OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
29 October 2007


SOMALI REGION RESPONSE PLAN

Government ministries and UN agencies have prepared joint response plans 
for Somali Region based on the recommendations of the UN mission report. 
The joint plans indicate total sectoral requirements as well as 
available funds and gaps.  The CERF secretariat has agreed to consider 
proposals for US$ 3 to 4 million for the humanitarian response, while 
HRF intends to allocate additional funds. Meanwhile, a joint WFP, UNDSS 
and OCHA team is currently conducting security review of potential joint 
UN-Government field offices in Degehabur and Kebridehar towns. OCHA 
plans to conduct a code of conduct workshop for all staff to be deployed 
to Somali Region early next month. The workshop aims to increase 
awareness on neutrality and impartiality while operating in complex 
emergency situations. Other trainings for staff will also be conducted 
on mine awareness and security.

WFP is working on a new allocation plan in collaboration with the 
Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA)  for approximately 
950,000 beneficiaries in the region. DPPA has waived the tendering 
process for the transportation of relief food, in order to ensure timely 
dispatch. Meanwhile, transportation of the June allocation of relief 
food is ongoing. To date, 81 percent of the 4,329 tonnes has been 
dispatched to the five zones under military operations - Fik, Warder, 
Gode, Korahe and Degehabur. For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org& wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CRITICAL MALUNTIRION FIK AND HAMARO WOREDAS IN SOMALI REGION

A standard nutritional survey conducted by SC-UK in Fik and Hamaro 
woredas in Fik zone reported a critical malnutrition status with a 
global acute malnutrition rate (GAM) of 20.8% and a severe acute 
malnutrition rate (SAM) of 1.4%. The situation is further exacerbated by 
such aggravating factors as poor food availability at household level, 
reduced commercial trade and high food commodity prices. Poor terms of 
trade due to declined livestock market prices, very high morbidity 
prevalence, and AWD also contribute to the deteriorating nutritional 
status. According to the survey, many people from Fik and Hamaro woredas 
have migrated to neighboring regions and some have crossed the border to 
Kenya and Djibouti. Among the immediate interventions recommended 
include: provision of general relief food assistance for at least three 
months and implementation of a one month blanket supplementary food 
distribution for under five children, pregnant and nursing women 
supplemented by a CTC/OTP intervention. Immediate deployment of a mobile 
health team with adequate emergency drug kits to treat and control AWD 
cases was also recommended. For more information contact: 
scukethiopia@savethechildren.org.uk

DESERT LOCUST INFESTATION IN SOMALI REGION

A massive desert locust infestation is reported in Kebridehar, Debewoyin 
and Shekosh woredas of Korahe zone and Gashemo woreda of Degehabur and 
all the woredas of Warder zone in Somali Region. The infestation is 
destroying browse and pasture and is spreading to other areas. The 
region is planning to conduct aerial chemical spraying to contain the 
spread. Reports indicate that the locust crossed the border from 
Somalia. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org & 
scukethiopia@savethechildren.org.uk

PREPARATIONS FOR MEHER ASSESSMENT

The 2007 meher assessment that will form the basis for identifying the 
2008 emergency food needs of the country is scheduled to commence in 
mid-November. Preliminary reports indicate that apart from some pocket 
areas, the performance of meher rains have been good both in crop 
producing and pastoral areas. The price of grain, however, continues to 
increase despite the good meher harvest, which affects the food security 
situation of those dependant on the purchase of grain. This year's meher 
assessment should, therefore, give due attention to the potential impact 
of those vulnerable to increased grain prices. In preparation for the 
assessment, DPPA's Livelihood Integration Unit is organizing a training 
of trainers (ToT) on the use of the Household Economic Analysis (HEA) 
approach in crop producing areas. The ToT will target Amhara, Tigray and 
SNNP regions. In pastoral areas, SC-UK will facilitate training on HEA 
for Afar and Somali regions. For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA UPDATE

A decrease in the number of AWD reported cases was reported in 
Benishangul Gumuz, Amhara, Oromiya, and Afar regions during last week. 
Nevertheless, Dangur and Mandura woredas in Benishangul Gumuz; Chuko, 
Dale, Ketida Game and Alaba woredas in SNNP; Kafta Humera and Alamata 
woredas in Tigray; Debre-Elias woreda in Amhara; Sire, Sude, Jaju Amigna 
and Robe woredas in Oromiya are hot spot areas currently reporting AWD 
cases. In Benishangul Gumuz, WHO deployed a medical officer to conduct 
an assessment and case investigation and to provide technical support to 
affected woredas. UNICEF provided CTC materials and also plans to 
establish a CTC in Mandura woreda in the coming days. There is a need to 
revitalize coordination committees at all levels and provide drugs and 
medical supplies as well as water disinfection/purification chemicals 
such as water guard and chlorine. Meanwhile, the government endorsed a 
comprehensive plan to contain AWD in Oromiya Region. In addition, 
Oromiya Regional Government launched a twelve months millennium 
sanitation campaign on 19th. October 2007. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.int

ETHIOPIA FOOD SECURITY OUTLOOK - OCTOBER 2007 TO MARCH 2008

FEWS NET and WFP Food Security Outlook from October 2007 to March 2008 
forecast that under the most-likely scenario the food security 
conditions are expected to improve throughout the country up to March 
2008. In this scenario, a good meher harvest is expected from October to 
December, which will increase food availability. Pasture conditions will 
remain good in northern pastoral areas, maintaining favourable terms of 
trade. In the worst-case scenario, however, the report indicates that 
untimely rains and frosts in November /December could damage meher 
crops, further increasing the already above-normal food prices and 
restricting household food access. It will also decrease food 
availability for own consumption. In addition, the October to December 
rains in southern areas could fail, causing pasture conditions to 
deteriorate. In this scenario, the report notes that significant amounts 
of emergency assistance could be needed beyond current levels and many 
households in the southeast could face extreme levels of food 
insecurity.

For more information contact:
    Ethiopia@fews.net & wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

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