OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
3 December 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Somali region update

The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs 
(USG) and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC), Sir John Holmes, completed 
a two day visit in Ethiopia on 28 November. During his visit, the ERC 
met with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister and State 
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Somali Region President, members of the 
diplomatic community, donor mission, NGOs, press and the UN country 
team. He also visited Kebridehar and Jijiga towns in Somali Regional 
State. The ERC described the humanitarian situation in the five zones 
under military operation as potentially serious and stressed the need 
for immediate humanitarian action, including the resumption of trade, to 
avert a major humanitarian catastrophe. In his meeting with Government 
officials, the ERC shared his observation about the humanitarian 
situation in Somali Region and discussed issues of access and freedom of 
commercial activity among other issues. He also discussed ways in which 
the UN could support the Government in its efforts to provide relief to 
affected population.

The humanitarian Coordination forums both in Jijiga and Kebridehar are 
ongoing. Efforts are underway to revitalize the regional sectoral 
taskforces. To date, the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency 
(DPPA) has dispatched approximately 9,700 tons of relief food 
commodities to the five zones. According to WFP Degehabur Field Office 
and NGOs on the ground, distributions have started in Degehabur town, 
Kebridehar woreda and some areas in Fik zones - in Kebridehar, 
approximately 215 tonnes have been distributed. Some improvements are 
observed with regards to access; in Korahe, the UN has been allowed to 
move freely in the zone. Furthermore, the multi-agency assessment team 
has been granted access to Fik and Korahe zone. WFP, however, has not 
been able to carry out monitoring trips to Warder zone thus far. 
Distributions of medical and nutritional supplies as well as water 
chemical materials provided by the RHB and UNICEF to the 41 satellite 
health facilities are ongoing. UNICEF plans to establish Outpatient 
Therapeutic Programme (OTPs) in the ten health facilities. An Enhanced 
Outreach Strategy (EOS) screening and measles campaign will shortly 
commence in 13 woredas in the five affected zones. Furthermore, UNICEF 
has conducted water scheme assessment in three drought prone areas of 
Gode, Liben and Afder zones. Similar assessments are planned to follow 
in the remaining six zones. A DPPA-led Nutrition assessment team is 
being deployed to Fik and Korahe to verify reports of severe 
malnutrition. Meanwhile, recent FEWSNET reports indicate that the 
October-December deyr rains have so far been erratic and below normal in 
most areas in the region. Weather forecasts for the remainder of the 
season are also unfavourable. For more information contact: 
ocha-eth@un.org & wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

FMOH: AWD Cases decreasing

According to the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), reports of AWD cases 
are decreasing in most affected Regions. During the week, 40 woredas in 
18 zones reported cases; while a month ago, reports came from 112 
woredas in 30 zones. Although the decrease is attributed to the ongoing 
intervention activities and end of the rainy season, further assessment 
needs to be undertaken as the major risk factors for the continuous 
spread of the disease have not been adequately addressed. Emphasis needs 
to be given to priority areas including community mobilization on 
personal and environmental hygiene, provision of safe and adequate water 
supply and support for multi sectoral coordination and post epidemic 
assessment. Meanwhile, WHO continues to support response by providing 
technical assistance in the affected regions including the provision of 
drugs and medical supplies as well as supporting coordination efforts at 
regional and woreda levels.  For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

UNICEF PROVIDES EMERGENCY EDUCATION SUPPORT TO VARIOUS REGIONS

UNICEF has distributed 162 long-lasting, movable and child friendly 
classroom tents to emergency prone areas of Gambella, Oromiya, Tigray, 
Somali, Tigray, Afar, Amhara, SNNP, Benishangul and Harari regions. The 
tents serve as temporary learning centers for over 8,100 children 
displaced due to conflict and flood. The tents, donated by the Norwegian 
government, can later be converted to permanent classrooms. UNICEF is in 
the process of distributing an additional 72 tents to six regions 
including Somali, upon request from regional Bureaus of Education. For 
more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org

Pastoralist Gathering in Hudet, Somali Region

A pastoralist gathering brought together clan leaders and elders from 
Somali, Afar and Oromiya regions, officials from all levels of 
government, members of parliament, pastoralist representatives from 
Kenya and Somaliland, as well as a number of NGOs and international 
organizations discussed a range of pressing issues affecting 
pastoralists in the Somali Region. During the gathering, which took 
place in Hudet, Liben zone, Somali Region from 28 November-2 December, 
pastoralists representing all the ethnic groups of Ethiopia's Somali 
National Regional State decided to give priority to peace in the region. 
For more information contact: info@unocha-pci.org

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