OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
27 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

A JOINT GOVERNMENT-UN EMERGENCY FLOOD APPEAL FOR SOMALI REGION LAUNCHED 
On Thursday, 23 November the DPPA launched a Joint Government and 
Humanitarian Partner Emergency Appeal for the flood-stricken Somali 
Region seeking just over US$7 million for non-food requirements and 
medium-term rehabilitation needs. The UN has swiftly responded to this 
request by applying for more than US$ 2 million to the relief effort 
through its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), to enable critical 
life-saving interventions in the areas of logistics (helicopter 
support), health, emergency seed assistance, non-food items and shelter. 
The Appeal requests US$ 865,336 for emergency logistics, including 
helicopters needed to reach the most inaccessible flood-affected areas. 
To address this critical need, two UN MI-8 helicopters, from WFP Horn of 
Africa Flood Relief Operation will be deployed in Gode in the coming 
days to support the transportation of relief items to areas deemed 
inaccessible by the flood. Three members of the United Nations Disaster 
Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team have been deployed to Gode and 
Jijiga to assist with coordination, communications and logistics.

The situation in the flood affected areas remains critical. Road 
accessibility is still a challenge as light rains continue and stagnant 
water has rendered some routes impassable.  Some improvements, however, 
have been made. Kelafo is now accessible and humanitarian assistance has 
reached Mustahil, albeit with great difficulty. Twenty six WFP/DPPA 
trucks carrying 700 MT of food are reported to be within 17 km of 
Mustahil. In addition, DPPB and UNICEF have dispatched 400 NFI kits and 
two water purification units for Mustahil.  Access to West and East Imi 
remains limited amid reports of dire humanitarian situation in these 
woredas. Furthermore, the ongoing security situation in the region 
remains unstable. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

AWD UPDATE

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) continues to spread across the country. To 
date, a total number of 40,341 cases with 435 deaths are reported in 
Oromiya, SNNP, Tigray, Afar, Amhara and Somali regions. In Afar Region, 
the situation is of particular concern following reports of 516 new 
cases in five zones since the onset of the outbreak in October. 
Furthermore, the ongoing floods in Somali Region have amplified AWD 
cases. Meanwhile, a three day training workshop for regional bureaus, 
experts and mass media practitioners on prevention and control of AWD is 
underway in Wolliso town. The workshop, funded by UN-Humanitarian 
Resource Fund (HRF), at the request of the Ministry of Health (MoH), was 
organized by the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on AWD and aims 
to strengthen advocacy, education and social mobilization.  For more 
information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

MENINGITIS AND MEASLES OUTBREAKS

Two new confirmed cases of meningitis were reported in South Omo zone, 
SNNPR last week. To date, 614 cases with 10 deaths are reported in the 
region. MoH has pre-positioned vaccines in Tigray, Amhara, Beneshangul 
and SNNP regions to combat nationwide outbreak. A shortage of vaccines, 
however, continues to hinder response. Meanwhile, a measles outbreak has 
been reported in Abobo woreda, Gambella Region. The outbreak initiated 
in the local Anuak village of Abobo, now threatens to spread into 
neighbouring areas. Fugnido refugee camp is particularly at risk. 
Despite two measles outbreaks in the camp in 2005, immunization rates 
are still very low. The Regional Health Bureau, with the support of WHO 
and UNICEF, have began a vigorous immunization campaign to combat the 
spread of the disease.  For more information contact: 
milliyonwend@yahoo.com and who-wro@et.afro.who.int

WORLD VISION COMMENCES NEW RELIEF PROJECT

In response to the joint 2006 Humanitarian Appeal, World Vision Ethiopia 
will commence a one year food aid assistance and food security project 
in two pastoralist woredas of Oromiya Region. The relief program, funded 
by the European Union, is expected to benefit 30,400 people of Fentale 
and Arero woredas. Grains, supplementary food and oil will be 
distributed to the target beneficiaries. Furthermore, seeds and 
agricultural tools will be provided as part of an agricultural recovery 
program. Most of the rations are distributed based on employment 
generation schemes. The project will be implemented in collaboration 
with the local food security and disaster preparedness and prevention 
offices.  For more information contact: haileyesus_dinka@wvi.org

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