OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
Drought Emergency in Somali and Oromiya Regions
1 May 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights (1)

1.7 million emergency food beneficiaries in Somali Region and Borena 
zone, Oromiya; 614,000 people are under close monitoring in both areas.

Additional 64,439 emergency beneficiaries identified in Borena zone, 
following DPPA-led multi-agency reassessment.

Preliminary results of re-assessment in Afder, Gode and Liben zones in 
Somali Region indicate increased emergency needs.

Rains have increased in the past week in most areas of Somali Region and 
Borena zone. Some water tankers have stopped, but continue to monitor 
the situation. Hygiene and sanitation are a priority. Access is proving 
an increased logistics challenge.

Measles campaigns were successful in most districts of Somali Region and 
Borena zone.

More than 1.5 million livestock vaccinated and treated against different 
diseases; reports from the reassessment missions and regional offices 
indicate that a large gap remains between livestock health needs and 
response.

Overall Summary: After seven to ten days of a dry spell, the gu/hagaya 
(belg) rains resumed in Somali Region and southern parts of Oromiya 
Region. Following the generally good rainfall during the first dekad of 
April, the second dekad was dry in Somali Region. Since 20 April, the 
rains have resumed and several woredas report 1-3 days of light to heavy 
rainfall over the last week, including: Guradamole and Bare woredas of 
Afder zone, Jijiga town, Warder woreda of Warder zone, Gerbo woreda of 
Fik Zone, and Gunagado, Degahamedo, and Degahabur woredas in Degehabur 
zone. Recent reports from Gode indicate that Guradamole, Gorobokoksa, 
Elkere and Hargele enjoyed good rainfall on 24 April. On 26 April, there 
was favorable rainfall in Gode town as well as in Mustahil, Ferfer and 
Kelafo woredas that lasted for about six hours, as well as light showers 
in Kebridehar and Adadele woredas. There are reports of migration of 
people (including cross border from Somalia) to areas that received good 
rains. This posed a serious health threat in the region as measles cases 
was confirmed among families that had recently migrated to Bare woreda, 
who had missed the recent vaccination campaigns. Similarly, the rains in 
Borena resumed on 19 April, improving pasture (especially browse) and 
water availability. Consequently, water tankering operations are 
suspended in the zone and attention is shifting to water purification 
and general hygiene and sanitation activities. Efforts continue in 
maintenance and rehabilitation of water schemes as longer term 
solutions, and the procurement of spares and equipments worth US$250,000 
has been finalised by UNICEF.

While rains were better in northern Somali Region (Jijiga and Shinile 
zones) for the month of April, rains in Somaliland resulted in floods in 
Ayisha woreda, Shinile zone. The DPPB and the Hararghe Catholic Services 
assessed the impact of floods, requesting food and non-food support for 
the people affected by the flood. Flooding also occurred in Afar Region, 
where heavy rains in the first week of April resulted in the 
over-flooding of the Awash River, covering the road between Dubti town 
and Beyahale kebele. Recent reports indicate that the flooding has 
receded and the Awash River has returned to its normal levels. According 
to the DPPA team sent from 2 to 9 April to assess the situation, the 
flood displaced 7,000 people in four kebeles, for whom Federal 
Authorities have dispatched food and non-food support. In addition, the 
Regional Health Bureau, with support from UNICEF, distributed 12,000 
Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) to Dubti woreda. Other support has come 
for emergency activities in Afar, including for water tankering from 
UNICEF and for livestock health from FAO, in response to the Afar rapid 
assessment.

While overall results from neither of the DPPA led multi-agency 
reassessment missions to Borena zone and to Afder, Gode, and Liben zones 
are official, preliminary results indicate that the beneficiary numbers 
for emergency have increased. For Borena zone, the 64,439 additional 
emergency beneficiaries identified have been included in the response 
plans and will begin receiving support. Concern was raised regarding the 
limited representation of some non-food sectors in the assessment teams 
and regarding the delay in rapidly disseminating the mission results. 
Oromiya FSDPPC officially requested the DPPA to organise a reassessment 
mission to woredas of East Hararghe and East Shoa zones where serious 
food security problems were reported. In addition, decision is pending 
on whether 1.1 million people in Somali Region will be covered by the 
relief food aid or safety net programmes for the second half of 2006. 
The 2006 Humanitarian Appeal initially identified this population as 
relief food aid beneficiaries for the first half of the year and then 
safety net food beneficiaries for the second half of the year.

Coordination: Fortnightly emergency meetings continue at the federal, 
regional, and zonal levels, with zonal meetings in Gode becoming more 
regular. The federal TIME meeting was held on 27 April, and, after some 
delays, the next Early Warning Working Group meeting will be held on 3 
May, at the DPPA conference hall. The Somali Regional Coordination 
meeting, to be held in Jijiga, is delayed until 4 May. The Afar Regional 
Coordination meeting, to be held in Semera, is scheduled for 3 May, and 
the next Oromiya Regional Coordination meeting is scheduled for 16 May 
in Addis Ababa. The Emergency Health and Nutrition Taskforce has moved 
its regular meeting from Friday to Wednesday afternoons (2 pm). It will 
be coordinated with the Multi-Agency Nutrition Taskforce (MANTF) so that 
they do not overlap. For all the latest maps and information regarding 
the drought emergency please refer to ocha-eth@un.org.

Footnote:

(1) The information in this document is consolidated from reports and 
field information from a variety of sources including UN agencies, NGOs 
and government partners.  Most of the activities reported are taken from 
task force meetings.

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