MEDIA ADVISORY

What: UNICEF purchases the largest Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to treat malnourished children as part of the drought response in Ethiopia and inaugurates a new warehouse in Gerji to manage the supplies.

When: Friday, 22 April 2016, from 11:00 –12:30

Where: UNICEF Warehouse located in Gerji, Addis Ababa. Please note that transportation will be provided by UNICEF. Before departure to the warehouse, all media should arrive between 9:45 - 10:00 to the UNECA compound in Kazanchis.

For the media who prefer to come to the Warehouse, it is located approximately 250m from Meta-Abo Warehouse off Jacros - Salite Mehret Road, Gerji

Maps coordinates if required for ease of navigation: 9.012462, 38.819194

Who:   

H.E. Dr Kebede Worku, State Minister of Health
Ms Gillian Mellsop, UNICEF Representative to Ethiopia
Donors, partners (government and non-government), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the media and other invited guests

Why:

Ethiopia is experiencing one of the worst droughts in decades due to El Niño weather condition which continues to wreak havoc on children’s lives and their families’ livelihoods. According to the latest Humanitarian Requirement Document (HRD) issued this year, approximately 6 million children are at risk from hunger, disease and lack of water. Malnutrition rates have greatly increased – 450,000 children are expected to be treated for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) this year.

Accordingly, UNICEF has procured 543,631 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), one of the largest single purchase in its history which represents 22 per cent of the global order for 2015. This year, UNICEF already procured 73,344 cartons of RUTF out of a global procurement estimated at 565,623 cartons, corresponding to 13 per cent of the global purchase to save the lives of millions of children who are at risk of malnutrition due to the current drought in Ethiopia.

Interviews with dignitaries will be possible

Refreshments will be served