Highlights:
· In 2016, UNICEF has reached more than 1.1 million people with access to clean water through the rehabilitation and drilling of water schemes, provision of water purification materials and through water trucking in the drought affected regions of Afar, Amhara, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray.
· UNICEF is supporting the establishment of 812 additional stabilization centers for the treatment of severely malnourished children and medical complications. To date, 457 new stabilization centers have been established and are functional, with UNICEF providing stabilization opening kits and nutrition supplies.
· In response to the acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) outbreak in the country, UNICEF provided 75 case treatment center (CTC) kits to Addis Ababa Regional Health Bureau as well as to Afar, Oromia, SNNP, Somali and Tigray regions. UNICEF also provided supplies, including essential drugs valued at US$535,415 and covered US$529,610 in operational costs including for training and treatment centers’ running costs.
· In April 2016, the Federal Ministry of Health with support from partners, including UNICEF and WHO, conducted a measles vaccination campaign targeting 25 million children aged 6 months to 14 years plus polio vaccination targeting 16.5 million children under five in all drought affected nutrition priority 1 and 2 woredas. UNICEF facilitated the procurement of 28 million doses of measles vaccines and devices for the campaign that resulted in timely delivery and distribution to health centres.
· UNICEF has procured 177 water tanks for primary schools in Afar, Oromia and Somali regions. As a result, an estimated 58,200 school children have access to clean water in their school premises.
· Following negotiations between the Government of Ethiopia and South Sudan, 91 of the 146 children abducted from Gambella were returned and reunified with their families and communities. UNICEF provided support to the Government in terms of basic health, nutrition and child protection services as well as the provision of non-food items.