OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
27 August 2007


NATIONWIDE FLOOD UPDATE

Flooding continues to pose a risk as alarming increases in dam and river 
water levels are reported. Preliminary figures indicate that 
approximately 103,000 people have been affected, of which an estimated 
20,000 are displaced in Afar, Amhara, Tigray, SNNP and Gambella regions. 
The majority of the affected population - 37 percent, is in SNNPR. DPPA 
has dispatched a total of 1,121 tonnes of relief food for approximately 
60,600 flood affected people in the country. USAID/OFDA has donated 16 
boats, which will replenish DPPA and UNICEF stocks and will be deployed 
to flood prone areas. Meanwhile, DPPA-led joint verification assessment 
missions are being conducted in Amhara, SNNP and Afar regions.

Flooding occurred in 15 kebeles of North and South Gondar, North Wollo, 
North Shoa, and Oromiya zones in Amhara Region, affecting approximately 
8,500 people of which more than 4,600 are displaced. As the water level 
of Lake Tana continues to rise, there are concerns that more people from 
the surrounding woredas could be displaced. This year flooding has also 
occurred in normally non-flood prone areas, including Quara and Kobo, 
increasing flood water area coverage. A regional flood contingency plan 
is being finalized to address emergency and early recovery requirements 
of an estimated 78,000 people expected to be affected in the region. The 
regional flood emergency coordination forum and woreda sectoral 
taskforces have been reactivated to enhance better preparedness and 
response. Flood early warning messages have already been communicated 
and precautionary measures have been taken including evacuation of at 
risk communities and relocation of livestock to higher grounds. For 
further information contact: ocha-eth@un.org, wfp.addisababa@wfp.org & 
kmcdonald@unicef.org

AWD: SERIOUS CONCERN IN TIGRAY AND AMHARA REGIONS

While a total of 72 woredas from Oromiya, Amhara, Tigray, SNNP, Afar and 
Somali regions reported Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) cases during the 
week, the most alarming spread is in Amhara and Tigray regions. Since 
mid-July, a total of 1,133 cases with 17 deaths have been reported in 
Kafta Humera woreda in Western Tigray zone. DPPA has allocated 193 
tonnes of relief food and dispatch is ongoing. In Amhara Region, 
flooding has exacerbated the spread of the disease particularly in Qura, 
Harbro and Gubalafto woredas. UNICEF is providing professional and 
technical support and has given 300 kg chlorine to MSF-Holland in Tigray 
Region. For further information contact: who-wro@et.afro.int & 
kmcdonald@unicef.org

UPDATE ON FOOD MOVEMENT TO SOMALI REGION & PREPARATION FOR A UN 
HUMANITARIAN MISSION

Relief food allocated for June has begun to reach Korahe and Gode zones, 
Somali Region. According to WFP sub-offices, five trucks carrying 190 of 
the 649 tonnes of food allocated for Gode woreda have arrived. In 
addition, an unconfirmed amount has also reached Kebridehar town in 
Korahe zone. Approximately, 3,000 tonnes of June's relief food 
allocation to the five military operational zones has not yet been 
dispatched. Meanwhile, trucks loaded in Dire Dawa are awaiting military 
escorts to resume dispatches to distribution points. Food security, 
however, continues to be of concern related to limited commercial food 
deliveries and continued suspension of livestock trade. While in recent 
weeks, some commercial food has reached urban areas in the military 
operational zones, prices of such basic commodities as rice and sugar 
remain high. A United Nations humanitarian monitoring and assessment 
mission to the region is currently under preparation, which is planned 
to take place during the first week of September. For further 
information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

DISTRIBUTION OF SUPPLEMENTARY FOOD ONGOING

Despite outstanding pipeline shortfalls, distribution of supplementary 
food under the Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS)/ Targeted Supplementary 
Feeding (TSF) programme is underway. Delays in local food production 
have, however, hindered distribution in some areas. A total of 7,363 
tonnes of food has been distributed in hotspot areas of Bona woreda in 
Sidama zone; Humbo, Bolososore and Doyogena woredas in Kambata Tembaro 
zone; Meskan woreda in Gurage zone; and Silti woredas in Silti zone. In 
Oromiya Region, distributions have been completed in Arsi, West and East 
Hararghe, Borena, Bale and Shewa zones. Further distribution in the 
remaining zones of Oromiya and Amhara Region (1,790 tonnes) will be 
completed by mid-September.  For further information: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

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