Following intensive malaria prevention and control measures underaken by woreda health offices, the number of new malaria cases reported in the past week has declined in some areas, like Wondo Genet town, Dalla, Aleta Chuko and Dara woredas of Sidama zone

July 23, 2012
Agriculture Update
Scaling up humanitarian response in key sectors that support food security, including agriculture, remains the priority for both Government and partners in view of the deteriorating food and nutritional security conditions in areas where production has been negatively affected by poor belg (mid-February to May) rains. With the window for planting of long-cycle meher crops (i.e. cereals such as teff, barley, maize, and wheat) now closed in most areas, the focus is on procuring and distributing pulse seeds (i.e. lentils, soy beans, chick peas, haricot beans) to affected farmers. Pulse seeds can still be planted in September in most areas. In pocket areas where meher planting is still viable, long-cycle seed distribution should also be pursued. At present, SNNPR seems to be well covered with various seed and root and tuber crop projects ongoing. The priority areas for expanded agricultural interventions are Amhara and Oromia and, to a lesser extent, agro-pastoralist areas of Somali and some parts of Tigray. At the request of the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), the DRM Agriculture Task Force is establishing two teams to review seed needs, responses and gaps in Amhara and Oromia. The teams will also identify available in-country sources of quality seed in addition to the Ethiopian Seed Authority. For more information, contact: infodrmfss@dppc.gov.et or ocha-eth@un.org
Relief Food Update
As of 18 July, dispatch of the fourth round of relief food (targeting 3.4 million people nationwide) stood at 79 per cent, including 75 per cent dispatched to areas covered by the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), 80 per cent to WFP-covered areas in Somali Region, and 85 per cent to areas covered by the NGO consortium Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP). With allocations for the fifth round (targeting 3.2 million people) now complete for all regions, food dispatch started in WFP-covered areas in Somali (2 per cent dispatched) and for SNNPR (57 per cent dispatched) during the week. The Government and partners earlier agreed that fifth round dispatches would be prioritized for food security hotspot areas, including SNNPR and Shinile zone, Somali Region. For more information, contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org
WASH Update
During the past week, improved rainfall in Hawi Gudina and Burka Dimtu woredas of West Harerge zone (Oromia) has improved water availability. As a result, water trucking requirements in the region reduced from 12 trucks one week ago to three trucks at present. In Afar, requirements increased by one truck, up from 16 to 17 trucks. Trucking requirements for the period from July to mid-October identified in 50 woredas of Somali Region by the regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau (DPPB) are being assessed by partners. In total, 17 trucks are currently operating in parts of the country, including 10 trucks in five woredas of Afar (zones 1 and 2), three trucks in Kumbi woreda, East Hararge zone (Oromia), and four trucks in four woredas of Shinile zone (Somali). However, the NGOs Oxfam GB and International Medical Corps (IMC), which are supporting trucking activities in Somali and Oromia Regions respectively, indicated that their operations will need to stop at the end of the month due to budget constraints. Given the need for continuing assistance in these areas, partners have been urged to step forward to fill the gaps. Additionally, the Afar regional government is supporting two water trucks to address the needs of 2,250 households affected by a recent fire in Afdera woreda (zone 2).
Construction and rehabilitation of water schemes also continues as a priority activity. Nine deep wells and two shallow wells have been rehabilitated by the Government with support from UNICEF in Amibara and Gewane woredas of zone 3 and Yalo, Golina and Awura woredas of zone 4 (Afar), benefiting some 22,000 people. The Somali Regional Water Bureau deployed four mobile maintenance teams to Liben, Kebridehar, Jijiga and Shinile zones to undertake borehole maintenance. For more information, contact: awesterbeek@unicef.org
Health Update
Following intensive malaria prevention and control measures underaken by woreda health offices, the number of new malaria cases reported in the past week has declined in some areas, including in Boloso Bombe and Boloso Sore woredas of Wolayita zone (SNNPR), and Ankasha woreda of Awi zone and Mecha woreda of West Gojam zone (Amhara). However, increasing incidence of malaria has been reported in North Gonder zone (Amhara), Wondo Genet town, Dalla, Aleta Chuko and Dara woredas of Sidama zone (SNNPR) and from seven malaria hotspot zones in Oromia Region, with the highest number of reports coming from East Shewa and Jimma zones.
New measles cases were reported during the past week from Gurage and Gedeo zones of SNNPR. In Oromia, the Regional Health Bureau, with support from WHO, has started preparations to conduct a measles vaccination campaign beginning on 2 August and targeting children in 36 woredas of seven zones in the region.
No new cases of meningitis were reported during the past month from areas of SNNPR affected by the recent outbreak. As a result, WHO has deployed a technical team to conduct a post-epidemic evaluation in the region and confirm the end of the outbreak. The team will also conduct a meningitis outbreak risk assessment in selected hotspot woredas in Amhara, Beneshangul Gumuz and Oromia Regions. For more information, contact: who-wro@et.efro.who.int

Source: http://ochaonline.un.org/ethiopia/Home/tabid/2941/language/en-US/Default.aspx