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HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UPDATE
Preliminary Belg. . . .
In SNNPR, poor performance of root crops is
contributing to worsening food security, particularly in Kembata
Tembaro, Sidama and Wolayita zones. In the six belg-dependent
woredas of Southern Zone in Tigray Region, poorly performing rains
have significantly impacted belg harvest. Moreover, near to
total failure of the sugum rains in Afar has reportedly
resulted in serious shortages of water and pasture in Zone 2 and
Zone 5. Meanwhile, the gu assessment commenced in Somali
Region on 22 June.
2009 Kiremt Season. . . .
If the forecast holds, the latest FEWSNET/WFP
food security update indicates that the result would be a second
consecutive season of below‐normal
production in the eastern crop-producing areas. Consequently,
there is a need to closely monitor the performance of the June to
September rains in these areas. The kiremt rains contribute
about 90 to 95 per cent of total annual crop production in
Ethiopia and are critical for the regeneration of pasture and
water in northern pastoral areas.
Continued Break in Relief
. . . .
However, WFP reports that the planned food
allocations will not reach beneficiaries before August unless
transport congestion in Djibouti is immediately resolved. Disaster
Risk Management Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) is working continues
with partners on the availability of trucks and facilitation of
port operation. Moreover, despite the availability of food in the
refugee pipeline, physical stocks are inadequate to achieve full
ration distributions in July and August. WFP is discussing with
UNHCR and the Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA)
on the possibility of reducing rations for July to ensure food for
August distributions. A final decision will be announced next
week.
Influenza A H1N1
. . . .
FMoH is pre-positioning antiviral drugs in 31
selected hospitals and at the Regional Health Bureaus. An
additional isolation unit has been identified at St Paul’s
Hospital in Addis Ababa, with a capacity of close to 65 beds.
Diagnostic laboratories have been strengthened and are now
functioning 24 hours a day. Moreover, additional health staff are
being identified. An interim treatment protocol and use of face
mask and respirators has been developed and communicated to the
regions. The national technical working group is updating the
National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan in view
of the current pandemic phase. Meanwhile, daily coordination
meetings chaired by the Minister of Health are being held at the
FMoH.
AWD . . . .
Moreover, UNICEF pre-positioned eight CTC kits
in Afar, to be used in the event that the current outbreak
expands. To support the response to the AWD outbreak in Afar and
based on the recently developed AWD preparedness and response
plan, UNICEF also dispatched communication materials on AWD
prevention and treatment measures. Meanwhile, with technical
assistance from UNICEF and WHO, the Amhara RHB prepared an AWD
preparedness plan.
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