U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT BUREAU FOR HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE (BHR) OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA) HORN OF AFRICA - Drought Information Bulletin #6, Fiscal Year (FY) 2000 June 20, 2000
Information bulletins on the drought in the Horn of Africa are currently issued on a monthly basis. Information on the situation in Ethiopia and Eritrea is available in USAID's "Ethiopia/Eritrea - Humanitarian Crisis" fact sheets. Background The Horn of Africa is currently facing a humanitarian crisis of serious proportions, primarily due to a severe drought. The worst drought-affected populations are pastoralists in southern and eastern Ethiopia, southern Somalia, and northern Kenya. Other countries affected by the drought include Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, and Uganda. Conflict and insecurity in many of these countries have exacerbated the current humanitarian situation in the Horn of Africa. Some of the observed impacts of the drought consist of increased stress migration to urban or food secure areas, crop failure, the loss or sale of assets such as livestock, increased food prices coupled with decreased profits from assets, and tensions heightened by lack of basic resources. According to USAID's Famine Early Warning System (FEWS), this year's main rainy seasons began later than usual in southeast Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and the southern half of southern Sudan. On June 7, the United Nations (UN) launched a regional appeal to address the current needs of populations affected by the drought in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, and Djibouti. Priority needs identified in the appeal included food assistance, health initiatives, and provision of clean water. Additional sectoral needs discussed in the appeal were shelter, sanitation facilities, nutrition, livestock restocking, seeds and agriculture, and logistics support. The appeal included new needs arising from a deterioration of the situation in certain areas as well as unmet needs from previously launched, country-specific appeals. Numbers Affected More than 16 million people are currently estimated at risk of food insecurity in the Greater Horn of Africa due to the prolonged drought and ongoing conflicts. The June 2000 UN appeal addresses the immediate needs of an estimated drought-affected population of 13.4 million in five of these countries. By country, the UN lists numbers of people affected at 10 million in Ethiopia, 2.2 million in Kenya, 750,000 in Somalia, 335,000 in Eritrea, and 150,000 in Djibouti. Current Situation Somalia More than 750,000 people remain affected by drought conditions in Somalia. According to the UN, the most vulnerable populations in Somalia are the agro-pastoralists who are dependent on rain-fed crop production, which will not be harvested until August, and those populations already weakened by previous shocks such as displacement and malnutrition. As many as 450,000 additional people are displaced due to fighting among clans, bringing the total affected population in Somalia to 1.2 million. Heavy rainfall from late-April to mid-May alleviated some of the immediate pasture and water shortages, but also caused flash flooding in certain areas of the country. The rains could increase the potential for disease outbreaks. The areas of northern Gedo and Bakool continue to face the most difficult circumstances in terms of water and food security. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) and CARE report total distribution of food aid in May at approximately 3,077 tons through emergency food assistance, food for work programs, and support to social institutions. Insecurity and poor road conditions continue to hamper relief operations. However, FEWS states that persistent efforts by relief agencies to deliver food and non-food assistance in southern Somalia in spite of security concerns have contributed to the current stabilization of the situation in Bakool, Gedo, and Bay regions. Kenya The USG estimates that 3.3 million people are currently affected by drought in Kenya. Low precipitation levels during the main rainy season have contributed to the recent deterioration of the situation throughout the country, with the exception of certain coastal and western areas. According to the Arid Lands Resource Management Project and the Drought Preparedness and Recovery Programme, this deterioration is highlighted by increased livestock mortality rates, depleted water sources, power shortages, and increased prevalence of child malnutrition. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates that the harvest from the long rains will only reach 1.4 million tons compared to an average production of 2.2 million tons during a normal rainy season. FEWS reports that total hectarage planted in the "bread basket" area of western Kenya is currently 40 percent less than the usual planted area. Pastoralists continue to migrate to urban areas in search of assistance. The Government of Kenya (GOK) and the UN issued appeals last week to address the immediate needs of the drought-affected population. The UN appeal calls for general food distribution for 2.2 million people, school feeding for one million children, supplementary feeding for 430,000 pregnant or lactating women and children under 5, and non-food interventions valued at $16 million in the areas of water/sanitation, health, logistical support, animal health, and agriculture. Planned shipments into Mombasa and local purchases for the period June-August total over 40,000 tons. On June 13, President Moi announced a waiver of the 50 percent duty and 25 percent tariff on imported maize intended for commercial and relief purposes. According to media reports, the President stated that the purpose of the waiver was to encourage millers and private traders to import more maize and replenish stocks. This action by the GOK will expedite the transportation process for food assistance from the USG, which will no longer be required to seek separate import duty waivers prior to calling food commodities forward. Djibouti Approximately 150,000 people, one-sixth of Djibouti's total population, are currently affected by the drought. The UN states that the affected population could increase to as many as 200,000 people if rain does not arrive before September of this year. The main priority identified by the Government of Djibouti is to increase national capacity to distribute food and water to nomadic populations who are not located near urban centers and are therefore unable to access easily emergency relief supplies. The number of refugees entering Djibouti to flee the war with Ethiopia is also expected to increase in the near term. Sudan Of the estimated population of 2.8 million who are food insecure in Sudan, approximately 61,700 people are affected by drought conditions. The remainder of this population is displaced or affected by the ongoing civil conflict. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent influx of approximately 85,000 Eritrean refugees into eastern Sudan due to renewed hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Reports indicate that recent rainfall in Sudan has been good overall and has improved vegetative conditions in many areas. However, some areas of Eastern Equatoria, Jonglei, and Upper Nile received below average precipitation. Pockets of food insecurity continue to exist, particularly in the areas of Eastern Equatoria, Bahr-El-Ghazal, and Upper Nile. The health and nutrition situation for some of the internally displaced populations in these areas remains precarious, in part due to insecurity and lack of access. These isolated populations will most likely need food assistance at least through September of this year. USG Assistance Somalia - To date in FY 2000, USAID/OFDA has committed approximately $8 million in emergency water, health, nutrition, and logistical support programs in response to the current drought and complex emergency in Somalia. Programs that have been funded since the last information bulletin are described below. - USAID/OFDA has committed $308,000 to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to fund improvements to the Bossassa port. These improvements will increase the port's capacity to receive emergency food and non- food relief commodities. - USAID/OFDA awarded a grant of $600,000 to UNICEF to support a water program in Bakool region to benefit more than 47,000 people. Planned activities for the program include rehabilitation of boreholes and wells, latrine construction, and training in basic health and sanitation issues. - Norwegian People's Aid received a grant of $523,000 from USAID/OFDA for water and sanitation interventions that include rehabilitation of water sources and the establishment of a revolving fund for spare parts for water sources. This program will increase the water supply for an estimated population of 51,000 people located in 20 villages in Sool region. - USAID/OFDA has provided $170,000 to Aktion Africa Hilfe for a health program in Bari region. The program will increase immunization coverage in the area and provide basic maternal and child health services to 44,000 beneficiaries. - International Medical Corps (IMC) has been awarded $1.2 million by USAID/OFDA to continue its provision of basic health care to an estimated population of 900,000 people in Bay and Hiraan regions. - USAID/OFDA has contributed approximately $1.9 million to two UN agencies, including $370,000 to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization for a two-year nutritional surveillance program. The remaining $1.55 million has been provided to UNICEF for airlift support for transport of emergency commodities and relief personnel. - Emergency Food Assistance: In CY 2000, the USG is providing 24,000 tons of emergency food aid valued at $14.6 million to populations affected by drought and inter-clan fighting. Kenya - USAID/OFDA has provided approximately $2.5 million in response to the drought in Kenya. Recently funded initiatives are as follows. - USAID/OFDA is providing $1.1 million to UNICEF for a nutrition program to benefit an estimated population of 99,000 children. This program will provide essential drugs and supplementary dry rations to malnourished children in the districts of Turkana, Moyale, Mandera, and Marsabit as well as in marginal agricultural areas. - USAID/OFDA is providing $622,000 for rehabilitation of boreholes and support for water source management systems in Mandera district. - USAID/OFDA has committed approximately $348,000 to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) to train paraveterinarians, provide essential medicines to improve animal health, and rehabilitate water sources in Marsabit district. This intervention will benefit an estimated population of 42,000. - Emergency Food Assistance: The USG plans to provide 49,297 tons of emergency food commodities valued at $22.3 million to Kenya in FY 2000. This amount includes 33,397 tons earmarked for drought related needs and 15,900 tons targeted to refugee populations in Kenya. - A ship transporting 20,000 tons of corn procured by USDA is currently scheduled to arrive in Mombasa on June 28. Djibouti: - In response to the initial disaster declaration, USAID/OFDA provided $25,000 through the US Embassy/Djibouti to Caritas for a supplementary feeding program to benefit 1,500 malnourished children. - On June 12, USAID/OFDA committed $50,000 to purchase spare parts for trucks and water tankers to enhance the capacity of Djibouti's National Office of Assistance to Refugees and Disasters (ONARS) for emergency water supply and food distribution. - Emergency Food Assistance: For CY 2000, the USG has pledged 2,765 tons of emergency food aid valued at $1.6 million to Djibouti in response to the drought. This food assistance is scheduled for delivery in country by the end of July. Sudan: - The USG plans to provide 114,830 tons of emergency food aid valued at approximately $67.3 million to drought and war affected people in Sudan. The bulk of this assistance is earmarked for victims of the civil conflict. However, an estimated 1,700 tons is intended to benefit drought-affected populations. Partially in response to the recent influx of Eritrean refugees into eastern Sudan, the USG recently increased its planned emergency food aid by an estimated 50,000 tons. USAID/BHR/OFDA Assistance to the Horn* $ 25,000,000 USAID/BHR/FFP/ER and USDA humanitarian food assistance to the Horn $413,800,000 Total USAID and USDA humanitarian assistance to the Horn* $438,800,000 * All funding figures are approximate for FY 2000 to date. This figure does not include USAID/BHR/OFDA's support during FY 2000 for the complex emergency in Sudan. USAID/BHR/FFP and USDA figures include emergency food assistance to both drought-affected persons and IDPs/war-affected populations, but do not include food aid provided to development programs. All funding figures for USAID/BHR/OFDA, USAID/BHR/FFP/ER, and USDA include assistance to Ethiopia and Eritrea. distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -