Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) response in 14 affected woredas in West Arsi zone (Dodola, Adaba, Shashemene town Wondo, and shalla), North Showa zone (Dera, Degem, Wara Jarso and Aleltu) woredas of Oromia Region and North showa zone (Menz lalo, Tarma Ber, Artumafursi and Jile tumuga and Minjar Shenkora) woredas of Amhara region in Ethiopia International Medical Corps (IMC) has been responding to the needs of vulnerable communities who are in the midst of disease outbreak. Acute watery diarrhea (AWD) outbreak is currently ongoing in eight regions: Addis Ababa, Oromia, SNNP, Amhara, Afar, Ethio-Somali, Tigray and Harari, of which 26 zones out of 79 and 196 out of 803 woredas are affected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 9.8 million people live in woredas reporting confirmed and suspected AWD cases. Using the current attack rate of 0.4%, the number of cases is estimated to be 35,600. More than 9,000 AWD cases were reported nationally as of August 2, 2016 and the current case fatality rate is 1.2%. During outbreaks, an estimated 20% of symptomatic cases develop a severe form of the disease – approximately 7,120 people (of the 35,600) will require intensive management in case treatment centers. While outbreaks have been reported in 8 regions (Somali, SNNP, Tigray, Afar, Harari and Oromia regions) and Addis Ababa city administration, it is expected that the peak of the rainy season in August, subsequent flooding and population movement will increase the susceptibility of Gambella and Beneshangul Gumuz. Given the trend of previous outbreaks – 2006, 2008 and 2009, nationwide spread of the disease is possible in the worst case scenario. Particular attention needs to be paid to cross border areas and mobile vulnerable populations. International Medical Corps is currently working in 6 regions targeting 49 drought affected woredas in health nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). The AWD outbreak currently affects 14 woredas in IMC program locations. Therefore, IMC is planning to support local efforts by providing technical and logistical support to fourteen AWD affected woredas a case load of Amhara region (North Showa zone 5 woredas 36 AWD suspected cases and 2 death) and Oromia region, (North Showa 4 woredas 135 AWD confirmed cases amp 3 death) and West Arsi (5 woredas 102 AWD confirmed cases amp 3 death was reported. AWD expansion can be associated to previous drought conditions and subsequent high rain fall, which can contaminate surface water, rivers, ponds and pipe with overflow of sewage in different woredas. In addition, high community mobility to town and city make the outbreak complex and increases chances for further spread. In response to the existing gaps, IMC is planning to reduce the spread of the AWD epidemic by: 
 Strengthening AWD early case detection and treatment capacities
 Strengthening AWD epidemiological surveillance and investigative systems down to Woreda level and,
 Ensure safe isolation and infection control practices in health care facilities. 
Additionally, IMC aims to decrease mortality by:
 Ensuring easy access to health care
 Ensuring appropriate feeding practices for AWD patients,
 Ensuring safe water supply by using water treatment consumables at selected water source to household level and health facility, 
 Engaging with communities to disseminate key hygiene messages for safe storage and handling of water and food and appropriate environmental sanitation and personal hygiene practices, 
 Working to reduce vulnerability to AWD outbreak in susceptible areas, and 
 Prepositioning emergency stocks, conducting contingency planning at all levels and supporting training of community health volunteers, drugs and equipping of rapid response teams. 
. Carry out chlorination of water and treat drinking water sources with residual chlorine with a range of 0.2mg/lt. to 0.5mg/lt (as the major transmission of the disease is unsafe water).