OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
20 August 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Flood Contingency Plan Launched

Government and humanitarian partners launched a joint flood contingency 
plan on 13 August 2007. Under the most likely mid-case scenario, the 
plan seeks US$ 21 million to address relief and recovery needs for an 
estimated 324,000 beneficiaries. The scenario assumes that the overall 
impact of flooding will be 25 percent less than that of the 2006 main 
rainy season. This is due to the introduction of better preparedness and 
prevention measures. Flooding has, however, already been reported in 
some areas of Amhara, Afar, Tigray, Gambella and SNNPR. According to 
recent data approximately 43,000 people have been affected, out of which 
17,000 people are estimated to be displaced. In SNNPR food assistance 
has been requested for people affected by floods in Hamer and Dasenech 
woredas, South Omo zone. The Amhara regional authorities have also 
requested emergency food and non-food assistance for flood affected 
people in Kobo, Quara, Libo kemkem, Antsokia Gemza woredas. 
Approximately, 1,120 people have been displaced due to flooding in 
Libokemkem and Quara woredas. Two temporary camps have been established. 
While, the region has provided food from its own resources, DPPA has 
also allocated a one month's ration of 67.3 tonnes of relief food 
commodities for 3,107 beneficiaries in North and South Gondar zones. 
Dispatches are expected to start shortly. A verification assessment will 
depart to Amhara on 21 August. DPPA has also dispatched 357.2 tonnes of 
relief food for flood affected beneficiaries in Lare and Itang woredas 
of Gambella Region. Moreover, following heavy rains in Afar, UNICEF has 
dispatched 450,000 sachets of PUR and 4,000 jerry cans for 10,000 people 
for two months. For further information contact: ocha-eth@un.org & 
kmcdonald@unicef.org

Volcanic Eruption in Teru WOREDA, Afar Region

Ethiopia's only active volcano, Mount Ertale erupted in Teru woreda, 
Zone 4, displacing residents of Dayulu and Gomayta villages on 14 
August. DPPA has dispatched relief supplies and a regional assessment 
team has been deployed to the affected area. The volcano last erupted in 
2005, displacing thousands of people and killing hundreds of livestock. 
For further information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

ETHIOPIA RECEIVES US$ 3 Million from CERF

The second round allocation of Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 
for under-funded emergencies has granted Ethiopia US$ 3 million. Under 
the management of cluster leads, a total of US$ 1.2 million has been 
allocated for supplementary food and US$ 1.8 million for water, 
sanitation and health interventions. Priority interventions will include 
prevention and control of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD). For further 
information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

Dispatches to Somali region

DPPA is currently dispatching June's allocation of relief food to seven 
zones in Somali Region. To date, almost 70 percent of the total 
allocation (8,802 tonnes) has been dispatched. While dispatches to 
Korahe, Gode, Warder and Degehabur zones continue; dispatches to 
Shinile, Afder and Liben zones have been finalized. Distributions in 
Shinile are near completion. In Afder and Liben zones, however, 
distributions are ongoing as the food arrives in the woredas. Due to the 
current security situation, WFP is able to monitor food arrivals only in 
Shinile, Liben, Afder and Warder zones and information on other zones is 
limited. Presently there is a lack of access to the region for other 
humanitarian assistance and monitoring. The UN and donors have met 
weekly to discuss approaches to address growing humanitarian concerns 
for the civilian population in the region. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

Acute Watery Diarrhoea update

Afar, Somali, Tigray, Amhara and Oromiya regions are areas of concern 
for the AWD response. The disease reappeared in Tigray Region where it 
had previously been contained. In Afar, four out of the 18 affected 
woredas have reported active cases during the week. In addition, a total 
of 40 woredas in seven zones are reporting AWD cases in Oromiya Region. 
Although complete information from Somali Region continues to be a 
challenge, Jijiga zone is reporting active cases. Unconfirmed cases were 
also reported from Sagag and Salahad woredas of Fik zone and Dagahmadow 
woreda of Dagehabur zone. For further information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.int & kmcdonald@unicef.org

Update on the Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme

The WFP supported Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) programme in 
support of the Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) is concerned over the 
constant increase of acutely malnourished children under five and 
pregnant and nursing women. The latest EOS screening figures in SNNPR 
show a 7 percent increase compared to the same time last year. ENCU with 
its EOS/TSF partners is currently verifying screening results. Moreover, 
TSF continues to face a shortfall of 5,617 tonnes of supplementary food 
and 1,734 tonnes of vegetable oil, which amount to more than US$ 4 
million.

For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

Nutrition Update

GOAL, the Regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau (RDPPB) 
and the Regional Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (RENCU) are 
conducting a joint standard nutrition survey in Daro Lebu woreda, West 
Hararghe zone, Oromiya Region, following high rates of malnutrition 
identified by a rapid nutrition assessment in July. High levels of 
malnutrition have also been reported in Sankura woreda, Silti zone in 
SNNPR. SC-UK, Samaritan's Purse, RDPPB and RENCU are conducting a 
standard nutrition survey in the area. The results of both surveys 
should be available in early September. Meanwhile, ACF has opened twenty 
Outpatient Therapeutic Programme (OTP) sites and two stabilization 
centres in Dale Wensho and Aleta Wondo woredas, Sidama zone, following 
serious malnutrition rates (GAM - 13.7 % & SAM - 2.3%). For further 
information contact: isaackm@dppc.gov.et

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