrheal diseases and measles are currently being reported from Ethiopia

- The main challenges in remains the provision HIGHLIGHTS of humanitarian assistance in the five military operation zones.

- Humanitarian assistance to the population in the drought affected areas of is still not fully addressed: 12,227 out of 58,000 animals in need received feeds and 103,355 out of 165,492 people in need benefited from water supply.

Ethiopian Profiles I. DISEASE OUTBREAK SITUATIONS IN ETHIOPIA

Location: Horn of Africa Population: Approx. 80,000.000 Meningococcal Meningitis Situation in Ethiopia Surface: 1.1 million sq km Capital city: Addis Ababa ⇒ Following the meningococcal meningitis cases recorded in many districts in Ethiopia, some Regions: 9; City Administrations: 2 regional health bureaus (RHB) such as Oromiya and SNNPR have decided to conduct con- Refugees: 85,965 tainment vaccination exercises in some affected and surrounding districts. IDPs: 300,000 to 400,000 ⇒ Oromiya RHB plans to conduct the vaccination in two districts ( and ). Cur- rently the region has 100,000 doses of meningococcal meningitis vaccines and expects to Ethiopia have 70,000 additional doses from the central level to cover the need of both districts. ⇒ During the first two months of 2008 there were 89 sporadic cases and 5 deaths reported from 16 districts: 8 districts of SNNPR, 5 districts of Oromiya Region and 3 of Afar Region.

⇒ In supporting the Ethiopia preparedness and response plan costing USD28,000,000.00, WHO is expecting USD 1,983,000.00 from DFID and USD 4,000,000.00 from CIDA Can- ada. The funds will be used to procure vaccines drugs and other supplies and support the operational cost for possible mass vaccination campaign in some identified districts. DFID Map of Africa showing Ethiopia has already signed with OCHA and WHO is waiting for final agreement and fund transfer. Currently discussions are on going between WHO and CIDA to secure additional funds.

Reports on other diseases with epidemic potential

Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD): The team deployed from Regional Health Bureau (RHB) with the support from WHO to investigate the suspected cases of AWD in Liben Zone of Somali Region has not yet returned.

Measles cases in Ethiopia: Six measles outbreaks has been recorded in Ethiopia from January 1, Difficult Situation for human and to February 22, 2008, with 1,201 confirmed cases (96% epi linked cases and 4% laboratory) out animals in Borena Drought Areas of Oromiya Region / Ethiopia of 1,426 suspected cases. Five out of the six outbreaks occurred in Oromiya Region.

Page 2 II. SOMALI EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Humanitarian Situation in Somali Region

⇒ The main challenges in the health sector have been ensur- ⇒ In addition, ing that health services are available throughout the mili- suspected tary operational area. cases of acute ⇒ In many places health services ceased to function due to watery diar- mainly abence of professional health staff and lack of rhea (AWD) drugs and medical supplies. and measles ⇒ Some health facili- outbreaks ties are in aban- have been doned villages due major chal- to the conflict and lenges in the other facilities are Somali Re- occupied by other gion. Cur- Children are the first victims of the current crisis in entities. According rently AWD Somali Region to the 2007 RHB cases are re- health inventory, ported from Liben Zone of Somali Region bordering only 44% of health . facilities are func- Population flying from Military Operation ⇒ The malnutrition rate in the five zones under military tioning in the re- Zones in Somali Region operation is not clearly known due to major constraints gion: 201 out of 457 health facilities. to undertake nutrition surveys and assessments.

Response to Somali Humanitarian Situation

⇒ Since the beginning of the humanitarian assistance in So- ⇒ The first emergency mali Region in November 2007, only 40 percent of the response was initi- health facilities are restocked to date by the FMoH, RHB, ated in November UNICEF and WHO. 2007, when FMoH, ⇒ UNICEF and the RHB have deployed 14 comprehensive RHB, UNICEF and mobile health teams for 12 months. The teams provide WHO restocked basic heath care to the population in pastoral and some more than 100 military operation areas. health facilities. ⇒ In Somali This included emer- Region Health gency drug kits, Extension medical equipment, Workers nutrition products (HEWs) are and water treatment being de- chemicals. ployed by the ⇒ Even though these FMoH in facilities had the One of the Drug Stores from Health Fa- many health supplies required, cilities restocked by WHO in Somali Region posts. and some have be- ⇒ Despite gun providing essential health, nutrition and WASH ser- good pro- vices, major challenges remain in ensuring access to peo- Health Extension Workers (HEWs) deployed in Somali gresses ple in need. Region by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) in Action achieved in ⇒ Dr. Nde D. Francis, international consultant was assigned restocking to Somali Region (Jijiga) for 3 months from this week. key health facilities, deployment of 14 mobile teams, ac- ⇒ Currently WHO is still maintaining seven (7) national cess to basic health care to all and nutrition surveillance staff in Somali Region providing technical support to the remains the main challenges in Somali Region. regional, zonal and district health offices.

EHA Ethiopia Weekly Update –Week 11 / 2008

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III. DROUGHT SITUATION IN ETHIOPIA

General Situation

⇒ Records from the disaster prevention and preparedness ⇒ According bureau (DPPB) of Oromiya Region shows that the number to DPPB of of affected population in the 8 districts has increased from Oromiya 88,000 to 263,500 people. There are 21,000 affected people Region, in Dilo district; : 36,600; Miyo: 27,000; : the main 45,000; Dhas: 20,000; : 46,000; Yabello: 40,000 and needs of 30,000 affected people in district. the af- ⇒ Also reports from the fected region indicate that live- population stock deaths continue to are water increase on daily basis. supply, There were approxi- provision mately 16,206 animals animal Livestock in Borena Zone without animal feed and mainly cattle, cows and feeds, re- water calves which have died stocking of from early January to Thousand of animal died daily basis in health facilities with essential drugs and medical supplies March 2, 2008. Borena Zone and monitoring of animal and human health.

Response

⇒ The 4th Borena zone emergency coordination meeting ⇒ Currently Danish Church Aid is ensuring water supply to was held in the zonal’s capital city of Yabello on 6th of 2,700 households in Borena Zone. March 2008. WHO was represented by Dr. Amanu Gisso, ⇒ Norwegian Church Aid supports water supply in Liben a National Consultant district of . ⇒ Many assessments were conducted by the Regional gov- ⇒ Oxfam USA is undertaking water tinkering programme in ernment to identify the requirements within specific sec- Dhas and Dilo districts. tors. ⇒ GOAL has deployed 2 truck to Dhas district to facilitate ⇒ The regional disaster prevention and preparedness bureau water tankering activities. (DPPB) distributed 621 MT of hay for 5,920 heads of cattle ⇒ So far 103,355 out of 165,492 people in need benefited in Moyale and Miyo districts. from water supply at the rate of only 0.4 to 1.4 litters per ⇒ CARE using fund from ECHO person and per day. has provided 80 MT and 2.5 MT of local produced therapeu- ⇒ Drugs and medi- tic food to Moyale district. In cal supplies pro- addition CARE distributed 900 vided to the RHB MT of hay and concentrated last December animal feeds for 9,200 heads of by WHO is being livestock in Dhas, Dire Miyo Animal feed supplied to Miyo allocated to the District by CARE and Moyale districts. zone ⇒ World Vision is implementing an emergency livestock ⇒ Finalization of programme in Borena Zone. agreement be- ⇒ To date 12,27 out of 58,000 animals in need received feeds tween UNOCHA in 19 selected sites. Save the Children US is currently feed- and WHO in WHO Staff discussing with GOAL Project Man- ing 3,000 cattle in two districts since Feb. 08. order to release ager of Borena zone on drought issues ⇒ The Liben Pastoral Development Association is undertak- USD 700,000.00 ing one month water tankering intervention in the Liben to undertake measles vaccination campaign in Guji and district of guji Zone, which will phase out shortly. Borena zones is in progress

EHA Ethiopia Weekly Update –Week 11 / 2008

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V. COORDINATION

WASH Emergency Response Review Meeting ♦ Familiarize with the 2008 WASH emergency prepared- ⇒ The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) in collabora- ness and response plan; tion with UNICEF has organized the water, sanitation and ♦ Develop regional action plan for coordination and pre- hygiene (WASH) emergency response review meeting at paredness. town in Ethiopia from 12th to 14th of March ⇒ There were 40 participants nationwide. Participants were 2008. from federal ministries and regional bureaus of the ⇒ The objectives of the meeting were to: MoWR and Ministry of Health; regional disaster preven- ♦ Review the 2007 WASH response and draw lessons from tion and preparedness bureau; NGOs and UN agencies area of challenges and weakness and share good practices (UNICEF, UNOCHA and WHO). WHO was represented amongst regional bureaus and NGOs staff; by one participant.

VI. COMMENTS

Drought Situation in Borena Zone ⇒ Reports in Borena zone indicate that populations have move to river side to access water. In addition there is no provision of water purification products to the population in Borena zone. In that case the suspected cases of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) currently reported from Liben zone of Somali Region bordering Borena zone remains a real threat for the Borena population currently using river water. ⇒ In order to avoid the occurrence of AWD out-break amongst the population of Borena zone, there is urgent need of provision of water purification products followed by social mobilization.

⇒ Currently WHO is advocating for funding implementing partners ready to undertake WASH interventions includ- ing provision and promotion of water purification prod- Water from river used by all (human and animals) and for all ucts in Borena zone. (drinking, washing, and other needs in Borena Zone

For more information please contact: WHO Country Office, Addis Ababa / Ethiopia Tel: (+251) (0) 115 53 47 77 / 53 15 50 Email: [email protected]

EHA Ethiopia Weekly Update –Week 11 / 2008