OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Ethiopia's Somali Region: Floods
8 November 2006


This report is based on information received from OCHA Ethiopia .

Situation

1. Although water levels are receding, inaccessibility to flood-affected 
areas particularly Mustahil and Kelafo woredas is still a challenge; 
this coupled with a shortage of fuel is hampering the emergency 
response. The situation is feared to be further exacerbated due to 
anticipated heavy rains in the region. An assessment team led by the 
Deputy Prime Minister reported that Mustahil, Kelafo and west Gode are 
the worst affected areas. In Kelafo 24 out of 30 kebeles are affected, 
while in Mustahil, 20 out of 22 are affected. A total of approximately 
145,000 people are affected in the two woredas. Additionally, reports 
from woreda officials indicate that the overflow of the Genale and Webi 
rivers in Dolo Ado displaced 4,500 people.

2. Livelihoods of farmers in West Gode zone were disrupted as irrigation 
canals were totally destroyed by the floods. This is feared to have a 
longer-term impact on the food security situation. Massive damages to 
farmlands and houses are reported in the same area. Unconfirmed reports 
of water borne diseases, such as diarrhoea, have killed two people in 
East Imi.

3. A joint team comprising Merlin, Mother and Child Development 
Organization and the Ministry of Health, visited the flood-affected 
woredas in West Imi zone. The team visited two villages and reported 
that approximately 800 households have been displaced. Fears of 
communicable diseases are of major concern in the visited areas.

National and International Response

4. The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) is finalising 
the findings of the high-level assessment mission led by the Deputy 
Prime Minister. DPPA will present the findings of the mission to donors. 
Meanwhile, preparations are underway to conduct a joint 
Government/Humanitarian partners flood impact assessment in the affected 
areas.

Gode zone

- An emergency flood taskforce has been established in Gode zone, and 
the terms of reference for the taskforce were finalised on 7 November.

- DPPA dispatched emergency food and non-food assistance by helicopter 
to Mustahil including: 5 qts famix, 6 rolls plastic sheets, 19 cartons 
biscuits, 400 pcs mosquito nets, and drugs for 800 beneficiaries. 
Furthermore, 40 cartons of biscuits, 3 rolls of plastic sheets, 400 bed 
sheets and 200 mosquito nets were dispatched to west Gode.

- Preparation for the distribution of relief items provided by UNICEF is 
ongoing. The items include: 1,000 plastic sheets (4x5m), jerry cans, 
soaps, 1,000 plastic basins, 2,000 plastic plates, 2,000 plastic cups, 
plastic jugs, 1,000 cooking pots, 1,000 aluminium ladles, bp5, 7 
essential drug kits, 1,200 jerry cans, 100 drinking water kit and water 
purification materials.

- OFDA will provide 34 Mt. of Corn Soya Blend (CSB) and also plans to 
provide US$50,000 to IRC for purchase of non-food items.

- DPPA in collaboration with WFP has allocated 2,000 Mt. food for flood 
victims.

- DPPA has dispatched 7,000 qts of food items (cereals, CSB, oil) from 
Dire Dawa warehouse that is expected to reach the affected areas in the 
coming two to three days.

- FAO has allocated US$ 75,000 for the purchase of seed and veterinary 
drugs. In addition, a team comprised of FAO and partners will soon 
depart to the zone to identify intervention areas.

- UNICEF plans to deploy 3 mobile health teams in East Imi, Mustahil and 
Kelafo.

- The Livestock Crop and Natural Resource Development Bureau (LCNRDB) 
provided emergency veterinary drugs.

- UNICEF and the Ogaden Welfare Development Association installed two 
purification water kits in Mustahil and Kelafo.

- Rescue efforts are ongoing in Mustahil and Kelafo woredas using boats 
funded by the Ogaden Welfare Development Association.

Afder zone

- ICRC has committed to provide non-food items from its stores in Addis 
to NGOs that are ready to intervene.

- The Mother and Child Development Organization plans to provide food 
assistance to the affected population.

- Merlin plans to mobilize mobile clinics to treat communicable 
diseases.

Gaps in the response

- Inaccessibility to the affected areas is hampering emergency response.

- Shortage of fuel is hindering airlifting of supplies in the affected 
areas.

- Coordinated rescue efforts should be facilitated and continued 
provision of relief food and non-food assistance should be undertaken.

- Shortage of non-food items are reported in West Imi including plastic 
sheeting, blankets, insecticide treated nets, cooking materials, water 
containers and clothing.

- More consistent coordination and information sharing is required at 
all levels.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org
In case of emergency only:
Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  GVA - Mr. Martijn Viersma
        E-mail: viersmam@un.org
        Direct Tel.+41-22-917 1518
  NYC - Ms. Olla Hassan
        E-mail: hassano@un.org
        Direct Tel. + 1-917 367 4331

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

OCHA Ethiopia
  Mr. Fidele Sarassoro
    E-mail: fidele.sarassoro@undp.org
    Humanitarian Coordinator
    Tel. +251-11-544 44 83

  Mr. Paul Hebert
    E-mail: hebert@un.org
    Head of Office, OCHA
    Tel: +251-11-551 37 25

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -