OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
3 December 2004


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DPPC BRIEFS THE FINDINGS OF THE RECENT MULTI-AGENCY MEHER ASSESSMENT

Teams of the multi-agency pre-harvest main season (meher) assessment led 
by the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC), debriefed 
on 30 November. The teams focused on issues affecting expected food aid 
needs. According to the mission findings, with some exceptions, good 
harvests are expected in most of the central and western crop producing 
parts of the country. Production details will be confirmed once the 
findings of the concurrent FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission 
are published, expected by early January. Additional rains in early 
October eased the situation somewhat in cropping areas of eastern Amhara 
Region (except for areas bordering Afar Region) and in the midlands of 
East and West Hararghe. However many lowland areas of the country remain 
of concern, including parts of East and West Hararghe, the Bale lowlands 
and Borena, all in Oromiya Region, and South Omo and lowlands of Gamo Gofa 
in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR). Eastern 
Tigray and parts of Southern and Central Tigray, areas of chronic food 
deficits, have had poor harvests, though the situation is alleviated in 
part by widespread food security measures put in place in recent years. 
Good harvests are expected in the western surplus areas of Tigray. In 
Somali Region, further rain in late November has eased the previously 
critical situation in Gashamo and Aware districts of Degehabour and the 
southern districts of Boh and Geladin in Warder Zone. However, for 
pastoralists who lost a lot of animals in the extended severe dry season, 
even these rains will not relieve a very difficult situation in which 
livelihoods are threatened. Rains have not been sufficient in Denan and 
East Imi in Gode Zone, and needed flooding for agriculture has not 
happened along the Shebele River and rivers in Afder and Liben zones, 
inspite of heavy flooding further downstream in Somalia. There is growing 
concern for conditions in pastoralist Afar region, where the 
June-September rains were very poor, especially in zones 1, 2 and 4. 
Already, unusual livestock movements are taking place much ahead of the 
usual end of the dry season migration. As in other pastoralist areas, the 
most vulnerable will be those who have suffered large animal losses in 
recent years.


LESSON FOR LIFE - CHILDREN TAKE ACTION ON HIV/AIDS

On 1 December, World AIDS Day, millions of children around the world 
participated in a Lesson for Life as part of a massive effort to educate 
children about HIV/AIDS prevention and spur them, their communities and 
governments to accelerate action on behalf of children and young people 
affected by the HIV/AIDS crisis. In Ethiopia, the Lesson for Life involved 
more than 300 schools throughout the country. More than 100,000 students 
spent the day learning facts about HIV/AIDS and teaching their friends and 
communities about it. Children affected by HIV/AIDS are part of the 
solution to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and, with their families and 
communities, can play a vital role in responding to its impact. Where HIV 
transmission has been reduced, the greatest reduction has been among young 
people. The event has been jointly organized by the African Child Policy 
Forum, Christian Relief and Development Association (CRDA), HIV/AIDS 
Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO), Hope for African Children 
Initiative, Plan International, Save the Children, UNICEF and World 
Vision. bkaranja@unicef.org


OXFAM ASSESSMENT MISSION TO AFAR

According OXFAM International which has recently completed an assessment 
mission (22-28 November) to Afar Region, the situation in the region is 
deteriorating due to lack of rain in the communal grazing area. As a 
result, many cattle have migrated to other zones and neighboring Amhara 
region. Livestock diseases and death were also observed. No signs of 
malnutrition was observed among children in the visited areas, even though 
milk production and consumption has significantly reduced that will impact 
on nutrition status. The DPPB/local authorities and few NGOs are 
distributing food (12.5 kg per household per month). 
addisababa@oxfam.org.uk


FHI DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO NEKEMTE HOSPITAL

Food for the Hungry International (FHI) Ethiopia has donated medical 
equipment with an estimated value of more than US$ 76,000 to Nekemte 
hospital. The equipment received from Canada Food for the Hungry includes 
operating tables, hospital beds, wheel chairs, crutches, stretchers and 
mattresses. fhi.eth@telecom.net.et


WORLD VISION TO IMPLEMENT ANTI HIV/AIDS PROGRAMS

World Vision Ethiopia in implementing its vision of a 'HIV/AIDS Free 
Ethiopia' has instituted a full-fledged HIV/AIDS Response Division within 
its organizational structure. Its staff has pledged to make a contribution 
of 1% of their salary every month beginning December 2004 for an 
indefinite period of time. The total monthly amount to be contributed is 
US$ 1,200. wveth@telecom.net.et

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