OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
20 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FLOOD UPDATE

The floods in Somali Region have to date claimed the lives of 80 people 
and affected as many as 361,600 of whom 122,500 are displaced in Gode, 
Afder, Liben and Korahe zones. Heavy rains are forecast for the coming 
days, increasing fears of further flooding. Based on the recommendations 
of the high level assessment mission led by the Deputy Prime Minister, 
the DPPA is presently preparing a joint flash appeal to address the 
humanitarian situation. Meanwhile, Government and Humanitarian partners 
are continuing to provide emergency assistance to meet the urgent needs 
but accessibility continues to be a challenge. Alternative methods of 
relief delivery such as helicopters, pack animals, boats and other 
transport routes are currently being explored. Other challenges include 
the emerging health and nutrition problems aggravated by the flooding; 
in particular there is a concern about the further spread of Acute 
Watery Diarrhoea in the region and the possibility of a malaria 
outbreak. Increases in water-borne disease have already been observed by 
the DPPB in the flood affected regions.

Rapid Assessment teams have been deployed throughout the flood affected 
areas of the region. The findings of the joint assessment team that 
visited Kelafo, have illustrated the severity of the situation. While 
much of the flood water has now receded as many as 64,720 people in 
Kelafo have been displaced by the floods from 25 of its 32 kebeles. The 
priority needs are food, mosquito nets, drugs, shelter materials, seeds 
and agricultural tools. Despite difficult road conditions the first 
trucks carrying food aid have reached Kelafo over the weekend and 
distributions are expected to take place immediately. ICRC has made 
available two boats to DPPB for distributions of relief items in the 
areas that are currently inaccessible by road. The boats will be 
transported to Kelafo in the coming days. Furthermore, a loader has been 
send by DPPB and WFP to pull out the food aid trucks currently stuck in 
the mud on the road to Kelafo. Additional rains in the flood affected 
areas can further deteriorate road conditions and hamper efforts to 
deliver relief aid. A UNICEF mobile health team is currently in Kelafo. 
A joint DPPB, SC-UK and health department rapid assessment team visited 
East and West Imi by boat this week and its findings are still pending. 
Food and non-food items have been dispatched by Concern Worldwide, IRC, 
WFP/DPPA, UNICEF, the Regional Agriculture Bureau, ARDA, CHF, PSI, MCDO, 
OWDA and UNICEF. Nevertheless, NGOs participation in response has thus 
far been limited due to inaccessibility, security problem and lack of 
agreed upon requirements. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

AWD UPDATE

Despite collaborated efforts by Government and humanitarian partners, 
Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) continues to spread to new areas. To date, 
a total of 38,007 cases with 404 deaths are reported in 105 woredas in 
Oromiya, SNNP, Tigray, Afar, Amhara and Somali regions. The situation in 
Afar Region is of major concern due to the alarming increase in number 
of cases within a short period of time. Concern and World Vision 
Ethiopia are presently assisting the regional government by establishing 
CTCs and training of health workers in the area. The situation in Somali 
Region is also of concern, as the floods are feared to exacerbate the 
outbreak. The situation in Amhara, Tigray and Oromiya is promising as 
the case numbers are decreasing. Nevertheless, nothing can be said about 
SNNPR due to poor surveillance reporting. Meanwhile, the five 
subcommittees established under the National Coordination Committee for 
Control and Prevention of AWD are actively working to address the 
emergency. The Ministry of Health (MoH) transferred half of the 10 
million birr secured from the National Disaster Prevention and 
Preparedness Fund to the regions. The remaining money will be utilized 
at federal level. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

MENINGITIS OUTBREAK, SNNPR

Meningitis outbreak is reported in Derashe Special Woreda and Selamago 
woreda (Mursi area) in South Omo zone, SNNPR. Another outbreak, earlier 
reported in Wolayita zone of the same region was contained due to quick 
response by Ministry of Health (MoH) and humanitarian partners. To date, 
a total of 612 cases with 10 deaths are reported in the region. The 
situation is of major concern as the outbreak started earlier than the 
normal epidemic time. To contain the outbreak, the MoH is undertaking 
different activities including pre-positioning of vaccines in Tigray, 
Amhara, Beneshangul and SNNP regions. The Ministry is also providing 
health education to the affected communities and is conducting different 
assessments in the area. There is a 4.4 million shortage of vaccines in 
the country, and the Ministry is appealing for donors to address the 
gap. Contact: milliyonwend@yahoo.com


PRE-HARVEST FOOD SECURITY MISSION DEPARTS TO THE REGIONS

The DPPA-led annual pre-harvest food security mission for crop dependent 
areas departed to the regions on 18 November. The assessment for the 
pastoral areas covering Somali Region and Borena zone of Oromiya Region 
is scheduled to start on 25 November. The Household Economy Approach 
(HEA) that takes into account sources of food, income, expenditure and 
coping abilities of households to determine food gaps will be used in 
SNNPR. It is envisaged that this method will be expanded to Tigray, 
Amhara, and pastoral areas of Afar and Somali regions next year. 
Meanwhile, livelihood baselines are being compiled and updated in these 
regions.

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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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