OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
26 February 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIES FOR THE NEW APPROACH

A DPPA led Early Warning Working Group (EWWG) met early last week to 
discuss implementation modalities for the new approach in the 
humanitarian emergency assistance process, particularly related to 
emergency assessments and allocation of relief resources. Through this 
new approach, the Government aims to reach those most in need, to 
minimize misuse of relief resources as well as to reduce aid dependency. 
In relation to the Appeal, the EWWG was tasked with developing a 
strategy and monitoring mechanism for the new approach including tools, 
methodologies and operating guidelines. In its recent meeting, the EWWG 
established two teams ? a methodology technical group to develop a 
strategy, tools, indicators and methods; and an information sharing 
group to monitor the emergency situation on the ground. These teams will 
be comprised of members from DPPA, OCHA, WFP, UNICEF, FAO, FEWSNET, 
SC-UK, SC-US, CRC, CARE and USAID. The group also agreed on the need for 
a consultant to take the led in the process. In 2007, allocation of 
resources will be determined following more specific area-by-area- and 
case-by-case assessments. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

AWD ADVISORY TEAM TO DEPART TO AFAR REGION

Despite decreases in the nationwide caseload, Acute Watery Diarrhoea 
(AWD) has continued to be spreading to new areas. The disease is of 
major concern in Afar, Somali, and pockets of SNNP and Oromiya regions. 
An AWD advisory team comprised of Federal Ministry of Health, UNICEF, 
WHO, OCHA, CARE and Oxfam will travel to Afar Region this week to 
support the region's effort in containing the outbreak. The Advisory 
team will establish a specific strategic response plan to address the 
region's requirement. Meanwhile, adjustments have been made within the 
AWD National Coordination Committee (NCC) to strengthen its work by 
merging the five subcommittees into three including the combination of 
the Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization Subcommittee with 
the Environmental Health and Sanitation Subcommittee; and the 
Surveillance and Information Exchange Subcommittee with Case Management 
and Laboratory Investigation Services Subcommittee. The weekly NCC 
meeting has also been changed to a monthly basis, while the chairpersons 
of the subcommittees under the chairmanship of the State Minster of 
Health will meet weekly to monitor the status of the outbreak and the 
corresponding responses/interventions. For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org

REPORTS OF MALNUTRITION IN SOME AREAS IN OROMIYA AND SOMALI REGIONS

A recent Joint WFP- Oromiya Food Security and DPPB assessment conducted 
in West Harerghe reported acute malnutrition among children in lowland 
areas of Habro and Darolebu woredas. Among other factors, the 
malnutrition is attributed to poor 2006/07 harvest due to below average 
meher rains, adverse impacts of the recurrent droughts, possible 
disparity between actual needs and allocation of PSNP/relief resources, 
delay in delivery of EOS/TSF resources and disease outbreaks such as 
diarrhoea. Furthermore, other reports indicated alarming malnutrition 
rate in Sheneka resettlement site in Agarfa woreda of Bale zone in 
Oromiya Region, with several reported cases of oedema. The cause of the 
malnutrition is still unknown. High level of malnutrition is also 
reported from Kelafo woreda in Gode zone, Somali Region due to the 
combined effects of repeated droughts, floods and the recent outbreak of 
AWD.: For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CLAN CONFLICTS IN BORENA ZONE, OROMIYA REGION

A recent clan conflict in Borena zone between Borena and Gabra is 
reported to have caused displacement and mortalities. Although the scale 
of the damage has not yet been assessed, there is a need for continued 
close monitoring in order to address the emerging humanitarian needs. 
For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

UPDATE ON RELIEF DISPATCHES

The Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA) has 
dispatched 512 tons of various food commodities to 27,580 conflict 
induced IDPs in Amaro and Burji special woredas in SNNPR. In addition, 
nearly six tons of relief food commodities have been dispatched to the 
269 landslide victims hosted in temporary shelters in Dejen woreda, 
Amhara Region. As part of AWD response to Afar region, DPPA has also 
allocated 152 tons of supplementary food and dispatches will commence 
shortly. DPPA is also transporting the regular December allocations to 
Oromiya and Somali regions. In line with the new approach for allocating 
food resources, DPPA has requested the regions to submit their relief 
food requirements for areas of critical concern; relief food items will 
be provided to these areas without a preliminary assessment, which at a 
later stage will be followed by needs assessment to determine duration 
of assistance, beneficiary numbers and locations. For more information 
contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

JOINT UN-GOVERNMENT CLUSTER WORKSHOP

A Joint UN-Government Cluster Workshop is scheduled to take place in 
Addis Ababa on 8th and 9th of March 2007. The workshop aims to 
strengthen the organization and management within the UN, and among 
partners to more effectively support the Government-led coordination 
planning and implementation of humanitarian assistance. For more 
information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

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