OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
1 October 2007


RESPONSE TO SOMALI REGION

Based on the recommendations of the recent UN inter-agency assessment 
mission, an inter-agency response plan is currently under development. 
The response plan will address needs in all sectors including food aid, 
health and nutrition, agriculture and livestock, water and sanitation, 
protection and human rights issues. The Government has in principle 
approved the allocation of food for some 600,000 beneficiaries in the 
five zones under military operation - Fik, Degehabur, Korahe, Gode and 
Warder. As part of UNICEF's health and nutrition response, several 
trucks with health supplies left for Jijiga and Gode last week, to 
replenish essential drugs and nutritional supplies in health facilities. 
WHO has also deployed a consultant in Jijiga, a surveillance officer, 
and an Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) focal point. For more 
information contact: ocha-eth@un.org and wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

AFAR FLOOD ASSESSMENT REPORT

A team comprised of the Afar Regional DPPB, the Regional Water Bureau, 
UNICEF, CARE and OXFAM Great Britain visited the flood affected woredas 
of Gewane and Bure Mudaytu. The findings of the team indicate that out 
of a total of 14 kebeles that were inundated, Meteka, Adbaru and 
Brieforu kebeles in Gewane woreda, and Debel, Gefremu and Beidaforu in 
Bure Mudaytu woreda were the most severely affected. These communities 
have no safe water supply. In addition, public facilities, including 
schools and the health clinic in Debel have been submerged by the flood 
waters. Although, no major epidemics have been reported thus far, there 
is an increased risk of malaria and other waterborne diseases including 
AWD. Among the outstanding needs identified are: boats for the 
relocation of people in Beida and Adbaru kebeles; medical supplies and 
drugs including ITNs and Coartem; the continuation of food aid for the 
coming three months; health education; strengthening the woreda AWD and 
flood control committee and the provision of potable water to the 
affected community.  For more information contact: ManderT@care.org.et

REPORTS OF LANDSLIDES

There are reports of landslides from Tigray, Amhara and SNNP regions. 
The affected woredas include: Atsbi Wenberta (Eastern Tigray); Meta Robi 
(West Shewa); Kindo Dadiye (Wolayita); and Bonke (Gamo Gofa). The 
landslides in these areas resulted in displacements and have caused 
damages to crops, grazing areas, residential houses and soil 
conservation structures. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA UPDATE

Four new woredas were affected by AWD during the week namely Awbere and 
Erer woredas in Somali Region and Alamata and Tahtay Koraro woredas in 
Tigray Region. AWD cases continued to be reported in the six affected 
regions: Amhara, SNNP, Oromiya, Tigray, Afar and Somali. The hot spot 
areas are Lode Hitosa and Digsis woredas in Arsi zone, Oromiya Region, 
Dara and Chuko woredas in Sidama zone, Alaba Special Woreda in Alaba 
zone, SNNPR, Asgede Tsimbala woreda in Western Tigray zone, Naeder Adet 
in Central Tigray zone, Tigray Region and Jijiga and Erer woredas in 
Somali Region. Provision of safe drinking water and promotion of 
environmental and personal hygiene with strong coordination and 
collaboration of stakeholders are among the key interventions needed to 
tackle the disease. Shortage of staff and medical supplies in the health 
facilities are among the major challenges. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.int

FINDINGS OF VERIFICATION ASSESSMENT IN SNNPR

The findings of the recent joint Government-humanitarian partners' 
verification assessment in nine woredas of SNNPR indicate that 
approximately 81,000 people have been affected by both natural and 
manmade disasters. Flooding affected 40,536 people in five woredas - 
Humbo, Mirab Abaya, Dasenech, Hammer and Loka Abaya. In Kindo Dadiye and 
Bonke woredas, an estimated 12,720 people were affected by landslides. 
The most severe impacts of which were particularly felt in Kindo Dadiye 
woreda where 12 people were killed and 218 households were displaced. 
Tensions in Burji and Amaro woredas, following intense conflict between 
the Gujis and Amaros and Burjis in October 2006 continues to prevent 
agricultural activities in certain areas due to security concerns. The 
assessment team has recommended that assistance should be extended for 
the last four months of the year to 21,576 emergency beneficiaries that 
were identified in the visited woredas. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

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