OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
20 March 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

ASSESSMENT MISSIONS UNDERWAY

Due to recent concerns over the deteriorating food security situation in 
Afar Region, a re-assessment mission is currently underway to monitor 
the overall situation and identify gaps. The region identified during 
the November meher assessment 435,000 beneficiaries but only 54,600 
beneficiaries were authorised for emergency food assistance. The 
majority of beneficiaries now fall under the Productive Safety Net 
Programme and 95 percent of the food for the first 2006 distribution has 
been transported but as of yet no distribution has started. The teams, 
comprising the regional bureaus (water, agriculture, health and DPP), 
NGOs (ACF and APDA) and UNICEF, will debrief humanitarian partners on 
their findings at the regional emergency coordination meeting scheduled 
on 29 March. The Federal DPPA is not taking part in the assessment 
mission but the Pastoral Development Coordination Bureau head is in 
Addis Ababa to inform the DPPA. Meanwhile, a DPPA led multi-agency 
re-assessment mission in Borena zone is currently reviewing the 
beneficiary numbers and non-food needs. There are currently 155,000 
emergency beneficiaries with 100,000 under close monitoring. During the 
last few days, parts of Borena have received small amounts of rain but 
the distribution was erratic and further rain is necessary to have a 
positive impact on pasture and water availability.

For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

SAMPLES TESTED NEGATIVE FOR AVIAN FLU

Ethiopia reported that the samples sent to Italy from the dead chickens 
have tested negative for both H5 and H5N1 strains of bird flu. Earlier 
this month, the presence of Avian Influenza was announced in the country 
after the Sabata Laboratory tested samples of dead chickens from a 
Government-owned farm in SNNPR, and confirmed they tested positive for 
the H5 strain. Government authorities incinerated the remaining chickens 
and banned movements of poultry products including chickens within a 60 
km radius of the farm. Meanwhile, the Sabata laboratory is still 
conducting tests on dead birds being sent in from across the country. In 
preparation of the potential pandemic in the country, the Government has 
prepared a three-year National Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. 
To date, the Ministry of Health has secured US$ 288,018 for prevention 
and control activity. In addition, regional Emergency Coordination 
Centers might be established in different parts of the country as a 
contingency measure.

For more information contact: fao-ethiopia@fao.org

DROUGHT AFFECTING NOT ONLY SOMALI AND BORENA

The serious humanitarian situation in the southeastern parts of the 
country persists, especially in Somali Region and Borena zone of Oromiya 
Region. However, as the dry season persists, there are concerns about 
the water situation both for humans and livestock in other parts of 
Oromiya Region, especially in lowland parts of Bale, East and West 
Hararghe zones bordering Somali Region, and Fentale woreda of East Shewa 
zone. In Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), 
serious water shortages for livestock are reported in most parts of 
South Omo zone and the rift valley areas of Silti and Gurage zones. The 
food security situation is being closely monitored in view of these 
deteriorating conditions.

For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

EMERGENCY FOOD DISPATCH UPDATE

The Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA) is 
continuing its daily dispatches to Borena zone of Oromiya Region and to 
Somali Region, with January's distribution nearly completed. Out of 
6,037 tonnes allocated to Oromiya in January, 98 percent has been 
dispatched so far. For Somali Region, the dispatch status is at 90 
percent of the 29,055 tonnes in January. In February, DPPA has allocated 
a further 5,186 tonnes to Oromiya and 23,459 tonnes to Somali Region and 
so far 60 percent has been dispatched to Oromiya and 2 percent to Somali 
Region. In Moyale and Meyo woredas, in Borena zone, February's 
distributions are 90 and 50 percent dispatched respectively. In Somali 
Region, food distributions have been confirmed by WFP field teams in 
Warder, Shinile and Jijiga zones, where most of the January allocation 
has been delivered and distributed. In addition, NGOs have allocated 
5,295 tonnes of food to Dolo Ado and Filtu woredas of Liben zone and to 
Dolobay woreda of Afder zone in Somali Region and for Borena zone, 399 
tonnes have been allocated to Hagere Mariam and Gelana woredas. For 
other regions of the country, DPPA has allocated 800 tonnes of emergency 
food to Afar and 436 tonnes to SNNPR. So far, DPPA has dispatched 63 
percent of the allocation to Afar and 100 percent to SNNPR. Meanwhile, 
using the recent EOS results, food dispatches to the 20 screened woredas 
in Somali Region are expected to start shortly. In order to speed up 
food aid dispatches and distributions, the Regional Disaster 
Preparedness and Prevention Bureau has temporarily waived the usual 
tender procedures for transportation. Nutrition screenings in the 
remaining four EOS woredas of the region will be carried out shortly.

Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

POOR NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN GORO WOREDA, OROMIYA REGION

CONCERN's nutritional survey in Goro woreda, Bale zone in Oromiya Region 
reveals a 6.1 percent GAM and a 0.8 percent SAM with 1.34 /10,000/day 
U5MR. The nutritional level is considered as poor due to the presence of 
aggravating factors such as series of poor harvests and limited access 
to water. The report recommends for an improved delivery of EOS-SFP for 
moderately malnourished children; interventions to improve access to 
safe water and outreach health promotion initiatives. The report also 
indicates the need to conduct a survey in six months (June 2006) to 
monitor the food security situation following the upcoming 'hunger' 
season. It is to be recalled that an outbreak of scurvy was reported in 
mid-May 2005. The detailed report and recommendations will be available.

Contact: concern.ethiopia@concern.net

2006 NON FOOD CONTRIBUTIONS

To date, of the US$ 111 million requested for the 2006 Humanitarian 
Appeal, only 10.4 percent has been funded, leaving a shortfall of 89.6 
percent. Meanwhile, in response to the current drought crisis in the 
Horn of Africa, the Norway Government has announced US$ 45 million 
contribution for long-term and emergency assistance. It is not known 
what proportion of this will go towards Ethiopia. The UN is organising a 
Regional Consolidated Appeal for drought affected countries in the Horn 
of Africa, including Ethiopia. The Appeal will be launched in Nairobi on 
7 April by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Jan Egeland.

For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

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