OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
11 June 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

FOOD SECURITY UPDATE

The food security situation in pocket areas of Oromiya, Amhara and Afar 
regions is deteriorating and is in need of close monitoring in Somali 
Region. While the 2006 dayr season has been instrumental in preventing a 
serious decline in the food security situation of Somali Region, the 
situation in southern zones is fragile and in need of close monitoring 
especially as the dry "hagaa" season begins. Food availability is 
deteriorating due to limited relief food distribution this year. 
Meanwhile, in response to rapid verification assessment findings, the 
Federal Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA) has allocated 
9,627 tonnes of relief food commodities for 528,500 beneficiaries in 
Warder, Shinile, Degehabur, Afder, Korahe, Liben, Gode and Fik zones. In 
Oromiya Region, the food security situation in lowland woredas has 
continued to deteriorate. Based on the DPPA led verification assessment 
recommendations, DPPA has allocated 2,024 tonnes of relief food 
commodities for 112,443 beneficiaries in Agarfa and Gasarena woredas of 
Bale zone; Chinaksen woreda of East Hararghe zone; Ginde Beret, Adda 
Berga and Meta Robi woredas of West Shewa; and Jarsi woreda of West 
Wellega zones. In addition, World Vision with funding from the European 
Union commenced emergency food aid distribution to 9,200 beneficiaries 
in Gedeb Assasa and Sude woredas of Arsi zone. In Amhara Region, the 
regional DPPFSB has identified 14 woredas to be of concern in five 
eastern zones due to the poor 2006 meher harvest and belg production 
prospects. Meanwhile, following reports of food insecurity in zone 1, 2, 
4 and 5 of Afar Region, the Federal WASH taskforce deployed a team to 
assess the overall situation on 11 June. DPPA has allocated 145 tonnes 
of supplementary food to the most affected areas to complement ongoing 
Productive Safety Net Programme transfers. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, aingabire@unicef.org & haileyesus_dinka@wvi.org

GAMBELLA UPDATE

Ongoing movements of displaced Jikany Nuer from Itang woreda through 
Burebey to Akobo and others areas of in western Gambella Region continue 
to cause humanitarian concern. Reports indicate that the Lou Nuer have 
moved into South Sudan vacating the land they occupied in preparation 
for the arrival of the Jikany. Latent tensions, however, remain between 
these two Nuer factions. The local administrations of Akobo county, 
South Sudan and Tiergol woreda, Gambella Region are organizing a peace 
dialogue between the two communities in collaboration with PACT 
International.  Both communities are in need of food and non-food 
humanitarian assistance. Ongoing rains could also amplify cases of Acute 
Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) and other water borne diseases. The Humanitarian 
Response Fund (HRF) is considering applications for life saving 
interventions. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

RAINS INCREASE AWD CONCERNS

The forthcoming rainy season threatens to amplify cases of Acute Watery 
Diarrhoea (AWD) nationwide. Currently five of Ethiopia's nine regions 
are still officially reporting cases with the majority of cases coming 
from Bale, East Hararghe and Borena zones, Oromiya Region; Sidama and 
Bench Maji zones, SNNPR; Oromiya zone, Amhara Region; Harari Region and 
Dolobay, Dolo Odo and Degehabur zones, Somali Region. Since the 
beginning of the epidemic the disease outbreak has been successfully 
contained in 104 affected woredas, 64 woredas, however, continue to 
report cases. WHO has intensified its response in Somali Region where 
increased cases have been reported with trainings on surveillance and 
case management ongoing in newly affected areas. In addition, 
Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and treatment 
guidelines have been distributed. Four cholera kits and two emergency 
health kits donated by the Norwegian government have also been deployed. 
Contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

POLIO IMMUNIZATION CAMPAIGN TARGETS 14 MILLION UNDER FIVE CHILDREN

The Federal Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, 
launched a four-day, house-to-house polio immunization campaign on 8 
June. The campaign targets 14.1 million children under the age of five 
across the country. Operational costs will be covered by the European 
Commission. Polio cases have not been reported in Ethiopia for over six 
months with the last case being reported on 7 November 2006 in Korahe 
zone of Somali Region. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

BELG ASSESSMENT PREPARATION UNDERWAY

Preparation is underway to conduct the seasonal belg assessment in 
hotspot areas across the country. This year the Household Economic 
Approach (HEA) will be implemented in the three regions of Tigray, SNNP 
and Somali; while the traditional method will be applied in Afar, Amhara 
and Oromiya regions. Gambella and Beneshangul Gumuz regions will not be 
covered as they are not belg dependent areas. Emerging needs from these 
regions will be addressed through the verification assessment in line 
with the new approach. For more information contact: dppaewd@dppc.gov.et

CLUSTER APPROACH UPDATE

The rollout of the cluster approach is ongoing. UN cluster leads have 
now nominated focal persons for the implementation of the approach. For 
Emergency Health - Kebba Jaieth (jaitehk@et.afro.who.int) from WHO; 
Nutrition ? Isaack Manyama (isaackm@dppc.gov.et) from UNICEF; 
Agriculture ? Alberto Pasini (alberto.pasini@fao.org) from FAO; WES ? 
Ewan Chainey (echainey@unicef.org) from UNICEF; Camp Management and 
Emergency Shelter and NFIs ? Ajit Fernando (Fernanda@unhcr.org) from 
UNHCR and Cecilia Omole (comole@iom.int) from IOM; and Protection ? 
Annika Sandlund from UNHCR. Focal persons for other Working Groups 
include ? Ulrich Muller (muelleru@un.org) for Early Warning from OCHA; 
Takele Teshome (takele.teshome@undp.org) for Early Recovery from UNDP; 
Yohannes Katsaros (Yohannes.katsaros@wfp.org) and Zemedkun Girma 
(Zedmedkun.girma@wfp.org) for Logistics from WFP and James Nightingale 
(nightingale@un.org) for Emergency Telecoms from OCHA . For more 
information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

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