OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
27 February 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DROUGHT UPDATE-SOMALI REGION AND BORENA ZONE IN OROMIYA REGION The 
humanitarian situation in southeastern parts of the country continues to 
deteriorate, with increasing livestock deaths, serious shortage of water 
and high levels of malnutrition. In the monthly Humanitarian 
Coordination Meeting of Somali Region, which was held on 21 February in 
Jijiga town, the regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau 
(DPPB) stressed that the situation is deteriorating as the dry 'Jilal' 
season is advancing (January-March).  Large-scale migration from Kenya 
and Somalia has been observed, and large population movements from rural 
to urban areas are also reportedly taking place. While several projects 
are addressing the drought situation, more interventions are needed 
especially in the non-food sector.

Meanwhile, the DPPA continues the daily dispatches of food for some 1.5 
million people in Somali Region, and some 155,000 in Borena zone of 
Oromiya Region.  The transport capacity for deliveries of relief food 
has been limited.  In order to increase the dispatch rate, DPPA has 
engaged their emergency transport fleet and the Road Transport Authority 
is coordinating the commercial transport fleet for priority loads to the 
drought-affected areas.  For food dispatches to Somali Region, DPPA has 
now taken additional measures in order to ensure delivery of relief food 
to the intended beneficiaries.  These measures include regular radio 
broadcasts informing beneficiaries of food allocations and their 
entitlements, deployment of DPPA monitoring teams to the worst 
drought-affected areas, deployment of military convoys to follow trucks 
carrying relief food to particular "hotspot"  areas, and the 
establishment of committees at woreda level to control the receipt of 
food. WFP is also increasing its monitoring capacity in the areas, 
through hiring of new food aid monitors and field assistants. Contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

MSF-Belgium conducted a nutritional survey in Chereti woreda (Afder 
zone) and reports critical malnutrition of 18.6% GAM and 2.3 % SAM with 
3.3 /10,000/day under five mortality rate. Diarrhea is the main cause of 
death for children under five.  Measles coverage, surveyed by both card 
and history, is 55%, which is not satisfactory. The survey recommends 
improving access to safe drinking water and increasing the capacity of 
the Therapeutic feeding Units.  Meanwhile, the Disaster Prevention and 
Preparedness and Food Security Bureau in its February flash update 
reports that a significant number of malnourished children have been 
admitted into the therapeutic feeding centers in neighboring Mandera 
town (Kenya). According to the report among the admitted, seven children 
have died. Contact: msfb-addis-ababa-hom@msf.be & 
ewprojectscuk@ethionet.et

WHO recently reported that the Austrian Development Agency donated 
500,000 Euro to support the polio eradication programme in Somali 
Region. The campaign, which plans to cover an estimated 900,000 children 
under five, was conducted in the 53 woredas including bordering areas, 
from 20 - 23 February.  The region is considered to be at high risk of 
importing the polio virus as it borders East Hararghe in Oromiya Region, 
where the three most recently confirmed wild polio virus cases were 
identified and due to the outbreak of the disease in neghibouring 
Somalia.

For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

APDA REPORTS CRITICAL WATER SHORTAGE IN ZONE ONE OF AFAR REGION

Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA)  in its monthly report 
indicates critical water shortage in Elidar and Dubti woredas in Zone 
One, Afar Region. According to the report, all kebeles in Elidar woreda 
are dry except Immino, where there is underground water. Some people, 
particularly from Aba'a and Gensero kebeles, travel up to 24 hours to 
reach this water point.  The water problem in this woreda is exacerbated 
after the DPPB and FSB stopped their water tankering service in early 
January due to lack of funds.  In Dubti woreda people travel from 2-28 
hours to reach to the existing three water points.  APDA reports that 
animals are dying in significant number, especially in Musle, Lubak and 
Dagaba areas. The report recommends three water tankers to be allocated 
for each woreda for at least two months-until the rains come. Contact: 
afarpastoral@ethionet.et

Meningitis kills 28 people in the country

The Ministry of Health (MoH) recently reported 792 cases of meningitis 
from October 2005 to 20 February 2006, with 28 resulting in death in 
SNNP, Oromiya and Tigray regions.  Of the cases, 740 are reported from 
SNNPR. According to the MoH, Afar Region, East and West Hararghe and 
lowlands of Oromiya Region bordering Somali Region are areas of concern. 
To date, 2.9 million vaccines are secured, leaving a shortfall of 2.1 
million vaccines. Contact: millioyon@yahoo.com

TARGETED SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING UPDATE

Targeted Supplementary Feeding in support of the Enhanced Outreach 
Strategy (TSF/EOS)  continues. In Southern Nations, Nationalities and 
Peoples Region (SNNPR)  supplementary food is now moving to 105,000 
beneficiaries. Distributions are 75 percent completed and the total 
tonnage moved in the region will be 2,625 tonnes of CSB and 294 tonnes 
of vegetable oil. In Oromiya, Tigray and Amhara regions, nutrition 
screening is complete and 248,229 beneficiaries have been identified. A 
total of 6,206 tonnes of CSB and 695 tonnes of vegetable oil is planned 
for distribution. Meanwhile, nutrition screening for further 
distributions is on-going in Somali Region. Two new regions are 
participating in the EOS/TSF for 2006: Afar Region, where screening is 
underway in Zone One, and Gambella Region where screening is planned for 
March.  During 2006 the main focus of TSF activities is to consolidate 
the work to date. Delays are still being experienced in food 
distribution and the quality of nutrition education is patchy and 
attention will be focused to improve performance in these areas.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -