OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
31 January 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

2007 Humanitarian Requirments

The request for 2007 humanitarian funding and support has been postponed 
until the second week of February, to accommodate a new approach for the 
allocation of food and non-food resources. The revised approach will 
include more rigorous assessments on an area-by-area, case-by-case basis 
in order to ensure that the needs of populations of humanitarian concern 
are adequately addressed. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

AWD Update

Despite collaborated Government and humanitarian partners' efforts to 
contain the Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) outbreak, the disease continues 
to spread to new areas. The situation is of major concern in SNNP, 
Somali and Oromiya regions. Last week increased cases were reported in 
Gode town, Somali Region where 74 patients were admitted. The patients 
are primarily from two kebeles where water reservoirs (Berkeds) are 
unprotected with poor sanitation. In an effort to contain the spread, 
mass sanitary campaigns were conducted in these Kebeles including 
cleaning of the reservoirs. In addition, the disease has now spread to 
Ferfer woreda where there is no Case Treatment Center (CTC). Cases are 
decreasing, however, in Kelafo, Mustahil, and Chereti woredas. 
Nationally, absence of adequate water and sanitation and hygiene 
interventions has been the main contributor to increased caseloads. 
Moreover, poor coordination, absence of adequate medical supplies and 
lack of awareness have hampered efficient response nationwide. To 
address this critical need, a task force led by MoWR, comprising 
Government ministries, NGOs and UN partners are developing a contingency 
plan. There is fear that the forthcoming belg rains could further 
exacerbate the situation. To date, a total of 53,854 cases with 580 
deaths are reported from 159 woredas nationwide. The majority of the 
cases ? 43 percent are from Oromiya Region. For more information 
contact: ocha-eth@un.org or who-wro@et.afro.who.int

Rehabilitation Needs of Flood Affected in SOMALI REGION

A DPPA-led federal assessment team is currently in Somali Region to 
evaluate the rehabilitation needs of people displaced and affected by 
the recent floods. The team composed of DPPA, Federal Ministry of Health 
(FMOH), Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Ministry of Agriculture and 
Rural Development (MoARD) and the Gode Health Office is concentrating 
its assessment on the most severely affected areas of Kelafo and 
Mustahil. Other flood affected areas will also be considered. The 
Parliament has endorsed a rehabilitation program to restore assets and 
properties destroyed by the floods including schools, water points and 
health facilities. The program also plans to assist with the recovery of 
livelihoods in the area, once rehabilitation needs are identified.

Meanwhile, the UN administered Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) funded 
Save the Children- UK (SC-UK) non-food relief item distribution project 
in west Gode and Kelafo woredas in Gode zone has completed screening and 
registration of households displaced by the floods. A total of 3,000 
families will receive various non-food items. Distribution is planned to 
commence early next week. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

Rift Valley Fever

There are still no confirmed or suspected cases of Rift Valley Fever 
(RVF) in Ethiopia. Surveillance, however, is ongoing in Somali, SNNP and 
Oromiya regions. As part of preventative measures, USAID in 
collaboration with the MoARD are working on the production of community 
education materials, which will be translated into Somali and Oromiffa. 
NGOs are encouraged to assist with the distribution of preventative 
messages to communities at risk. For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org or who-wro@et.afro.who.int

Belg Rains Commence in Amhara Region

The belg rains have commenced earlier than usual in Amhara Region. The 
rains are expected to improve land preparation for planting.  In Dessie 
town and its environs a total of 28 mm of rainfall has been received 
over a period of five days. Areas in North and South Wello as well as 
North Shewa have also started receiving rains.  The rains, however, are 
yet to arrive in Oromiya zone. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

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