OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
18 June 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

INCREASED RISK OF FLOODING

The National Meteorological Agency's (NMA) preliminary forecast for June to 
September indicates above normal Kiremt rainfall for most of the country. This 
corresponds with IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre predication of 
near to above normal rainfall over central, western and northern Ethiopia 
including central and northern Afar Region. These conditions have led the 
Hydro-meteorological Services to forecast an increase in the likelihood of 
flooding and water logging in major river basins and flood prone areas. 
Moisture stress is also expected in parts of southern Oromiya, northern Somali, 
southern Afar and southern SNNPR. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

AWD UPDATE

More than 95 percent of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) cases are currently being 
reported from 25 of the 60 affected woredas. Affected areas include Harari 
Region; Bale, Borena, East and West Hararge zones in Oromiya Region; Oromiya 
zone in Amhara Region; Gedeo, Sidama and Bench Maji zones in SNNPR and eight 
woredas in Somali Region.  Seven WHO national consultants have been deployed to 
provide technical support to Regional Health Bureaus (RHB) in affected areas. 
In addition, WHO has allocated over US $37,000 to Oromiya RHB for training on 
case management and surveillance, procurement of essential drugs and monitoring 
and supervision in East Hararge zone. A further US $21,000 has been provided to 
Somali RHB for staff training on health and procurement of essential drugs. 
UNICEF in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (MoH) facilitated a 
two day workshop from 11 to 13 June in Dire Dawa for nearly 50 health workers 
from affected areas. The workshop aimed to strengthen participants' 
communication skills, hygiene and sanitation knowledge and to develop work 
plans for similar trainings in affected areas. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int and aingabire@unicef.org

CONFERENCE ON WEATHER BASED INSURANCE

On June 13, the Food Security Coordination Bureau and WFP held a joint-workshop 
at ECA to discuss the multi-disciplinary application of weather-based indices. 
The workshop evolved from lessons learned and best practices gained during the 
2006 Ethiopia Drought Insurance Pilot Project which used the financial vehicle 
of index-based weather insurance to transfer Ethiopian drought risk to 
international risk markets. A new software model for drought indexing designed 
specifically for the local context and co-developed by WFP, World Bank and FAO 
was introduced by the project team. This tool once fully developed, could 
greatly improve early warning as well as support agricultural decisions 
regarding planting time, irrigation and implementation of water harvesting 
programs. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

WORKSHOP IN RESETTLEMENT HEALTH

MSF Holland in conjunction with the Amhara Bureau of Health, are holding a two 
day workshop in Bahir Dahr between 19-20 June on the issue of health care for 
migrant workers and resettlement areas. The workshop will explore the lessons 
learnt and challenges faced by MSF in their Kala Azar and HIV/AIDS programme in 
Abdurafi, Mierab Armachiho woreda, Amhara Region. Issues that will be addressed 
include malnutrition, prevention and treatment of Kala Azar and HIV/AIDS and 
the health care and quality of water and sanitation facilities in farm and 
resettlement sites.  For more information contact: 
msfh-ethiopia-hao@field.amsterdam.msf.org

WORLD REFUGEE DAY

World Refugee Day will be commemorated around the world on 20 June. In Addis 
Ababa, the event will be marked by a panel discussion at the Alliance 
Ethio-Francaise on 18 June and a Refugee Arts and Crafts Exhibition on 19 June. 
For more information contact:  brass@unhcr.org

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