OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
13 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

DROUGHT UPDATE-SOMALI REGION AND BORENA ZONE IN OROMIYA REGION

The Somali Region Disaster Prevention and Food Security Bureau's (DPPFS) 
and Save the Children UK monthly food security highlights indicate that 
the food security situation in Somali Region continues to be critical in 
Liben, Afder, Gode and parts of Fik zones, and below normal in the 
remaining parts of the region. Large numbers of livestock are still 
dying in Liben, Afder and Gode zones due to prolonged feed, water stress 
and diseases. The situation in Liben is rising to a full-scale 
emergency, especially in Dolo Ado, Hudet and Moyale woredas.  Although 
there has been a considerable improvement over the last three weeks 
delayed delivery of food due to logistic-related problems is still a 
problem in the critically affected areas. The outbreak of measles in 
Bare woreda (60 cases confirmed according to the DPPFS and SC-UK report) 
and livestock diseases in Dolobay and Erer woredas are the major health 
concerns. The onset of unseasonal showers in parts of Gode, Jijiga, Fik, 
Korahe, Afder and Liben in the last week of February has increased fears 
of poor rains in the upcoming gu season.

Traditionally, these showers, locally called lixkor rains, are an 
indication of failure of upcoming rainfall. Although physical conflict 
has subsided, clan tensions in Geladi woreda of Warder zone are still 
limiting pastoral mobility and there is concern that similar 
resource-based clan conflicts could emerge if the situation does not 
improve soon. The Somali Regional Health Bureau and UNICEF have 
completed EOS activities in 20 woredas in Somali Region. Results are as 
follows: 159,533 children (6-59 months)  supplemented with Vitamin A (83 
percent of the target population); 137,000 children (1-5 years) 
de-wormed (81 percent); and 158,936 children vaccinated against measles 
(83 percent). In addition, 26 percent of the children (6-50 months) 
screened for malnutrition (185,558, or 97 percent), and 25 percent of 
the pregnant or lactating women (42,922, or 90 percent) were referred 
for DPPB/WFP targeted supplementary feeding. Due to its low coverage (83 
percent), the measles campaign must be re-conducted in EOS woredas in 
Somali Region to achieve the required 95 percent coverage. On 24 March, 
measles campaigns are planned for all woredas in Somali Region and for 
Borena zone by the respective regional health bureaus and UNICEF. The 
campaigns will include measles vaccination and vitamin A 
supplementation, and, in Borena zone, will also include de-worming. 
Discussions are on-going with NGOs interested in supporting the measles 
campaigns; other interested NGOs should contact UNICEF's Health Section 
at vvansteirteghem@unicef.org.

Similarly, the humanitarian situation in Borena zone of Oromiya Region 
remains critical with increasing livestock deaths and serious water 
shortage.  The zonal DPPC formulated a project proposal for all 
emergency needs, identifying water, animal feed and veterinary drugs as 
priorities; the plan is currently being reviewed by the region. The 
Early Warning Department of the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness 
Agency (DPPA) is organising a mission to the zone in order to re-assess 
the beneficiary figures (155,000) identified by the last meher 
assessment in November 2005. As of 8 March, the DPPA transported 81 
percent of the January allocation of 29,100 tonnes to Somali Region. In 
Oromiya Region, the January allocation of 6,000 tonnes of relief food is 
nearly completed and, for the February allocation of 4,970 tonnes, 70 
percent is dispatched. Of the Safety Net allocation for Borena for 
February, 89 percent of the 1,800 tonnes have been dispatched.

CERF provides US$ 10 million in response to the drought in Horn of 
africa

The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan launched the Central Emergency 
Response Fund (CERF)  on 9 March.  The fund seeks to get rapid 
assistance to humanitarian crisis and respond to neglected emergencies. 
During the launch the Emergency Response Coordinator announced that its 
first allocation, US $ 10 million, would be to the Horn of Africa 
drought for immediate response. At a regional meeting in Nairobi it was 
decided the US$ 1.8 million would go towards Ethiopia with the priority 
sectors being health and nutrition, water and sanitation and livestock 
interventions. For more information: ocha-eth@un.org

Update on Afar

A Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) and FAO team 
visited Cheffa valley to assess livestock migration from different parts 
of the region. It found that groups that had migrated were forced to go 
back with their livestock to their original places due to fear of 
escalated conflicts.  The regional Livestock Crop and Natural Resource 
Development Bureau held a two-day livestock emergency meeting on 10 and 
11 March to discuss gaps, responses and suggest solutions. Meanwhile, in 
response to the existing water problem in zone 1, World Vision is 
implementing water and sanitation programmes aimed at providing water 
and sanitation facilities in seven schools in Assayita, Dubti, Mile and 
Elidar woredas in partnership with UNICEF.  The programme will run till 
September 2006 targeting more than 2,000 beneficiaries. Regarding food 
distribution, the DPPA has delivered 35 percent of the February relief 
allocation of 800 tonnes and 96 percent of Safety Net dispatches to the 
region. In addition, CONCERN is planning to conduct a nutritional survey 
in Yalo woreda of Zone 4, while GOAL continues to provide targeted 
supplementary food for approximately 16,000 beneficiaries in Berhale 
woreda of zone 2 for three-months, starting February. For more 
information: ocha-eth@un.org

CARE monthly Food security update for east and west harerghe The 2006 
belg rains started in the third week of February but ceased within four 
days in East and West Harerghe zones of Oromiya Region. Pasture and 
water availability remains below normal in the lowlands of East Harerghe 
while livestock conditions were normal in most parts of the zones. 
Farmland preparation for long-cycle and belg crops has started, however 
severe shortage of seeds was reported in the lowland areas due to 
failure of last meher harvest.  Admission of severely malnourished 
children in CARE's Community-based Therapeutic Care (CTC)  programme 
showed an increase in Grawa (East Harerghe zone)  and Dire Dawa City 
Administration. For more information: moges@careet.org

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