OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
19 June 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ASSISTANCE REQUEST FOR THE DISPLACED IN BORENA ZONE

The Oromiya DPPC requested immediate food and non-food assistance from 
the federal DPPA for up to 1,340 IDPs from Arero and Yabelo woredas in 
Borena zone that have been displaced by the recent unrest. Last week, 
clashes between the Borena and Guji clans killed more than 100 people 
and displaced several thousand, according to reports from the area. The 
Oromiya DPPC recently reported that more than 20,000 people from Arero 
woreda are displaced.  The IDPs are now settled in Shakiso woreda in the 
region. Humanitarian partners, including a Government mobile health 
team, restricted their activities in the zone. Nevertheless, WFP reports 
food transport has not been disrupted. Reports indicate that the 
situation has calmed following discussions among traditional Gadda 
leadership and Government authorities.  DPPA has sent a team to 
investigate the situation and determine the needs of the population. For 
more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

DETERIORATING FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN EAST HARARGHE AND ARSI ZONEs, 
OROMIYA REGION

The food security situation in several woredas of East Hararghe zone of 
Oromiya Region is reportedly declining.  The nutritional screening 
undertaken by Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) teams using Mid Upper Arm 
Circumference (MUAC)  in May 2006 detected several cases of severe acute 
malnutrition. Aggravating factors have made the situation in Fedis, 
Babile, Kombolcha, and Malka Balo serious.  WFP field reports also 
indicate a deterioration of food security in Metta, Deder, and Kersa 
woredas of the zone.  Contributing factors include the late start of 
safety net transfers to beneficiaries, combined with the high price of 
food commodities and scarce supply in the markets. Underestimation of 
emergency beneficiaries has exacerbated the situation. In Fedis woreda, 
the number of relief beneficiaries has been increased by 16,000, 
following the recommendation of the joint Government/UN/NGO assessment 
in May 2006. Various measures are underway to address the situation in 
other woredas. At the end of June, WFP will dispatch targeted 
supplementary feeding rations for up to 32,500 malnourished children and 
pregnant and nursing women in the zone.

A joint DPPA and regional DPPB disaster area assessment confirmed a 
worsening food security situation in some areas of Tiyo, Robe, Belbela, 
Munessa, Tena and Lode Hitossa woredas of Arsi zone in Oromiya Region. 
The situation in Tiyo is very critical and requires immediate 
intervention. Results of the nutritional screening by EOS teams are 
expected in the near future.  The timely arrival of these results will 
facilitate the immediate dispatch of targeted supplementary food to the 
distribution centers. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CARE SITUATION UPDATE

In its Monthly (May) update, CARE reports a normal food security 
situation in its nine operating woredas in Oromiya and Afar regions. In 
contrast, food insecurity threats such as low food intake and stress 
signs in the extreme lowlands of Dire Dawa, East Hararghe, West Hararghe 
and parts of Borena (Moyale and Dire woredas)  zones prevail. CARE's 
Community-based Therapeutic Care programmes also reported new admissions 
of severely malnourished children from Grawa (224)  and Dire Dawa (207). 
The report recommends a standard nutrition survey be conducted in both 
areas, swiftly followed by the launch of appropriate interventions. 
For more information contact: care.eth@ethionet.et

FIRST RESULTS OF NUTRITIONAL SURVEYS IN REFUGEE CAMPS SHOWS IMPROVEMENTS

The first results of the joint annual nutrition surveys conducted by 
WFP, UNHCR and the Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs 
(ARRA) in seven refugee camps in the country are now being released. In 
Kebribeyah camp, which hosts Somalia refugees, there has been a net 
improvement in nutritional status compared to 2005. Global Acute 
Malnutrition and Severe Acute Malnutrition have decreased from 16.2 
percent to 10.5 percent and from 1.5 percent to 0.5 percent 
respectively.  The improvement in nutritional status is partly 
attributed to the increase in cereal rations, implemented as a result of 
improved resource situation in September 2005, and a revalidation 
exercise undertaken by UNHCR at the end of last year.

The exercise included all children born since the last revalidation in 
the calculation for each family's ration.  In Shimelba camp, which hosts 
Eritrean refugees, the GAM has been reduced from 16.4 percent to 13.7 
percent but the SAM remains at 1.5 percent. The nutritional status of 
the refugees in both camps is still not satisfactory. Actions are 
currently being planned to improve the situation. Such plans include an 
improved food basket, if adequate funds can be found. New resources are 
sought for the refugee operation in order to meet the current 
equirements in 2006 and to implement an improved food basket.  For more 
information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org & HQdist@unhcr.ch

ARMYWORM INFESTATION SPREADING

Infestations of armyworm, previously limited to a few woredas in the 
eastern, southern and southeastern parts of the country, have now 
expanded into the north (eastern Amhara Region)  and the west (Wellega 
zones). Agricultural officials in North Wello zone of Amhara Region are 
concerned about a possible second generation infestation in early July. 
This is the time when the response capacity of the region is low due to 
lack of resources. Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

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