Poor reporting impacts nutritional response Admissions to therapeutic feeding programmes (TFPs) continue to increase in parts of Somali, Oromiya, Amhara and SNNPR, with the increase in Out-patient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) sites and worsening food security cited as among the causes for the enhanced admission rates. The trend is anticipated to rise during the peak of the hunger season in the next two to three months. The continued low reporting rate, delay in supply of Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Food (RUTF) down to the kebele level and inadequate monitoring of emergency interventions are among the outstanding challenges confronting the sector. In SNNPR, children under treatment in Therapeutic Feeding Programmes (TFP) increased by 58.4 per cent from April to May 2009, i.e. from 9,392 cases in treatment to 17,795, with reporting rates increasing, by 15.4 per cent over the same period. TFP admissions also increased in Wagehamra, South and North Wollo zones and new woredas in North Gonder in Amhara Region. In Somali Region, TFP admission increased in May and June, with Gode zone reporting a particularly critical situation. MSF-Belgium is undertaking a rapid assessment in East Imey woreda (Gode) and plans to provide health and nutrition services. In Amhara and Oromiya, monitoring plans and implementation modalities are being developed between Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), UNICEF and NGOs. In Amhara Region, where CONCERN, GOAL, MSF-B, MSF- Greece and SC-UK have been commissioned by the RHB to conduct rapid assessments in hotspot woredas, four of the planned eight assessments have been concluded, with two additional assessments underway. In Oromiya Region, Merlin, CONCERN, CARE, IMC GOAL and Save the Children-US have been assigned to support the roll-out plan with training, supervision and logistical support. During the first two weeks of July, UNICEF dispatched 586 MT of RUTF to malnutrition-affected regions. An additional 890 MT of RUTF is available in Addis Ababa and 698 MT has been ordered but not yet received. For more information contact: [email protected] Disease Outbreaks WHO reports that an outbreak of an unconfirmed illness suspected to be meningitis infected 143 people, with 18 fatalities in two villages in Kelela woreda, South Wollo zone, Amhara Region, between 4 and 21 July 2009. Although the signs and symptoms of the disease include headache, fever, neck stiffness, diarrhoea and vomiting – all related to meningitis – the specific disease has not yet been confirmed. Samples have been sent to the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute for testing. Investigations supported by WHO and NGO partners are in progress. Save the Children UK provided emergency drug kits to neighboring Legambo woreda. During the same reporting period, an outbreak of typhoid fever infected 102 displaced persons, and killed one, in Erob woreda, Tigray Region. The outbreak has been contained and the communities have returned to their areas of origin with the onset of the rains. Meanwhile, according to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), 579 new cases of acute watery diarrhea (AWD), with 11 deaths (CFR of 1.9%) were reported in 29 woredas across Addis Ababa, Somali, Oromiya, Harari and SNNP Regions between 6 and 12 July 2009. The ongoing kiremt rains are expected to further exacerbate the spread of the disease as the number of unprotected community water sources increases. Continuing to support the AWD response, UNICEF is dispatching two CTC kits to Miesso woreda (West Haraghe zone, Oromiya Region) and additional WASH supplies in East Showa zone (Oromiya). UNICEF also provided drugs and materials for CTCs to West Arsi zone. For more information contact: [email protected] & [email protected] Food Aid WFP reports that the Disaster Risk Management Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) has begun allocating the fourth round of relief food in Oromiya, Afar, Gambella, Tigray, SNNPR and Somali (Afder and Liben). Out of the current 5.3 million beneficiaries for relief, 2.3 million will be covered by the Joint Emergency Operation Programme (JEOP) and 2.4 million will be covered through WFP/DRMFSS (in priority one and two areas). Food for the next round of distributions will be available only if new contributions materialize. The fifth round (sixth for Somali Region) will address critical and immediate food needs in August, deep in the hunger season. Between July and September 2009, WFP is expecting the arrival of 224,618 MT of food, out of which 131,131 MT will be used for loan repayments to EFSRA and other projects, leaving a balance of about 93,000 MT for all operations, including food for the relief programme. At present, one ship is being off-loaded in Berbera port (Somalia/Somaliland), while another ship carrying 24,501 MT of wheat is expected to arrive in Port Sudan on 25 July 2009. As of 19 July, WFP stocks in Djibouti stood at 133 MT of assorted food commodities, while a third ship carrying 56,750 MT of wheat is expected to arrive in early August. For more information contact: [email protected] & [email protected] CERF Allocates $6 Million to Ethiopia The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated $6 million to Ethiopia from the under- funded window. The allocation represents the second allotment for Ethiopia in 2009. The funds will be allocated towards the most critical sectors including food aid, health and nutrition, water and sanitation and agriculture and livestock. The CERF funds earmarked for Ethiopia are part of some $55 million in allocations made to support underfunded programmes in emergency situations around the world. For more information contact: [email protected] .