| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
DPPC reported that the situation throughout the country is getting worse. Central, Eastern and Southern zones of Tigray are severely affected; in some areas 90-100% of crops are damaged and used for fodder. Signs of malnutrition and migration of people are reported from different parts of the country. In pastoral areas although the rainy season is finished, livestock started to migrate in search of water and pasture. The water shortage is critical in zones 2, 4 and 5 of Afar region.
A funding agreement is signed today between Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and WHO to implement a project proposal called health interventions in drought affected areas of Ethiopia. NAROD allocated US$ 1.3 million to cover the costs of maintenance of non-functioning water supply system and quality control of water, procurement and distribution of emergency health kits, measles vaccination and vitamin A supplementation campaigns in drought affected areas of Ethiopia. WHO expressed its appreciation as the funds came at the right time to address the crisis. WHO will closely work with relevant government offices to implement the intended activities.
20,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets will be distributed next week in the drought-affected areas of Oromiya (Eastern and Western Hararghe, Bale and Borena), as well as anti-malaria drug kits through a donation to UNICEF by the Norwegian Government. An additional 40,000 nets were distributed this week to seven woredas in all zones of Afar as part of UNICEF's regular malaria programme. An orientation and training of trainers on malaria was conducted in Afar from 5 November for 110 health workers and other partners, focusing on promotion of mosquito net use to protect communities against malaria, particularly for pregnant women and children under five.
The Japanese Government has donated to UNICEF 1,000 foam mattresses and 1,000 bed sheets to be used for therapeutic feeding in Eastern and Western Hararghe. The supplies were delivered to drought-affected areas this week.
Efforts are being made by regional, zonal and woreda authorities in West and East Hararghe zones to improve targeting and distribution system as a whole. To assist this, WFP training for woreda and zone officials and NGOs to improve the food distribution, warehouse management, disaster management, beneficiary lists and general commodity management will be given in West Hararghe on 25-27 November (training has already been conducted in East Hararghe 9-11 November). After a Training of Trainers for NGOs on the National Targeting Guidelines in December (supported by WFP and implemented by the National Targeting Steering Committee specifically SCUK) a more in-depth training by CARE on targeting issues will take place in West and East Hararghe in coordination with DPPC and WFP.
UN-EUE staff traveled to Afar region from 10-13 November to assess the drought situation in parts of the region. The team visited settlements along Afdera road (zone one and two) where water and pasture stress was witnessed as well as Chiffra area which had better conditions. Pastoralists in the area explained that the scarce main rains this year resulted in shortage of water for both human and animals resulting in earlier migration than normal to search for better pasture and water. Those who have not yet migrated are relying on water trucking. Additionally, water contamination is a prevalent problem as many pastoralists are mixing human and animal water consumption resulting in deaths most likely due to water borne disease. Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) and World Vision (WVE) are providing water tankering to many worst affected areas. The details of the visit will be issued in the upcoming EUE's Focus on Ethiopia report.