OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
11 April 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

RAINS:  GU RAINS START IN SOUTHERN PASTORAL AREAS: BELG PERFORMANCE 
MIXED SO FAR

Drought affected areas in Somali Region and Borena zone, Oromiya have 
begun receiving badly needed rains in the past week. The Somali 
DPPB-Early Warning Department reported that the gu rains have started in 
all nine zones of the region.  Rains started two weeks ago in Jijiga and 
Shinile zones, and to date the amount and distribution is reported as 
very good. It has also started raining in the seven other zones since 
the beginning of April.  Light to strong rains were received in all 
woredas of Liben zone, temporarily easing the water shortage. All 
woredas in Afder zone, with the exception of Dolobay and parts of West 
Imi, also received good rains. Moderate to heavy rains were received in 
most woredas of Gode zone between 2 and 4 April, but Adale, East Imi, 
and Ferfer woredas have not received rain.  Rains were reported in Fik 
zone, with the exception of Segeg, Gerbo, Lagahida and Moya Muluk 
woredas. No rain is reported in Korahe zone, except in the northeastern 
and eastern parts of Kebirdahar woreda; while a one day shower was 
reported in Danot and Bokh woredas in Warder zone. In Degeharbur zone, 
one to two days of rains was reported in Degehabur and Degehamadow 
woredas.  DPPA reports that communication is difficult in Warder, 
Gashamo, Shekosh, Filtu, Ferfer and Dolobay woredas and as a result the 
situation is not known. Even though it is early to speculate on the 
performance and the impact of the rains, they have significantly 
improved the situation in Jijiga and Shinile zones. As a result, OXFAM 
suspended its water tankering service in Harshin woreda in Jijiga zone. 
Meanwhile, DPPB noted the need to prepare a contingency for flood risk 
areas since the region experiences floods every year around mid-April. 
Contact: ocha-eth@un.org

CARE in its March situation update reports adequate rain in Yabello and 
Teltele woredas in Borena zone. However, erratic and inadequate rains 
are reported in Dire, Moyale and Miyo woredas. Moyale and parts of Miyo 
woredas have received only few days of rains, as a result, pasture 
regeneration has been slow. Due to the new availability of surface 
water, water distribution in Borena is expected to cease almost 
immediately. Deaths of livestock have decreased in most areas and 
pastoralists are bringing only shoats for de-stocking.  Meanwhile, CARE 
reports a relatively normal food security situation in most of its 
reporting woredas, except in some kebeles bordering Miyo and Moyale 
woredas. Contact: care.eth@ethionet.et

The re-assessment mission in Borena zone recommends an increase of 
64,436 emergency beneficiaries starting from April to June 2006 and in 
the worst case scenario (if the rains perform badly) the total number of 
people in need of assistance is estimated to be up to 124,145. 
Contact: ewd@dppc.gov.et

The performance of the belg rains (short rainy season in cropping areas) 
so far is mixed.  It is relatively poor in northern parts of the country 
but encouraging in most southern parts. Belg rains in south Tigray were 
delayed by two weeks of the normal onset; similarly, sugum rains have 
started two weeks late in Afar Region.  Last week, almost all woredas in 
Afar have received good amount of rains, including Kilbet Rasu and Fanti 
Rasu areas. Rainfall in belg crop growing areas of Amhara Region were 
delayed by two months compared to normal year but have received rains 
recently. The onset of belg rains was earlier or normal in most belg 
crop growing areas of Oromiya Region and performance of belg rains so 
far in SNNPR is rated as good. Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

ASSESSMENT REVEALS CRITICAL WATER SHORTAGE IN ZONE TWO AND FOUR OF AFAR 
REGION

A rapid assessment by UNICEF and DPPB (17 to 22 March) reports critical 
water shortage in Zone two and four of Afar Region. Although there were 
no major human disease outbreaks, concerns about the welfare of the 
vulnerable people are increasing due to the shortage of clean water. 
UNICEF gave US $ 111,604 to the regional DPPB for emergency water 
tankering and other related interventions. The fund will be used for 
life saving activities to 20,000 beneficiaries in the drought affected 
woredas of Berhale, Dalol, and Erebti woredas of Zone two, and Teru 
woreda in Zone four. Meanwhile, new reports indicate flooding of the 
Awash River, which caused displacement of people in Dubti woreda (Begale 
Keber village). The woreda officials have transported up to 80 bags of 
corn and DPPA has sent an assessment mission to the affected areas. 
Contact: mapted@unicef.org

EMERGENCY FOOD DISPATCH AND DELIVERY UPDATE

The federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA)  is 
continuing its daily dispatches to Somali Region and Borena zone of 
Oromiya Region.  From the 23,500 tonnes of food aid allocated for Somali 
Region in February, 41 percent has been dispatched. The DPPA has also 
started moving quantities of food allocated in March. For Borena, the 
DPPA has allocated 2,500 tonnes of food aid in February and currently 
the dispatch status is at 67 percent;  from the 2,240 tonnes allocated 
in March, some 57 percent has been dispatched.  WFP is regularly 
monitoring the food arrivals and distributions and confirms that food 
has been delivered to all the nine zones of the Somali Region and Borena 
zone of Oromiya Region. The DPPA is also dispatching March allocations 
of emergency food, 875 tonnes, to Afar and to date 53 percent of the 
allocation has been transported. Contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

PROGRESS IN PLUMPY'NUT ISSUES

UNICEF has cleared nine consignments of Plumpy'nut from its warehouse 
and is sharing the proclamation number with partners so they can clear 
their stock under the same procedure. The proclamation says that food 
items for emergency purposes are exempt from import duties. To support 
the Outreach Therapeutic Programme activities, UNICEF has sent 53 
tonnes, 18 tonnes and 48 tonnes of Plumpy'nut to Somali Region, Borena 
and East Hararghe (Oromiya Region)  respectively.  USAID/OFDA is also 
taking measures to resolve the difficulties of import clearance of 
Plumpy'nut and other products such as bed nets, and water and diarrhea 
treatments, and is willing to accept consignment of these products but 
only for products imported for USAID funded projects. Contact: 
mapted@unicef.org

SECOND ROUND SAMPLES TESTS NEGATIVE FOR AVIAN FLU

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development announced that the 
second round laboratory tests on the samples of dead chickens that were 
suspected of having the H5 strain came out negative. In March, a 
second-round of samples were sent to Italy after initial tests at the 
Sabata Laboratory of samples of dead chickens from a Government-owned 
farm in SNNPR indicated H5 influenza strain.  The Italian laboratory 
confirmed that the chickens had died of another viral disease called 
Gumboro, which affects chickens but cannot be transmitted to humans. 
Contact: fao-ethiopia@fao.org

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