OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia: Flooding in Somali Region
30 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This report is based on information received from OCHA Ethiopia (1)

Situation

1. MSF-Belgium has returned from a field trip to Mustahila and Kelafo. 
Floodwaters have receded in most areas along the river. Isolated pools 
of stagnant water remain and access to various kebeles around Mustahil 
continues to be a challenge as the floodwater has been replaced with 
hip-deep mud. The road to Mustahil, however is now passable. The town 
remains uninhabitable and displaced persons continue to be scattered in 
the hills due to foul sanitary conditions created by the flood 
devastation.

2. The local health centre is reporting increased cases of diarrhoea, 
pneumonia and malaria. UNICEF supported water purification units are 
operational but people are still drinking water from the river as it is 
easier to access.

3. In Kelafo town, life is returning back to normal but people in nearby 
kebeles are still living in difficult to access areas.

National and International Response

4. The Joint UNICEF/Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency/Regional 
Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau ad hoc assessment team to 
West and East Imi woredas has reached the area. The main road is 
passable with four-wheel drive but it is unclear whether trucks could 
manage access. Secondary roads remain impassable.

5. The helicopters have arrived in Gode. A detailed proposal for the 
relief to be supplied by the helicopters is finalised, subject to 
approval from the WFP Aviation Officer.

6. MERLIN's two Case Treatement Centres (CTCs) for Acute Watery 
Diarrhoea (AWD) in West Imi woreda have had no new admission for the 
last couple of days. MERLIN is in the process of deploying a team to the 
town of Jiic in West Imi woreda, to investigate unconfirmed reports of 
deaths due to AWD.

7. UNICEF is searching for an implementing partner to operate two water 
purification storages in East Imi woreda and western Gode zone.

8. The 30.000 mosquito nets underway from Jijiga to Kelafo, Mustahil and 
Ferfer are expected to arrive today.

Footnote:

(1) The information in this document is consolidated from reports and 
field information from a variety of sources including UN agencies, NGOs 
and government partners.

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, Humanitarian Coordinator
    E-mail: fidele.sarassoro@undp.org, Tel. +251-11-544 44 83
  Mr. Paul Hebert, Head of Office, OCHA
    E-mail: hebert@un.org, Tel: +251-11-551 37 25

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