MSF is developing a Therapeutic Feeding Programme in Denan, a town in the Gode region of Ethiopia. It is expected the programme will be operational within a week.

The town is located about 1.5 hours drive from Gode. The TFP will consist of a minimum of two Therapeutic Feeding Centres (TFC) to target the malnourished population there. The TFP duration is three months.

There is an MSF team already in Addis who shall head to Denan as soon as possible. Another five expats shall leave from Belgium to expand the team size. Currently in Denan, there is only one Ministry of Health worker. The town has a population of 6,000 people.

In addition, there is an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp about 200m from the town with another 3,000 to 4,000 people. These are largely people who have come to a central location for any possible versus remaining nomadic.

There are six other camps in the Denan district and MSF visited two. The first of two camps is located about 30 minutes from Denan and has a maximum capacity of about 500 people. The situation is considered good and water is being trucked in to supply basic needs.

In the second camp, there are approximately 5,000 to 6,000 nomadic people. There is no substantial male population as they have gone into the bush collecting seeds and incense to sell. Essential goods for the TFP are being dispatched from Brussels.