OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
19 November 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SOMALI REGION UPDATE

The DPPA has approved an additional seven NGOs to operate in the parts 
of Degehabur, Fik, Gode, Korahe and Warder zones affected by military 
operations, bringing the total number of accredited NGOs to 19. The UN 
has firmly established its presence in Kebridehar and Degehabur. In 
addition to existing coordination mechanisms, a coordination meeting 
will now also be established in Kebridehar. The UN Humanitarian Air 
Services (UNHAS) is facilitating air transport service for moving 
humanitarian staff in and out of the region. The Disaster Prevention and 
Preparedness Agency (DPPA) has started to dispatch the second round of 
relief food allocation to approximately 953,000 beneficiaries in the 
region. To date, 5,000 tonnes of food have been dispatched to 
beneficiaries in the five zones under military operation. To ensure 
targeting and effective food delivery, 186 Food Distribution Points 
(FDPs) have now been approved in the five zones, while 208 FDPs have 
been approved in Shinile, Afder and Liben zones. Moreover, WFP Logistics 
has joined the Government's Transport Committee based in Dire Dawa, in 
order to enable enhanced coordination on logistics issues between the UN 
and government. In addition, UNICEF is finalizing preparations to deploy 
15 mobile teams. A DPPA led multi-agency nutrition rapid assessment team 
composed of UNICEF, WHO, Save the Children - UK and Save the Children US 
will be deployed to hot spot areas for malnutrition. An inter-agency 
training, which included protection, security, ICT and humanitarian 
principles, was conducted this week to ensure enhanced UN response in 
the region. Meanwhile, Mr. John Holmes, the Emergency Relief Coordinator 
and Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs will visit Ethiopia 
with a field mission to Jijiga and Kebridehar during 26 to 28 November. 
For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org & ocha-eth@un.org

HEALTH HAZARDS

Ethiopia is presently putting in place preparedness measures to prevent 
possible outbreaks of Meningitis and Rift Valley Fever (RVF). Although 
sporadic cases occur every year, a massive Meningitis epidemic occurs 
every 8-12 years as the country lies in the "African Meningitis Belt". 
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) recently notified humanitarian 
partners that there is a possibility of a large scale meningitis 
outbreak in 2008. The Ministry, in collaboration with WHO, is engaged in 
undertaking preparation activities including ensuring the national stock 
for vaccination, staff training, and developing IEC materials. 
Activities are also ongoing to strengthen surveillance across the 
country. Moreover, there is a high risk of cross border transmission of 
RVF from neighbouring states of Sinnar, Gazeera and White Nile in Sudan. 
As of 14 November 2007, a total of 329 human cases and 96 deaths with 
Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 29 percent have been reported in Sudan. As 
part of preparedness measures, a draft national strategy is being 
finalized and the National Committee has been revitalized. In addition, 
FMoH has notified the regions to conduct active case surveillance as 
well as to closely follow up the issue. A team comprised of Ministry of 
Agriculture, WHO, FMoH, and FAO was deployed on 6 November to conduct 
case investigation in the high risk regions of SNNP, Oromiya, 
Beneshangul Gumuz, Gambella and Tigray. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

AWD CONTINUES TO BE OF CONCERN

AWD cases earlier reported from Benishangul Gumuz are yet to be 
confirmed. A total of 149 woredas in six regions and one administrative 
town are currently reporting active cases. The hotspot woredas are Guna 
and Shakiso in Oromiya; Kecha Birra in SNNP; Alamata in Tigray; Dalol 
and Amibara in Afar; Yelma Densa and Jabi Tehnan in Amhara; Jijiga in 
Somali and Dire Dawa Administrative zone. The FMoH conducted a national 
AWD review meeting from 5 to 9 November 2007 in Nazareth town. In 
additon, WHO allocated US$ 88,645 to Oromiya, Tigray and Beneshangul 
Gumuz Regional Health Bureaus (RHB) for AWD case treatment center (CTC) 
management, health staff training and deployment as well as community 
sensitisation. Furthermore, US$ 19,000 has been allocated to Ethiopian 
Red Cross Society (ERCS) for community sensitization in Borena zone, 
Oromiya Region. The Somali RHB have provided drugs to Degehabur, 
Gashamo, Boh, Fik woredas in response to AWD epidemic. For more 
information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

SOMLAI REGION THREATNED BY FURTHER FLOODING

The water level of the Wabishebele River has reached seven metres, the 
highest recorded deyr season water level in recent years. This has 
increased fears of further flooding in riverine areas of Mustahil and 
Kelafo. The increase is attributed to localized rains in the areas. 
Early warning messages have been given to communities in high risk 
areas. To date, there are no reports of flooding in the upstream areas 
of West and East Imi. For more information contact: 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

CONFERENCE ON PASTORALIST PEACE AND PROSPERITY

A gathering of nearly 280 Pastoralists in the Southern Nations, 
Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) convened in the remote 
Nyangatom woreda in South Omo zone from November 8-12 to discuss and 
debate the prospects of pastoralist peace and prosperity. Sponsored by 
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
Pastoralist Communication Initiative, the conference included 
pastoralists from over 17 ethnic groups to confer on issues of peace and 
conflict, burgeoning tourism, fair trade, and development of education 
and infrastructure. Other issues discussed included land utilization, 
construction of new transport routes (i.e. bridges and roads) to 
facilitate and open new markets and economic relations, and finally 
encouraging pastoralist participation in national affairs. The first 
three days were devoted to negotiations and planning among pastoralists 
and customary leaders on peace in the area, and decisions around 
ensuring peace in the future were reached. The final two days welcomed 
the participation of government, UN, NGO officials as well as the media. 
The regional president of SNNPR highlighted the importance of community 
leadership in resolving issues of conflict and poverty.

For more information contact: pastoralistinfo@unocha-pci.org

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