OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
23 May 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Somali Region Flood Update

The DPPC convened a meeting on 16 may to update UN/donors on the recent 
Somali Region flood. The number affected remains unclear with 
conflicting reports of the number in need. Estimates range from 23,000 
to more than 100,000. As a result, the DPPC has decided to conduct a 
re-assessment with the participation of concerned ministries and the UN 
(OCHA, FAO, UNICEF, WHO, WFP) starting from 25 May. The assessment will 
look at water, sanitation, health, agriculture and nutritional needs as 
well as road conditions in the flood affected areas around Gode and 
Jijiga. The regional authorities have 800 tonnes of maize in Gode, but 
lack the means to distribute it. WFP is proposing to take responsibility 
for the maize and distribute it and to reimburse the regional government 
later from other stocks. Apart from security concerns, logistics is 
reportedly one of the main constraints to the relief operation, as the 
DPPB has very limited operational budget in Gode and the road conditions 
are very difficult. UNICEF, WFP, and some NGOs may be prepared to help 
with logistics. The ICRC will airlift Non Food Items (NFI) from Dire 
Dawa to Gode early next week. This assistance will be distributed to 
over 1,000 flood affected families around Kelafo. In the meantime ICRC 
teams continue to assess the humanitarian conditions in areas of 
difficult access around Mustahil. UNICEF has deployed a Malaria Officer 
to Gode to provide a refresher course on the use of Co-Artem to the 
Health personnel of the 15 outreach teams that it is supporting. Recent 
reports indicate that the water level of the Wabi Shebelle river is 
again on the rise especially in West Imey and Abokoro kebele. Following 
a flash flood in Dire Dawa on 21 May, regional authorities report 32 
people to have died. More information on the flood is available at 
www.ocha-eth.org

New displacements due to Conflicts in Oromiya region

The ongoing tribal conflict between Guji and Gabbra in southern Oromiya 
has resulted in massive displacement of people. In April an NGO reports 
as many as 50,000 people in Hagere Mariam, Yabello and Arero have been 
displaced and several thousand huts burnt. The DPPC has sent an 
assessment team to the affected zone but was unable to verify the 
figures because not all affected areas were accessible due to poor road 
conditions and security concerns. There is also a report of an 
additional 7,000 displaced people in the border area of Moyale and 
Borena zones. The displacement in Moyale and Borena is reported to be a 
result of conflict between Oromos and Somalis. According to Somali 
regional authorities the displaced are in need of food, shelter and 
medical attention.

Update from Amhara region

An OCHA team visited South Wello of Amhara Region from 10-14 May. Sayint 
woreda is undertaking both resettlement and Safety Net Programs. 
Although the safety net program officially started in all kebeles in 
February, food transfer started only in late April in most places, but 
was interrupted because of the election campaign. Exclusion of the 
poorest families (landless and female headed households) from the safety 
net program and other local benefits up to now is also a major concern. 
Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) data showed GAM rates which indicate a 
serious nutritional problem. According to the team, the woreda 
authorities requested DPPB/DPPC for emergency food assistance for 22,600 
persons, which represent 10 percent of the population, and supplementary 
food for almost 3,400 children and women. The team also confirmed that 
the belg rains are performing better since mid April. For more 
information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

Measles 'Plus' Campaigns

Following confirmed cases of measles in Afar, Gambella and East and West 
Hararghe zones of Oromiya Region, UNICEF with the Ministry of Health 
conducted an emergency measles vaccination and Vitamin A supplementation 
in Gambella from 25 April to 4 May, targeting 199,582 children from 6 
months to 15 years. Reports from the region showed an average of 68.6% 
coverage (1,642 children were not reached due to security reasons). In 
addition, distribution of de-worming tablets has been included in this 
campaign in response to the poor health and nutritional status of 
children in the region. The campaign in Afar, targeting about 286,700 
children from 6 to 59 months, will commence in the second week of June. 
For more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

UNICEF trains 40 health professionals in Gambella

The Gambella Regional Health Bureau (RHB) requested UNICEF to establish 
a Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit (NRU) to enable an emergency response to 
the high rates of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) reported in the 
region. In response UNICEF held a three day training workshop starting 
16 May in Gambella Hospital on case management for 40 Health 
Professionals. UNICEF also provided therapeutic milk products (F75, 
F100) and malnutrition screening equipment. For more information 
contact: igetachew@unicef.org

Food Contribution Update

The German Government has announced a new contribution of US$ 647,000 
for food in response to the joint Flash Update issued on 4 May 2005.

FAO supporting women in drought affected woredas of SNNPR

FAO is supporting drought affected woredas in SNNPR through a pilot 
project involving vegetable production assistance to 50 women farmers in 
Boricha, Boloso Sore, Kindo Koysha and Omo Sheleko woredas. Training was 
done in two cycles to develop capacity. Each of the farmers cultivated 
at least 12, 8m2 seed beds of five vegetable types (tomato, carrot, 
onion, hot pepper and kale). A recent visit to the farms indicated good 
progress and some had started harvesting and selling the products. This 
project is meant to demonstrate means to improve individual and 
household nutrition status in addition to involving women in the 
development process. For more information contact: fao-ethiopia@fao.org

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