OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
21 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ITALY TO GIVE TWO MLN EURO TO THE APPEAL

The Italian Government has announced it will provide two million Euros 
to the DPPC in response to the 2005 Humanitarian Appeal. E1.5 million 
will be used for local purchase of maize, wheat and sorghum, while the 
remaining E500,000 will go to the procurement of rice in the 
international market. The Appeal seeks 387,482 tonnes of food valued at 
approximately US$ 159 million for the estimated 2.2 million needy 
people, and US$ 112 million of non-food assistance. For more information 
contact: ambasciata.addisabeba@esteri.it


HUMANITARIAN UPDATE

There are concerns about deteriorating humanitarian conditions in pocket 
areas of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), 
Oromiya and Somali regions. Humanitarian partners and WFP field monitors 
report signs of increasing food insecurity, and the situation is being 
closely monitored. Rains have been received in Jijiga zone, Somali 
region in recent days, potentially easing water shortages experienced in 
the area, but continued monitoring is required of the onset of "gu" 
rains, which normally start at the end of March and continue until the 
end of April.  In Afar, rains were received in zones 3, 4 and 5 but as 
these are not the most affected areas of the region in terms of food 
insecurity, there remains concern and close monitoring of the northern 
parts of the region is needed.

DPPB CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION IN BORICHA, SNNPR

The SNNPR DPPB has called for immediate intervention by the zonal 
authority and partners to avert a humanitarian crisis in Boricha woreda, 
Sidama zone. The woreda's Early Warning Department has reported that 
40,000 people are in need of emergency food assistance and 36 kebeles 
out of the 49 kebeles are exposed to the crisis. The DPPB says serious 
cases of malnutrition have been observed in the woreda and up to 6,000 
children have dropped out of school. The woreda's maize harvest, which 
failed due to the very poor belg rain last year has caused critical food 
and water shortages. The DPPB urgently requests supplementary food and 
water supplies to address immediate needs. WFP targeted supplementary 
rations were distributed to malnourished children under-five, pregnant 
women and nursing mothers in February, based on nutrition screening, and 
the next round of targeted supplementary rations is scheduled for April. 
Means of providing additional supplementary food are currently being 
explored as a matter of urgency. While the Federal DPPC has allocated 
emergency food for Boricha for March, much of the population in this 
woreda is to be addressed through the Productive Safety Net Programme 
and no transfers of cash or food have taken place in this woreda so far.

SERIOUS MALNUTRITION IN MEDA WELABO, OROMIYA REGION

Preliminary findings from a recent malnutrition survey by Ethiopian 
Evangelical Church of Mekane Yesus (EECMY), Oromiya DPPB and Oromiya 
Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit, in Meda Welabo woreda, Bale Zone 
indicates serious malnutrition among children. The Global Acute 
Malnutrition (GAM) was 14.1 percent with aggravating factors on children 
under the age of five. The team recommended the start of a targeted 
supplementary feeding program and measles vaccination campaign with 
Vitamin-A supplementation for all under five children. For more 
information contact: solomone@eecmy.org

SAFETY NET PROGRAMME UNDERWAY

The Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP), which aims to assist up to 5 
million chronically food insecure people through cash or food transfers 
in 2005, officially started in mid-February. External financing 
resources have been transferred from federal to regional authorities. 
Community works of the PSNP are underway in many areas but most areas 
have not made food or cash transfers to beneficiaries so far. If 
substantial transfers can be effected from the end of March, food 
security conditions should improve considerably in the chronically food 
insecure areas under the PSNP. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

WORLD VISION CONDUCTS FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT IN TSAEDA EMBA, TIGRAY 
REGION

World Vision in collaboration with the local health and agricultural 
offices conducted a food security assessment in Tsaeda Emba district of 
Tigray Region in January to assess the current food security situation. 
The assessment report shows the performance of food crops was reportedly 
lower than the expected production due to late onset and early cessation 
of the Meher rain. The assessment concluded that there is a food 
shortage in the area and the situation needs relief and close 
monitoring. Tsaeda Emba district is one of the vulnerable districts of 
the country that suffers from recurring food shortages. For more 
information contact: wveth@telecom.net.et

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