OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
13 June 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

NMSA FORECASTS NORMAL ONSET OF MEHER/ KIREMT

The National Meteorological Service Agency (NMSA) presented a synthesis 
of the recent belg/gu rains and a forecast for the next meher/kiremt 
rains. The review of the belg and gu rains confirmed a generally 
favorable season, to an excessive extent in some locations which has 
resulted in flooding. According to the forecast the meher/kiremt rains 
are expected to start within the normal onset periods (by late June) and 
there are enhanced probabilities of better rainfall activities in July 
and August. The seasonal rains are also predicted to perform better over 
the western half than the eastern parts of the country. In addition to 
the natural rainfall variability, below normal rains are predicted in 
pocket areas of the northeast, east and southern highlands and the Rift 
Valley regions.

LOW RESPONSE TO THE 2005 AGRICULTURAL EMERGENCY APPEAL

The Agricultural Task Force reported in its monthly meeting that the 
response to the agricultural requirements with in the emergency Appeal 
has been very low. The task force reported that the response to the seed 
sector was only 11.2 percent (2,020 tonnes) of the total requirement 
(17,975 tonnes). Although the response to the livestock sector is only 
33 percent it is relatively better as compared to the seed sector. 
According to the task force the regional distribution of the seed 
response for Gambella is the highest (41 percent) and for SNNPR is the 
lowest (3.5 percent). Participants indicated that the low response could 
be due to poor reporting system of the NGOs to the task force. However, 
the task force chairman indicated that this will not bring substantial 
increase on the response rate and urged donors to support the sector. 
USAID representatives reported that there is possibility of redirecting 
some funds to the seed sector in Amhara region. The Ethiopian Government 
and humanitarian partners issued a Flash Update to the 2005 Joint 
Humanitarian Appeal for Ethiopia on 4 May.

EARLY WARNING AND RESPONSE: PRESENTATION BY USAID

USAID presented a report on the Retrospective Analysis of the 2002/3 
Crisis in Ethiopia: Early Warning and Response, at the Disaster 
Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) on 31 May. The report is 
an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Ethiopian Early 
Warning system and complements the joint DPPC and partners Evaluation of 
the 2003 crisis presented last year. The major recommendations of the 
report include better collaboration between the actors, the involvement 
of the Ministry of Health in the National Early Warning system, and the 
integration of marketing information in the system.

SC-US CONDUCTS NUTRITIONAL SURVEY IN SHEBIDINO WOREDA, SNNPR

Save the Children-USA, on the request of the Regional Health Bureau and 
DPPB conducted a nutritional survey from 9 -14 May in Shebidino woreda 
of Sidama zone. The survey was conducted in collaboration with ACF, the 
woreda DPPB and Health Bureau and revealed 16.0 percent Global Acute 
Malnutrition (GAM) and 1.0 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with 
0.68 under five mortality rate. The survey indicated that the 
malnutrition rates have increased compared to the last survey conducted 
in April 2004, which showed 7.8 percent GAM and 0.3 percent SAM. The 
increase according to the report is due to recurrent drought conditions 
and absence of continuous relief food distribution.  During this survey 
only 2.6 percent of the 300 surveyed households have received relief 
food in the past three months. For further information contact: 
smhusain@savechildren.org.et

FLOOD IN DOLO ODO, SOMALI REGION

Recent flood waters from both the Dawa and Ganale rivers caused a 
flooding in Dolo Odo woreda of Liben zones, Somali Region. According to 
reports, six people are dead and several others have been displaced. The 
flood was reported to have swept away irrigation pumps and has killed 
hundreds of livestock. Save the Children-UK reported an outbreak of 
malaria and diarrhea and recommended urgent delivery of medicines. A 
multi-agency team consisting of zonal authorities, FDPPC, SC-UK, SC-US 
and other local and international NGOs are in the region to assess the 
situation.

MULTI-AGENCY REASSESSMENT TEAM RETURNED

The DPPC lead multi-agency flood assessment team returned after eleven 
days of visit to the flood-affected areas of Somali Region. Humanitarian 
partners are waiting for their findings to be endorsed by DPPC.

POLIO CAMPAIGN TARGETS 80,589 CHILDREN IN GAMBELLA

Gambella Regional Health Bureau, with the support of UNICEF, carried out 
the second round of house-to-house polio campaign in the region 
targeting 80,589 children under-five from 23-27 May. Preliminary results 
indicate coverage of 91 percent. For further information contact: 
igetachew@unicef.org

HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS CANCELLED

Several humanitarian missions to various parts of the country have been 
either cancelled or postponed due to post- election security concerns.

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