East Africa Drought (Ethiopia) - Doctors without Borders 2012 - 1

(December 2011) Ethiopia is still suffering from the effects of the worst drought in sixty years with an estimated 4.9 million people including more than 260 000 refugees requiring humanitarian assistance. In the worst-affected areas in the south and east of the country food insecurity and loss of livestock have led to high rates of acute malnutrition and the devastation of livelihoods particularly amongst pastoralist communities. In addition the influx of refugees fleeing conflict and famine in neighbouring Somalia has further strained the local capacity to weather the drought. With CIDA support Doctors without Borders (MSF) is helping to meet the immediate health needs of an estimated 211 000 Somali refugees and Ethiopian host communities in and around the Dolo Ado refugee camp in the Liben Zone of Somali Regional State Ethiopia. MSF's activities include the provision of emergency medical and surgical services therapeutic feeding for acutely malnourished children emergency obstetric and neo-natal care and the provision of water and sanitation services as required.

Expected Results Include: Improved access to adequate health care including emergency medical services nutritional support and obstetric and neo-natal care for an estimated 211 000 Somali refugees and Ethiopian host communities in south-eastern Ethiopia. The expected intermediate outcome is reduced vulnerability of crisis-affected people especially women and children.