Malaria worsening due to drug resistance

The fight against a growing malaria epidemic in Ethiopia is being hampered because of a resistance to available drugs, humanitarian agencies warned on Monday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that the parasite’s resistance was “aggravating the epidemic and causing a high death toll".

Malaria is already the third biggest killer in Ethiopia with some 100,000 lives claimed each year. More than 40 million people are at risk.

But UN agencies also warned that a slow response to “unexpected” emergency needs and a "lack of clarity" on who should have access to free drugs were also exacerbating the crisis.

In particular they cited the Southern Nations and Nationalities People’s Region (SNNPR) where high death rates have hit highland areas – traditionally safe from malaria.

They also noted that the emergency had not yet reached its peak, adding that the height of the crisis is expected to occur next month.

The World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the crisis – which comes on top of an unprecedented famine in Ethiopia affecting 13.2 million people – will hit harvests.

“The high risk of malaria in many parts of the country will have a significant impact on agriculture, as the productivity of farmers is affected, as well as the nutritional situation,” said WFP.