OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
13 November 2006



FLOODS IN SOMALI REGION

Somali Region was hit by another round of floods at the last week of 
October that killed 67 people and affected more than 200,000. Heavy 
rains continue to be reported in the flood-affected areas and parts of 
Oromiya Region. The Floods washed away livestock and damaged 
infrastructure, including bridges and roads. The floods have affected 
six woredas in Gode zone including: Mustahil, Kelafo, East Imi, Gode, 
Ferfer and Denan; West Imi woreda in Afder zone and Dolo Ado in Liben 
zone. The most affected woredas are Mustahil and Kelafo woredas in Gode 
zone. In Mustahil 21 out of 22 kebeles are affected, while in Kelafo 24 
out of 30 kebeles are affected; a total of 145,000 people are affected 
in the two woredas. Approximately 11,000 people are reported to be 
displaced in Mustahil, according to the local officials. These areas are 
inaccessible by road. Furthermore, epidemics of water borne diseases 
have reportedly increased in the flooded areas. High incidences of 
endemic water diseases, including Acute Watery Diarrhoea, malaria and 
intestinal parasites are also reported. Prices of non-staple food items 
have dramatically increased with the present flood crisis in the region.

A high level assessment mission led by the Deputy Prime Minister visited 
the affected areas. The findings of this mission are being finalized by 
DPPA. Meanwhile, Government and humanitarian partners are providing 
emergency assistance to meet the emerging needs. DPPA has allocated 
1,980 tonnes of relief food items for flood response to Mustahil, Gode 
and Kelafo woredas of Gode zone. The transportation is ongoing and so 
far 89 percent of the food items have been dispatched by road from Dire 
Dawa. Transportation has been partly hampered because of poor road 
condition following heavy rains in the region. Currently some trucks 
carrying relief food are stuck in Shilabo woreda of Korahe zone. UNICEF 
airlifted one cargo of relief non-food items including essential drugs, 
plastic sheets, blankets and water purification materials. Food and 
non-food items are pre-positioned in Gode town; nevertheless, 
transportation to the flood-affected areas is difficult due to 
inaccessibility, and several trucks loaded with emergency relief items 
are stranded due to the floods and heavy rains. The need for 
transportation including helicopters and boats are among the pressing 
needs. Meanwhile, on 10 November, IRC via US military has begun 
airlifting 36 MT of relief non-food items worth US$ 100,000 to Gode 
town. An emergency taskforce comprised of DPPA, DPPB, UNICEF, WFP, FAO 
and OCHA has been established in Gode.

In mid-august, similar flooding in Gode killed four people and displaced 
approximately 56,000. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org and 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

RELIEF DISPATCHES UPDATE

DPPA has also allocated food commodities for 30,900 flood victims in 
Gambella, 18,233 flood victims in Amhara and for 10,000 flood victims in 
Dire Dawa to support the victims during their recovery from the 
disaster. The dispatches are expected to start shortly.  In addition, 
DPPA has allocated October relief food for Amhara, Gambella, Oromiya, 
and SNNP regions for approximately 915,000 beneficiaries out of a 
planned 2,259,000. DPPA has asked Amhara, Oromiya and Somali regions to 
prioritize areas for food delivery for the next round of allocations. 
Transportation of the allocations to the regions is starting shortly. 
For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

AWD AND MENINGITIS UPDATE

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) total case number has now reached 36,342 
with 416 deaths in 99 woredas across the country. The outbreak has 
spread to a farm in Dupti woreda in zone 1, Afar Region. The Ministry of 
Health (MoH) deployed a team to assess the situation. The outbreak is 
also reported in flood affected West Imi woreda of Somali Region. 
Concern and Merlin are providing assistance to the woreda health bureau. 
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health received 10 million birr from the 
National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Fund. The Humanitarian 
Response Fund recently approved two AWD response projects including US$ 
1,349,302 to UNICEF for Water and Sanitation interventions related to 
AWD and US$ 147,228 to PSI for support to Water interventions and 
advocacy and awareness raising in cooperation with the federal ministry 
of health. To date the HRF has provided US$ 2.3 million to address the 
AWD emergency.

An outbreak of meningitis is also reported in Mursi area in SNNP, after 
the MoH reported that a previous outbreak in Wolayita zone of the same 
region was contained. The regional health bureau sent a team to assess 
the situation. The Ministry has 625,000 doses of vaccines available in 
its warehouse. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

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