OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
27 December 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

PASTORAL AREAS ASSESSMENT TEAMS DEBRIEF

Findings from the meher pre-harvest emergency needs assessment in 
pastoralist areas were presented on 22 December. The debriefing focused 
on Afar and Somali regions, with some highlights on pastoralist area of 
Borena zone in Oromiya Region. The performance of the meher (karma) 
rains for Afar Region is reported to be normal in zones 1 and 3, partial 
in zones 4 and 5, and very low in zone 2. While onset, distribution and 
amount of rains were normal to below normal in almost the whole region, 
the cessation took place three weeks earlier than average in all the 
woredas of zone 2, part of zone 4, two woredas of zone 1 (Elidar and 
Dupti) and one woreda of zone 3 (Argoba).  Therefore, overall water, 
pasture and grazing conditions are of concern as they may not be 
sufficient to replenish the stocks and at the same time address the 
needs of the coming months. Most woredas of the zones have an estimated 
one to two months' availability of water and pasture while in zone 2 the 
situation is already described as critical. It was underlined that this 
situation is to be correlated to the cumulative effect of the past 
droughts in the region. In addition, locust infestation had been 
reported to affect the grazing areas in zone 3 and 5. Subsequently, the 
food security prospect for next year in Afar is not promising and 
emergency food assistance could start in the early months of 2006. In 
Somali Region, the meher/deyr rains have been much below normal, with 
late onset, erratic and inadequate amount and distribution in most of 
the region (Degehabur, Warder and Korahe zones). The deyr rains have 
failed in Afder, Liben and parts of Gode zones. Consequences are visible 
especially in these three zones with water shortages and fast depletion 
of pasture due to insufficient regeneration.  Overgrazing is observed 
and some migrations of livestock have been reported, increasing pressure 
on pockets areas where pasture is available (Filtu and Hudet woredas in 
Liben zone). In parallel, confirmed herds migrations from Kenya and 
Somali land to Afder, Liben and Warder zones constitute aggravating 
factors in terms of food security. The food security situation is a 
concern and it has been recommended to ensure a multi-sector approach in 
order to address the emergency needs. Meanwhile the regional DPPB 
reported that a multi-sectoral response plan is prepared and will be 
shared with humanitarian partners in the coming two days. Concerning 
emergency food response, food assistance has recently been allocated by 
the DPPA and is currently being dispatched to the affected woredas. For 
more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

UNHCR TO REPATRIATE 14,000 SUDANESE REFUGEES

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that 
the repatriation of Sudanese refugees from Ethiopia will start as of 
February 2006, with 14,000 registered volunteers. The return process, 
which will be carried out both by road and air, follows the signing of a 
tripartite agreement between Ethiopia, Sudan and UNHCR.  Ethiopia 
currently hosts 73,427 South Sudanese refugees in five camps. In 
addition to providing the 'repatriation package', UNHCR in collaboration 
with donors and development agencies will construct health and 
educational centers to facilitate the reintegration process.  The 
voluntary repatriation exercise is part of the planned return of 500,000 
refugees who fled southern Sudan during the two decades of civil war 
which ended following the signing of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 
January 2005. According to UNHCR, the entire project of repatriating all 
Sudanese refugees from seven African countries, including Ethiopia, is 
believed to take two to three years and a total budget of US $60 
million. Meanwhile, as per the new "cluster" of responsibilities, UNHCR 
may begin to play a role related to conflict induced IDPs for protection 
and coordination of response in 2006. However, Ethiopia is not one of 
the initial countries where UNHCR is piloting such support.  Contact: 
GEGZIABK@unhcr.org

BIRDS TEST NEGATIVE FOR AVIAN FLU

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD) reported the 
results of tests of birds that were suspected of having contracted avian 
flu in Ethiopia came out to be negative. The scientists that came from 
Egypt to carry out the tests revealed that the birds had died from 
Newcastle disease, which according to the United States Department of 
Agriculture is an infectious poultry disease in the world. However, 
MORAD reported that due to the potential threat, the ban on imports of 
all poultry products from high risk areas remains in place. The tests 
were carried out on dead and live birds and chickens from different 
parts of the country including Addis Ababa, Afar, Somali and Oromiya 
regions. In Somali Region, the dead birds, all non-migratory local 
pigeons, were discovered around drinking wells in Degehabur in late 
November. Meanwhile, MOARD has set up bird flu monitoring stations to 
keep track of any suspected cases. It also launched a public education 
programme to raise awareness among the society.  In addition, the 
regional states in East and Horn of Africa are meeting this week to 
coordinate monitoring and develop a response. Ethiopia is one of the 
countries along the rift valley that is at greatest risk of avian flu. 
For more information contact: raey_mulu@yahoo.com

UNICEF APPEALS TO DONORS

UNICEF in its last humanitarian update of the year appealed to major 
donors to fill a US$ 15.7 million gap in funding. The funds will be used 
to address some of the critical child protection issues linked to the 
recent civil unrest and to improve access to clean water in drought 
affected areas particularly in Somali Region. Response to measles 
outbreak in Afar Region and support to outreach feeding centres for 
8,000 severely malnourished children are also other crucial areas to be 
addressed. Almost a year following the Joint Humanitarian Appeal, 
UNICEF's 2005 emergency campaign is still 63 percent short.  For further 
information contact: mapted@unicef.org

NORMAL NUTRITIONAL CONDITION IN DAMOT WOYDE WOREDA, SNNPR Concern 
conducted a nutritional survey in Damot Woyde woreda, Wolayita zone, 
SNNPR from 26-30 November and reports 4% GAM and 0.3% SAM with 0.58 
/10,000/day U5MR.  This normal nutrition condition is attributed to the 
combined effects of good rainfall, satisfactory harvests and effective 
health and food security intervention.  The survey recommends for a 
nutritional survey to be conducted in six month to monitor the situation 
and food security prior to the belg harvest season.

For more information contact: Ethiopia.cd@concern.net

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