OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
16 July 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SECURITY SITUATION IN SOMALI REGION

The security situation in Somali Region continues to be a critical 
concern to Humanitarian Actors. The restricted access has hampered 
humanitarian interventions as well as commercial trafficking of 
commodities in five zones in the region - Fik, Warder, Korahey, Gode and 
Degahabur. Approximately 9,600 tons of relief food for 530,000 
beneficiaries in the region was allocated in May. However, dispatches of 
the allocated food have been undertaken only in Shinile and Afder zones. 
The poor security situation is feared to further deteriorate the food 
security as well as the vulnerable livelihood situation in the area. A 
continued dialogue on the provision of humanitarian access between 
Government and humanitarian partners is ongoing. Meanwhile, gu 
assessments have been completed in Shinile, Jijiga, Afder and Liben and 
teams have been allowed to begin assessment in the five zones under 
military operation.  For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org and 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

AWD UPDATE

An increasing trend in the number of national weekly Acute Watery 
Diarrhoea (AWD) cases is observed. It is feared that the rains will 
further exacerbate the increasing trend. Three new woredas were affected 
during the week, Aseko woreda of Arsi zone, Robe town of Bale zone in 
Oromiya region, and Dawa Hariwa woreda of Oromiya Zone in Amhara region. 
Due to the security situation, in Somali Region, AWD cases are reported 
only from Jijga town. Most of the weekly cases were reported from 
Oromiya Region: 49.6%, and Afar Region: 44.4% particularly from zone 1. 
In order to address the prevailing concern, WHO has deployed two more 
consultants into these regions in addition to the seven consultants 
based across the affected regions.  Furthermore, the Oromiya Regional 
Health Bureau (RHB) has trained woreda health officials in East Harerge 
and provided financial support for drug procurement. UNICEF has also 
supplied three tents and CTC materials to the woreda Health 
Administration. Besides, Health awareness campaigns are ongoing in 
various places in the woreda.  Meanwhile, WHO, UNDP, OCHA and UNICEF met 
with the State Minister of Health during the week to review their areas 
of support in AWD response. Priority areas identified by the FMoH were 
case management and community-based activities. Coordination and 
resource mobilization were also identified as key areas for UN support. 
Among the recommendations from the meeting was to reactivate the AWD 
multi-sectoral coordination committee as well as sectoral taskforces. 
For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

EMERGENCY FOOD RESPONSE

DPPA has dispatched relief food for Oromiya Region for the month of June 
for a total of 70,000 beneficiaries based on verification assessment 
results. Furthermore, food for 42,600 beneficiaries in SNNPR is being 
transported to affected areas. Preliminary field reports from the belg 
assessment team indicate increased emergency food needs in some belg 
producing areas. Oromiya region has requested additional relief food to 
be dispatched to approximately 110,000 beneficiaries in West Hararghe 
zone. Based on the request, DPPA has allocated a one month ration. 
Furthermore, a one month ration is allocated for 47,360 people in two 
woredas in North Shewa zone, Amhara Region in need of urgent relief 
assistance. The food dispatch is expected to start shortly. In response 
to the current deteriorating food security in Afar region, 148 tones of 
supplementary food has also been allocated for beneficiaries in zone 
one, two and three. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CARE UPDATE

In its latest Food and Livelihoods Security Situation update, CARE 
indicated rising malnutrition in its operating areas. The food security 
situation is deteriorating in most highland and midland areas of both 
East and West Hararghe and parts of Borena. According to CARE, most 
Safety Net woredas have begun utilizing the contingency fund under PSNP 
due to the deteriorating food security situation. In particular, West 
Hararghe woredas have paid the second round from their contingency 
allocation. Meanwhile, the ongoing Enhanced Outreach Strategy (EOS) is 
reportedly averting further nutritional stress in the area. The report 
also indicated that approximately 900 people (190 households) have 
temporarily settled in Dillo Kebele, Dire Woreda in Borena zone. The 
people were displaced due to conflict during the end of last year. Food, 
shelter and sanitation are among the priority needs identified in the 
report. Meanwhile, an unknown camel disease has killed more than 600 
camels in three woredas in Borena zone since the last week of May. For 
more information contact: care.eth@ethionet.et

TARGETED SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING

WFP's Targeted Supplementary Feeding programme (TSF) faces serious 
resource shortages, which has hampered responses to needs identified 
through nutrition screening in seven regions where the programme is 
being implemented. The Government is, therefore, currently prioritizing 
woredas with the highest malnutrition percentage and food insecurity to 
remain under the programme. The yearly requirements of TSF have 
increased by 11,000 tones due to an increased number of beneficiaries 
identified to be malnourished. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

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