OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
24 October 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Rain Delays Threaten Borena Pastoralists

CARE Ethiopia in its flash report indicates delays of the short rains 
(mid-September to end of November) in significant parts of Dire and 
Teltele woredas and erratic in parts of Yabelo woreda in Borena zone, 
Oromiya Region. The overdue and erratic rainfall have aggravated the 
scarcity of pasture and water caused by poor rains from previous 
seasons. In addition, pastoralists displaced due to the recent 
Borena-Gabra conflict on the Ethio-Kenyan border have placed further 
pressure on the already depleted resources. CARE reports that livestock 
from Dire and Teltele woredas are migrating to Yabelo woreda where the 
situation is better. If the situation continues, conflict over natural 
resources could breakout. An increase in malnutrition and death of 
livestock is also expected. CARE is currently engaged in discussions 
with local partners and communities on appropriate mitigation measures. 
For more information contact: care.eth@ethionet.et

Concerns about food security situation in Kedida-Gamela district, SNNPR

A WFP team visited Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region 
(SNNPR), in mid October and reported improved conditions in Dale woreda 
of Sidama zone. However, the situation in Kedida-Gamela woreda and in 
the lowland parts of Angacha woreda is of great concern. The food 
security situation has deteriorated as a result of crop failure 
following poor belg season in that area and has been aggravated by no 
relief food distributions since July in many woredas. Food from federal 
authorities was put on hold for much of the region as it had not fully 
accounted for utilisation of previous allocations. A request for urgent 
emergency food allocations to these areas has been submitted to the 
Federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) and it is 
expected that allocations will be transported as a matter of priority. 
For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

UN volcano mission returns, Afar region

The Afar regional DPPB has issued an emergency request for food and 
non-food items for an additional 5,472 people affected by volcanic 
activity of Mount Erta Ale in Teru woreda on 24 September. DPPC 
previously responded with food and non-food items for more than 6,000 
affected people by the activities, and emergency distributions are 
reported to be ongoing. However, a UN inter-agency team (FAO, WFP, OCHA) 
that assessed the situation in Megella woreda of zone two and in Teru 
woreda of zone four reports only 600 people are affected. The team 
reported that even though the response was rapid and sufficient, food 
and non-food items has only been received in two out of the four 
affected kebeles, namely Debuho and Boyano kebeles in Teru woreda. The 
planned relocation of vulnerable Peasant Associations is awaiting advice 
from the British study team that is currently in the area. Meanwhile 
mild earthquake activities have been reported in Assaita last week. 
Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org & ocha-eth@un.org

NUTRITION SURVEY AND RAPID ASSESSMENTS IN ZONE TWO OF AFAR REGION

GOAL Ethiopia recently conducted a nutritional survey in Ab Ala woreda 
and rapid assessments in Dallol, Erepti and Berhale woredas of zone two 
in Afar Region. The survey results in Ab Ala show a 13.6% Global Acute 
Malnutrition (GAM) and 0.5% Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with the 
presence of aggravating factors. The objective of the survey was to 
evaluate the impact of GOAL's three month Supplementary Feeding 
Programme that recently concluded in the woreda. It found that the 
nutritional levels have not improved in the last three months (13.5% GAM 
and 0.4% SAM). GOAL's Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) results in 
Dallol and Erepti woredas revealed that 1.9 % and 0% of the children are 
Kwash (severely marasmic) in the woredas respectively. However, the 
situation is bad in Berhale where GOAL found 3.6% of the children to be 
Kwash. The sample taken for each woreda was 100 children. GOAL is now 
conducting a nutritional survey in the woreda. For more information 
contact: santiagoc@goalethiopia.com

Sc-US conducts nutritional survey in Silti Woreda, SNNPR

Save the Children USA conducted a nutritional survey in Silti woreda of 
SNNPR from 19-23 August. The survey indicates poor malnutrition with a 
8.6% GAM and a 1.2% SAM with the presence of aggravating factors. The 
Vaccination coverage and level of Vitamin A supplementation for children 
under five is very good in the woreda, but poor belg harvest coupled 
with inadequate and unorganised relief aid caused the situation. The 
survey recommends coordinated and organised food distributions through 
all programmes and safe and adequate water supplies. Contact: 
ussave.children@savechildren.org.et

EOS IN OROMIYA - PRELIMINARY SCREENING RESULTS

The first round of the Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) was completed 
last month in 28 woredas of Oromiya Region by the Regional Health Bureau 
with UNICEF's support. Preliminary results show 770,297 children under 
five years (97.7% of target) received Vitamin A supplementation; 669,626 
(96% of target) de-worming tablets, 768,357 (97.5% of target) were 
immunized against Measles and 898,466 (94% of target) were vaccinated 
against Polio. Out of the 770,274 of children screened, 17,221 (2.2%) 
were found moderately acutely malnourished and 3,963 (0.5%) had severe 
acute malnutrition, and are eligible for targeted supplementary or 
therapeutic feeding. 91,256 pregnant and lactating women were also 
screened and 11,057 (12.1%) were found to have a MUAC of less than 21 
cm. These women and the children eligible for nutritional 
supplementation have received referral documents and ration cards which 
will allow them to have supplementary food for the coming six months. 
Finally, 203,591 Insecticide treated Nets were also distributed. For 
more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

DEYR RAINFALL UPDATE, SOMALI REGION

The Somali Regional Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Food Security 
Bureau in its flash report indicates the onset of the deyr rains are 
delayed by an average of one to two weeks in most zones. Good initial 
rains in some pocket areas of Gode, Degehabur, Warder, Korahe, Fik and 
Afder zones have temporarily eased the water shortage. No rain was 
reported in, Liben zone with the exception of some showers in the 
western kebeles Moyale woreda and in some pocket areas of Filtu and 
Hudet. The food security situation of Liben zone still remains fragile 
as it is experiencing serious pasture and water shortage in the last 
couple of months following the failure of last gu rains. For more 
information contact: ewprojectscuk@ethionet.et

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