OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
16 May 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SOMALI REGION FLOOD UPDATE

The Federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (FDPPC) 
convened a Somali Flood Meeting on 9 May with NGOs and the UN to discuss 
the flood response. DPPC preliminary estimates indicate the total number 
affected by the flooding of the Wabe Shebelle river is 23,000 with 95 
confirmed dead in five woredas. The Gode Technical Team (UN, 
International NGOs, regional authorities) who have also undertaken 
assessments since improved road access has been available (about ten 
days ago) report the figure affected to be 107,800 in seven woredas. 
Recent reports estimate the number of people dead to be 154. The DPPC 
confirms that existing food allocations in the 2005 Humanitarian Appeal 
for the affected areas should be sufficient to cover food needs of flood 
affected people. Further DPPC and sector assessments will establish the 
full extent of non-food needs. Immediate concerns are for medical and 
water and sanitation supplies to deal especially with the possibilities 
of malaria and diarrhoea epidemics. The UN is contributing stocks to 
those already identified to be in need. As the water recedes, access by 
road is improving daily but there are some areas that still cannot be 
reached. In villages near Kelafo in Gode zone beneficiaries walk up to 
two hours to collect supplies. Hope for the Horn, a local NGO undertook 
an assessment in Kebribeyah, Harshin, Aware, and Gashamo districts 
identified signs of diarrhoea and urgent need for preventive measures 
against malaria. The Regional Health Bureau has prioritised flood and 
drought affected woredas and subsequently revised distribution plans. 
The bureau also plans to go to Gode next week to conduct training for 
team leaders in the selected woredas on the new anti-malaria drugs, 
treated nets, and comprehensive mobile health packages. In addition, 
UNICEF has dispatched 30 emergency drug kits, 18,000 Insecticide Treated 
Nets (ITNs) and 96 Rapid Diagnostic Test packs to Gode for distribution 
to flood affected areas. UNICEF will also be supporting 15 mobile 
clinics for 15 woredas. More information on the flood is available at 
www.ocha-eth.org

FOOD AND NON FOOD CONTRIBUTION UPDATE

US Government has announced a contribution of 100,000 tonnes of food 
valued at US$ 47 million in response to the Flash Update. An additional 
US$ 2.3 million USAID/OFDA contribution was received for non-food items 
in various sectors. On 4 May the Government and humanitarian partners 
issued a Flash Update to the 2005 Humanitarian Appeal seeking US$ 320 
million, of which 47 percent was already secured.

CARE SITUATION UPDATE IN EAST AND WEST HARARGHE

CARE reports in its monthly Food and Livelihood Security Situation 
Update for April that the food security situation in most reporting 
woredas is relatively normal for the season. However, food security is 
believed to be under threat in Grawa and Kurfachelle Woredas of East 
Hararghe. Scarcity of pasture continues to be of concern in the extreme 
lowlands of Kurfachelle, Grawa and Bedeno woredas. A one-month advance 
Safety Net food payment has been implemented in both woredas on the 
understanding that the required public works would be done later. In 
addition, the entire one-month Grawa Safety Net food budget was 
distributed to only 12 kebeles while other kebeles are in dire need of 
food assistance. Another concern is that the Productive Safety Net 
resource for Grawa is 70 percent cash and 30 percent food. Given the 
continuing sharp rise in the price of food, the cash transfer may not 
effectively enhance the purchasing power of already weakened households. 
In Grawa, 132 severely malnourished children were admitted in Community 
Therapeutic Care programme (CTC) in April, compared to 103 in March and 
25 in February; other indicators of food stress were reported to be on 
the rise. The steady rise in food grains prices in East Hararghe is also 
of concern as is difficulties in implementing the Productive Safety Net 
Program as well as lack of a timely response to the emergency Appeal. 
The situation is reported to be relatively normal for this time of year 
in West Hararghe and other reporting areas of East Hararghe. The full 
report is available on 
www.ocha-eth.org/reports/downloadable/carelivelihoodupdateApr05.pdf

APDA CONDUCTS A FOLLOW UP ASSESSMENT IN AFAR REGION

Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) conducted a humanitarian 
assessment in Afar Region and reported that the short rainy season has 
appeared to have ceased in all zones. According to the report the 
drought situation in the region has improved with the exception of 
eastern Mille, northern part of Dubti and north and east of Elidar 
woredas. In mid April the FDPPC and regional DPPB and Food Security 
Bureau (FSB) scaled up the relief grain distribution in the worst 
affected woredas following a federal and regional assessment. APDA is 
assisting the DPPB and the FSB to assess the situation every fortnight 
and has provided more than 2,000 destitute families in Barahale woreda 
with goats. For further information contact: afarpastoral@ethionet.et

EFGBCDO CONDUCTS NUTRITIONAL SURVEY IN SEMU ROBI DISTRICT, AFAR REGION

Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers Church Development Organization 
(EFGBCDO) conducted a nutritional survey in Semu Robi district in zone 
five of Afar Region in late March. The survey found a Global Acute 
Malnutrition (GAM) of 11.96 percent and a 1.8 percent Severe Acute 
Malnutrition (SAM). According to the survey the malnutrition and 
morbidity rates have increased compared to the last survey conducted in 
December 2004, due to the recurrence of drought and absence of relief 
support. The food security situation is also deteriorating and the 
majority of the community members are surviving by selling their 
livestock. As a result the team recommended an immediate Supplementary 
Feeding Programme and assistance for long-term food security initiatives 
by capacity building offices. For further information contact: 
efg.devt@ethionet.et

NEW UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TAKES UP POST

Ms. Ann M. Veneman assumed the leadership of UNICEF on 1 May becoming 
the fifth Executive Director to lead UNICEF in its 60-year history. 
Veneman, a former US Secretary of Agriculture, was appointed by UN 
Secretary-General Kofi Annan to succeed outgoing Executive Director 
Carol Bellamy. For more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

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