OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
27 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Drought Update-Somali Region and Borena zone in Oromiya Regio The start
of the short rainy season has been mixed, with close to normal
performance in some parts of the country, and below normal performance
in other parts.  In the drought-affected Somali Region, rains have been
received in the northern zones, especially in and around Jijiga. Rains
in the worst drought-affected southern areas are expected to begin in
April, and these areas, so far have only received some early light
showers during the last week of February. These showers were not
significant to improve the water and pasture shortages, and have caused
fear among the community that gu rains might be delayed. Field reports
from Shinile zone confirm that the general food security situation in
Erer, Afdem and Meiso woredas is deteriorating and people are facing
severe drought conditions. Meanwhile, CARE and USAID in their Situation
Update report that the rains in different parts of Borena zone,
particularly in Teltele, Yabelo and parts of Dire woredas, have improved
the availability of water and regeneration of pasture.  However, the
situation is still critical in Moyale, Miyo and parts of Dire. Livestock
migration to Teltele and Yabelo from Miyo and Moyale woredas has
increased, putting a strain on the limited resources.

January's relief food dispatch to Somali Region is completed, and 11
percent of the food allocated for February has been dispatched to date.
Field reports confirm that more than 90 percent of January's food
allocation has been distributed in Erer, Afdem and Meiso woredas of
Shinile zone.  Food distributions have also been confirmed by WFP food
monitors in Gode, Afder, Korahe and Liben zones. The Government has
taken measures to give priority for transporters to Somali Region. In
Borena zone, 63 percent of the food allocated in February is dispatched.
Meanwhile, the PPA received information regarding the beneficiary
numbers by food distribution centers for the 20 EOS screened woredas.
There are 59,000 malnourished beneficiaries identified for Targeted
upplementary Feeding (TSF) from these woredas.  In Borena zone, the
highland woredas of Bule Hora, Gelana and Abaya will receive rations
within the coming ten days. Oromiya DPPB is contracting transporters for
these woredas and the other 53 woredas are to be covered in the second
round distributions. There is no TSF capacity in the five lowland
woredas of Borena zone, but this is expected to change after May's
nutrition screening, which plans to cover all woredas.

GOAL recently conducted a 30x26 two stage random cluster survey in Guna
Goda woreda in Degehabur zone and reported critical malnutrition. The
survey revealed 20.3 percent GAM and 3.9 percent SAM with 1.09/10000/day
U5MR.  The report further indicates that access to health facilities and
clean water remains very poor and sanitation is non-existent in most
places.  Vaccination rates particularly measles are below standards. The
report recommends for an immediate measles vaccination campaign for
children under five;  water source rehabilitation, mobile health
services and emergency sanitation programmes. A mass measles vaccination
campaign, targeting more than 1.5 million children across the
drought-hit regions began on 24 March in Oromiya's Borena and Bale zones
(Guji zone's interventions were postponed to 31 March following ethnic
conflict) and on 27 March in Somali Region.  Children will also receive
Vitamin A supplementation in Somali Region, and, de-worming and polio
vaccination in Oromiya Region.  In Somali Region, UNICEF facilitated the
Regional Health authorities' coordination of NGO involvement in the
measles ampaign. Among others, Save-US, CARE, IMC and GOAL will
contribute staff and logistic support in the implementation of the
campaign. Meanwhile, a mission to reassess the current humanitarian
situation and revise the beneficiary numbers is scheduled on 28 March in
Afder, Gode and Liben zones in Somali Region. The reassessment team in
Borena zone finalised their mission.

In Afar, the multi-sectoral assessment mission will debrief humanitarian
partners on its findings on 28 March, followed by the regional emergency
coordination meeting on 29 March in Semera.

Serious Malnutrition in Yalo woreda, Afar Region CONCERN's nutritional
survey in Yalo woreda, Zone 4 in Afar Region reveals a serious
malnutrition of 11.1 percent GAM and 1.1 percent SAM with 1.54
/10,000/day U5MR. The situation is aggravated by a lack of access to
clean water and health services and low BCG vaccination coverage. The
report recommends for provision of blanket supplementary food for
moderately malnourished children and pregnant and nursing mothers and
initiates EOS-SFP for critically food insecure areas.

For more information contact: concern.ethiopia@concern.net

Polio in Wag Hamra zone, Amhara Region World Health Organisation (WHO)
reported the first polio case in 2006 in Sekota woreda in Wag Hamra
zone, Amhara Region on 1 February 2006 bringing the total number of
confirmed polio cases in the country since December 2004 to 24.  The
Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, is
planning to conduct an emergency outbreak polio immunisation campaign,
in Wag Hamra zone and the surrounding areas targeting up to three
million children from 14-17 April. The second round of polio
immunisation campaigns for East and West Hararghe, Arsi (Oromiya
Region), Dire Dawa, and Harari is also scheduled on the same date. WHO,
UNICEF and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will cover the
required US$ 2.2 million for the April campaigns.  Due to the ongoing
humanitarian crisis, the second round polio immunisation campaign is
being combined with measles vaccination campaign in Southern Oromiya
Region.  For Somali Region discussions are on-going with the Regional
Health Bureau.

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

Humanitarian Response Fund


The Humanitarian Response Fund, a donor-led initiative that provides
rapid and flexible funding for emergencies, has been established for
Ethiopia. DFID has provided E4 million for the fund, which will be
managed by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, supported by UN OCHA. This
fund will provide resources for life-saving interventions identified by
the Joint Humanitarian Appeal, revised Appeals, and Flash Appeals.
Initial funding will be focused on drought affected areas of the
country. UN Agencies and NGOs are encouraged to apply for HRF funding.

Please visit the HRF website for further details: www.ocha-eth.org/hrf/

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