OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
12 September 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FLOODING CONTINUES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Floods continued to be reported across the country last week. According 
to WFP, as of 4 September, the flood affected population has reached 
357,000 people including 136,528 displaced. In Amhara, the most affected 
region, approximately 97,000 people are affected including 37,000 who 
are displaced. Approximately 68,000 people need immediate food 
assistance. Large areas of cropped land are swamped by the flood. The 
newly constructed bridge that connects to the temporary resettlement 
sites in Metema has been destroyed. Furthermore, Lake Tana has expanded 
by 50 meters, increasing the risk of further flood damage. Dembia woreda 
in North Gondar zone is among the areas that have suffered severe 
flooding. The displaced people in Dembia are being hosted in six 
temporary shelter sites that are accessible only by boat. DPPA has 
distributed two weeks food ration to the affected areas. Relief supplies 
are currently being transported by boats. The Regional authorities and 
Humanitarian Partners including SC/UK are providing ongoing humanitarian 
assistance. The immediate needs include an increase in food assistance 
and non-food items particularly shelter. Water and Sanitation facilities 
are inadequate in the temporary resettlement sites increasing fears of 
the spread of waterborne disease and malaria. The first Amhara Emergency 
Coordination Forum on the floods took place on 3 September in Bahir Dar 
between government, NGO partners and UN agencies. An Action Plan is 
expected to be launched by the Forum shortly.

In Oromiya Region, reports indicate that the numbers of flood affected 
people have dramatically increased to 77,000, due to fresh flooding in 
eight districts in East Hararghe zone. WFP and zonal government officers 
have reported that 2,000 hectare of farmland is flooded. According to 
recent findings of a joint assessment led by DPPA in Somali Region, the 
number of affected people has doubled in Mustahil (45,000) and nearly 
tripled in Hargele woredas (32,450). For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHOEA CASES CONTINUE TO BE REPORTED IN FIVE REGIONS

Despite concerted efforts by Government and humanitarian actors, Acute 
Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) continued to spread throughout Ethiopia. AWD is 
now reported in four regions (Oromiya, SNNPR, Amhara & Tigray) and one 
administrative council - the capital Addis Ababa.  As of 4 September, 
the total confirmed cases and deaths reported by the Federal Ministry of 
Health (FMoH) are 16,250 and 123 respectively. The figures include 92 
cases in Amhara Region and 34 cases and 1 fatality in Tigray Region. 
Other sources, however, reported larger number of cases in the two 
regions: 115 cases and 21 deaths in Amhara and 99 cases and 20 deaths in 
Tigray For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

PLEDGES URGENTLY SOUGHT FOR RELIEF FOOD ASSISTANCE

Severe breaks in the national relief food pipeline are anticipated as 
early as October. The latest pipeline shows a deficit up to December 
2006 of about 140,000 tons of food worth US$ 70 million. This amount 
includes the food requirement for the flood response. Needs are expected 
to increase following assessments in flood affected areas. Consequently, 
donor contributions are most urgently sought to cover the relief food 
needs of about 3 million people from September to December 2006. For 
more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CROSS BORDER POLIO VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN THE HORN OF AFRICA

A cross-border polio vaccination campaign is being conducted from 9 to 
12 September in the Horn of Africa. The polio eradication programme 
targets millions of children along the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya, 
Somalia and Djibouti. Countries in the Horn of Africa are increasing 
their level of planning, coordination and streamlining their polio 
eradication strategies to cut the corridor of transmission of the 
poliovirus. In Ethiopia, the polio vaccination campaign plans to reach 
956,886 children in the two regions of Somali and Afar that border 
Somalia and parts of Kenya. In Somalia the campaign plans to reach a 
total of 1.7 million children with concentration on regions bordering 
Ethiopia and Kenya. In northern Kenya, a total of 240,000 children will 
be targeted in five districts bordering Somalia and Ethiopia. For more 
information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

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