OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
21 November 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

UN Humanitarian Reform programme update

The Inter-agency Standing Committee (IASC)  has in the last few months 
embarked upon a major programme of humanitarian reform with the 
intention of providing a more predictable and effective system of 
humanitarian response. There are three main elements to this reform 
which are: to create more predictable humanitarian finances to ensure 
and enable a prompt response to new or rapidly deteriorating crises; to 
strengthen response capacity by establishing a system of cluster leads 
in those areas of activity where there are clearly identified gaps in 
response capacity, and finally, the strengthening of the Humanitarian 
Coordinator system to better support field coordination.  One of the 
first priorities has been to modernise the existing Central Emergency 
Revolving Fund (CERF) by adding a grant element, thereby creating a 
Central Emergency Response Fund which will have a target of US$ 500 
million to be achieved over three years (US $ 450 million grant, US$ 50 
million revolving loan).  The proposal for the modernised CERF is now 
being finalised and it should be endorsed by the General Assembly in mid 
November.  In regards to strengthening humanitarian response capacity 
the IASC has agreed to establish cluster leads in nine areas of 
humanitarian activity where there is a need to reinforce the current 
response capacity.  Nutrition - UNICEF, Water/Sanitation- UNICEF, Health 
- WHO, Shelter - Conflict IDPs ? UNHCR, Camp Coordination in Conflict 
for IDPs - UNHCR, Protection in conflict for IDPs ? UNHCR, Logistics - 
WFP, Telecoms - OCHA/UNICEF/WFP, Early Recovery - UNDP. The rationale 
behind the establishment of these cluster leads is that they should lead 
in identifying the overall gaps in capacity in their areas of activity 
and develop a plan to remedy these gaps as well as taking the lead at 
field level in ensuring an adequate response and if necessary act as the 
provider of last resort.  The cluster leadership approach at field level 
should provide more effective technical support to the Humanitarian 
Coordinator/Resident Coordinator while also broadening the base of 
technical coordination through a stronger engagement of humanitarian 
partners. Contact: ocha-eth@un.org

FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT UNDERWAY

The FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission started on 14 
November. Six teams from the agencies are currently assessing crop 
production throughout the country.  The assessment will estimate the 
2005 Meher crop production and food supply for the year 2006. Field work 
will continue until 4 December.  A de-briefing is scheduled on 8-9 
December with the United Nations agencies, the government, donors and 
NGOs.  Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

DPPC-LED MULTI-AGENCY ASSESSMENT STARTING

Preparations for the complementary pre-harvest Meher emergency needs 
assessment led by the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Commission 
(DPPC)  have been under way for the past two weeks. The final briefing 
of the assessment teams was on 18 November and field visits of some 20 
teams is due to start immediately afterwards: United Nations agencies, 
donors and NGOs will participate. The DPPC-led multi-agency assessment 
will identify the number of people requiring external assistance in each 
woreda to meet minimum food requirements by month for 2006. The 
chronically food-insecure population will be addressed through the 
Productive Safety Net Programme (cash and food transfers). The 
population affected by acute, unpredictable disasters are to have their 
food and other basic needs addressed though emergency response 
mechanisms. Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CARE SITUATION UPDATE

CARE in its monthly (October)  update reports a normal food security 
situation in most of its reporting woredas due to the ongoing food 
distribution through Safety Net and emergency programmes. However, an 
increasing fear of future food insecurity has been expressed by woreda 
officials and community members, particularly in East Hararghe zone due 
to the early cessation of the Meher rains and estimated shortfall of 
main crops production. Pasture and water availability were reported to 
be normal in all reporting woredas except Borena zone, where the delayed 
and poor rains affected the availability. According to the report the 
situation is worse in Dire woreda of the zone, where 15 recently 
deceased carcasses were observed in one site. Most pastoralists are 
moving their animals to Yabelo woreda, which is becoming a center of 
concentration, with possible consequences of pasture and water scarcity 
and disease outbreaks. Meanwhile CARE reports that the newly opened 
urban-rural Community based Therapeutic Centre program in Dire Dawa has 
admitted 77 people in its first month of operation. Contact: 
care.eth@ethionet.et

US MILLIONAIRE FILLS GAP IN PLUMPY'NUT SUPPLIES WITH US$1.5 MILLION 
DONATION

A United States businesswoman filled a worrying gap in supplies of 
therapeutic food in the country by giving UNICEF US$ 1.5 million for the 
procurement of three months' supply of Plumpy'nut (super-charged peanut 
spread used for the treatment of severe malnutrition among children). 
The 285 tonnes of Plumpy'nut is estimated to save the lives of more than 
14,000 severely malnourished children throughout the country. 
Meanwhile GOAL-Ethiopia reports that it still could not get a clearance 
for the 5 tonnes of Plumpy'nut that arrived in the country seven weeks 
ago for its intervention in Fedis woreda. Ethiopia has been suffering 
from a shortage of Plumpy'nut supplies after a surge in the number of 
children being referred to therapeutic feeding centres through the 
Enhanced Outreach Strategy. For more information contact: 
mapted@unicef.org

EFSR status

Emergency Food security Reserve (EFSR)  reports stocks on hand as of 18 
November are 279,599 mts, 47,880 mts stock under withdrawal and 77,525 
mts outstanding loans.

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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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