OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
28 August 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

JOINT FLASH APPEAL FOR THE 2006 FLOOD CRISIS LAUNCHED

A Joint Government and Humanitarian Partners Flash Appeal for the 2006
flood disaster in Ethiopia was launched on 25 August.  The Flash Appeal
seeks a total of US$ 27,099,526 to meet the emerging needs. This
includes a total of 10,178 MT of emergency relief food worth US$
5,184,673, US$ 13,849,864 worth of non food relief items and US$
8,064,989 worth of rehabilitation requirements. Approximately 199,000
people in eight out of 11 Regions in the country have been affected by
severe flooding. As many as 600 people have died and more than 34,000
people are displaced. Most of them are being housed in temporary relief
shelters. Further assessments are going on and figures may vary over the
coming weeks based on new needs. Humanitarian partners are providing
emergency assistance to the flood affected areas. DFID has contributed
an additional amount of UKP 1,000,000 to Humanitarian Response Fund.
Private contributions, channeled through DPPA, have exceeded US$ 1
million as of 24 August. The Federal Government has set up a committee
chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister to address the countrywide flood
crisis.

New floods continue to be reported across the country as heavy rains
prevail. In Amhara Region, over 13,000 people that are displaced are
temporarily in relief shelters. Flooding of the upper basin of Awash
River in West Shewa zone of Oromiya Region displaced 2,052 people. In
Somali Region the overflow of the Wabishebelle River affected in
Mustahil and Kelafo woredas in Gode zone. Overflow of Tekeze River in
Kafta Humera woreda of Western Tigray zone has displaced 450 households.
The situation is also exacerbated by the fact that many dams have nearly
reached their maximum capacity. Koka Dam along the Awash River is of
particular concern as the dam will reach maximum levels in the coming
days. To avert disaster the Ministry of Water is releasing 100 cubic
meter water/per second. Two teams from the Federal Ministry of Water are
currently monitoring the situation as the potential threat of further
flooding from the dams is possible. The national crisis began over two
weeks ago when the Dechatu River devastated the town and environs of
Dire Dawa, leaving 254 dead and 244 still officially missing.  Since
then, the most severe flooding has taken place in South Omo Valley
affecting over 15 villages in two remote woredas in SNNPR. DPPA has
confirmed that 364 people have perished in the South Omo floods and
approximately 15,000 have been displaced. For more information contact:
ocha-eth@un.org

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHOEA OUTBREAK REPORTED IN FIVE REGIONS

The Acute Watery Diarrhoea outbreak that was first reported in Gambella
in April has continued to spread at an alarming rate. There are now
confirmed cases in the previously unaffected Amhara Region which brings
the number of affected regions to five. Preliminary data indicates that
AWD cases have reached 15,520 with 156 deaths. Federal Ministry of
Health and the affected Regional health Bureaus have mobilized resources
from various partners including WHO, UNICEF, PSI, Ethiopian Red Cross,
MSF and Merlin. Despite continued efforts by Government and partners
containment has remained a big challenge with case fatality rates
reaching 64.23 percent in Amhara. For more information contact:
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

JAPANESE GOVERNMENT DONATES US$4.7 MILLION TO UNICEF

The Government of Japan pledged over US $4.7 million to UNICEF for polio
eradication programmes and malaria control in Ethiopia as the ongoing
flood crisis threaten the outbreak of malaria.  The funds will be used
to provide 300,000 Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) through the
Enhanced Outreach Strategy to 150,000 malaria-affected families around
the country. In addition, the funds will be used to provide a large
quantity of vaccines to conduct two rounds of polio supplemental
immunization campaign, targeting 15.6 million children under five in
each round. For more information contact: mapted@unicef.org

MSF - HOLLAND AND BUREAU OF HEALTH TACKLE MEASLES OUTBREAK IN TIGRAY

An outbreak of measles has been confirmed in Humera woreda, Tigray
Region. There are currently 73 patients being treated by the Bureau of
Health and MSF-Holland in Humera hospital. So far, 4 fatalities have
been reported. Adults are likely to be affected due to low immunization
within Ethiopia and chronic levels of malnutrition in the area. A mass
vaccination campaign for the estimated 200,000 people in the area is
planned by MSF-Holland. For more information contact:
msfh-ethiopia-hom@field.amsterdam.msf.org

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