Seasonal Forecast
According to the latest forecast issued by the National Meteorological Agency (NMA), a weak El Niño and above-average sea surface temperatures in the Indian Ocean are expected to prevail from October 2012 to January 2013. Based on this forecast, NMA expects normal to above-normal rainfall and distribution in most parts of the country in the coming bega season (October 2012-January 2013). Between November and January, most parts of the country should see normal to above-normal rainfall distribution, particularly in southern and south-eastern areas. Unseasonable rains are likely to occur, resulting in a generally wet bega season. The normal to above-normal rainfall across southern and south-eastern parts of the country should have a positive impact on availability of pasture and drinking water in pastoralist and agro-pastoralist areas. However, unseasonable occasional rains in areas that are normally dry during this period (belg-marginal cropping areas of eastern Amhara and Tigray, central and eastern Oromia and northern Somali zones) could have limited negative impacts on the harvest and post-harvest activities. In the south-eastern and western parts of the country, un-seasonable rains received in November and December could also affect harvest and post-harvest activities. For more information, contact: dadimoswon@yahoo.com
Relief Food Update
As of September 20, dispatch of the fifth round of relief food aid was 98 per cent complete, while dispatch of the sixth round (targeting 3.8 million people) was 20 percent complete (89 per cent complete in SNNPR, 69 per cent in Amhara, and 11 per cent in Oromia and Somali region). With approximately 56 per cent of requirements identified in the July-August revised Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) contributed, WFP can cover the seventh round, but not more with currently available resources. For more information, contact wfp.addisababa@wfp.org
Nutrition Update
Based on the July update, some 178,371 people received Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) in 141 priority woredas, of which 64 per cent were children under age 5. WFP, in collaboration with regional early warning bureaus in Amhara, Afar, Somali and Tigray covered 70.4 per cent of total beneficiaries in 74 woredas, while the remaining beneficiaries in 67 woredas in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Somali Regions were covered by NGO partners. Overall, a total of 672,486 moderately malnourished children under 5 and pregnant and breast-feeding women were enrolled in TSF programmes between January and July. TSF coverage increased considerably from June (94 woredas) to July, with over 52 per cent of woredas. Along with expansion of the relief food caseload and the start of the green harvest in some belg-producing areas, the TSF expansion is credited with helping to reduce admissions of severely malnourished children to Therapeutic Feeding Programmes (TFPs) from June to July, as reported on 17 September. For more information, contact: isaackmanyama@yahoo.co.uk
Education Update
Noting that current efforts to support emergency education focus on coordination and mobilization of resources for education activities through on-going sectoral interventions, UNICEF reports that it has trained Afar regional and woreda education personnel on Education in Emergencies (EIE), and provided psycho-social training to school directors and teachers. Two schools damaged by high winds have been rehabilitated, and Save the Children UK has provided school furniture and educational materials to Bidu and Yalo woredas. UNICEF also distributed EIE supplies and hygiene kits to flood- and wind-affected woredas in southern Somali Region. Back-to-School campaigns started in the Somali Region with financial and technical support from UNICEF, Save the Children UK, Ogaden Welfare Development Association (OWDA), and other NGOs. Elsewhere, the Ministry of Education has requested Amhara and Oromia regional authorities to establish Regional Task Forces (RTF). EIE activities continue to face challenges related to shortfalls in financial and human resources. Fewer partners than expected are responding in the sector. However, strengthening of national and regional coordination, mobilizing resources for emergency responses and EIE training for RTFs and cluster members are planned. For more information, contact: Eyerusalem.A@scuk.org.et