OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
2 May 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

WABE SHABELLE RIVER FLOODS, SOMALI REGION

The Federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (FDPPC) 
advised last week in a Press Release that assistance is underway to the 
flood affected zones in Somali Region. The worst affected areas are West 
Imi district in Afder zone and East Imi district in Gode zone, after the 
Wabe Shabelle River burst its banks on 23 April. The rains have also 
caused flooding further downstream on the Wabe Shebelle in Mustahil and 
Kelafo districts of Gode zone and in the east of the region in 
Kebribeyah district of Jijiga zone and Kebredehar district of Korahe 
zone. According to reports from the area, to date an estimated 100 
people are unconfirmed dead and many people are missing. Initial 
assessments confirmed over 100,000 people are affected and more than 
50,000 livestock have died. Some areas have not been able to report 
damage yet because of lack of communication. The Regional DPPB has 
requested the FDDPC to provide food and non-food items for an initial 
77,000 people, a figure which may be adjusted as further information 
becomes available. However, transportation to the affected areas remains 
problematic, as the rains have made many roads impassable, with West Imi 
and East Imi currently only accessible by helicopter with carrying 
capacity of only three tons of food at a time. The FDPPC also reported 
that two chartered Antonov aircraft have already started airlifting high 
protein biscuits, shelter materials, jerry cans and household utensils 
from the DPPC stores in Dire Dawa to Gode. The transport of relief 
supplies from Gode to flooded areas has been hindered by the delay of 
fuel delivery for military helicopters. In addition to seven trailer 
loads of shelter items from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa, UNICEF also 
deployed water and sanitation experts to Gode. It is also reported that 
the Fafan River in Kebridahar woreda swept away 200 houses and killed 
many livestock before flowing into the already swollen Shabelle River. A 
team composed of FDPPC, Regional DPPB, Save the Children UK, the 
Regional Health Bureau and UN agencies is in Gode to further assess the 
situation. ICRC is also active in assessing the situation and addressing 
needs. According to local elders, the current river overflow is the 
worst they have seen in 50 years. Meanwhile the regional president 
declared an emergency and appealed for immediate assistance on the 2 
May.

MULTI-AGENCY TEAMS RETURNED

The DPPC led multi-agency team returned from the regions after a 
five-day (20-24 April) mission to re-assess the requirements for 
updating the 2005 Humanitarian Needs. The teams came up with additional 
beneficiary numbers from Tigray, Harari, Oromiya and Southern Nations 
and Nationalities Peoples (SNNP) Regions. The team from Amhara was 
unable to identify the additional emergency needs and the results of 
further field assessments are expected. Findings and updated figures are 
being compiled and will be published in the Flash Update of the Appeal 
on 4 May 2005.

UNICEF EXECUTIVE BOARD DELEGATION VISITS ETHIOPIA

Seven members of UNICEF Executive Board visited Ethiopia from 17-22 
April. During their mission, the team visited two therapeutic feeding 
centres in Derera and Yirba Health Centers in Boricha woreda of Sidama 
zone, SNNPR, where more than 130 severely acutely malnourished children 
are being treated. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, team leader 
Ambassador Andrei Dapkiunas, Permanent Representative of Belarus to the 
United Nations, complimented the collaboration of UNICEF, WFP and the 
Government of Ethiopia on the effective implementation of the Enhanced 
Outreach Strategy/Child Survival Initiative. The Ambassador also noted 
the need to have generous donor support to crises matched with longer 
term development support. The team briefly discussed strategies to avoid 
crises in the future. For more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

APDA CONDUCTS AN ASSESSMENT IN AFAR

Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) conducted an assessment 
to update the current drought crisis and ongoing perception of needs in 
Afar Region in late March. The team reported good rains in all zones 
except the northern and eastern woredas of Eli Dar and Afdera. Following 
the rain, human health is greatly endangered due to rotting animal 
carcasses. The team recommended continued provision of water tankering 
in order to stop people drinking contaminated water. Massive return of 
animals from Cheffa valley was also reported as farming has resumed in 
the valley. For more information contact: afarpda@yahoo.com

UNICEF CONDUCTS RAPID ASSESSMENT IN SNNPR

UNICEF led a rapid assessment with WFP/DPPB and Regional Health Bureau 
in Aleta Wondo, Dale and Shebedino woredas of Sidama zone of SNNPR in 
April. According to the assessment, the food security of the woredas is 
affected by population pressure and density that contributed to scarcity 
of cultivable land. The team also identified water problems and a high 
prevalence of water borne diseases. It is recommended beneficiary 
numbers be revised based on the present situation. The full reports are 
available at www.ocha-eth.org

EFSR STATUS

Ethiopia Food security Reserve (EFSR) reports stocks on hand as of 3 May 
are 119,560 mts, 106,600 mts stock under withdrawal and 178,847 mts 
outstanding loans.

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