OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
25 February 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

SOMALI REGION UPDATE

The regional DPPB/SC-UK January Food Security update indicates that the 
overall food security situation in the region is below normal particularly 
in the seven deyr receiving zones - Korahe, Fik, Gode, Warder, Degehabur, 
Liben and Shinile. Since the onset of the dry season, Jilaal, water 
shortage has been a serious problem, particularly in the berkad dependant 
areas of Korahe, Warder and Degehabur zones and in chronically water 
insecure areas of Gode, Afder, Liben, Fik and parts of Shinile zones. 
Urgent water interventions including water tankering and repairing of 
boreholes is of highest priority. In order to respond to immediate water 
trucking needs, UNICEF has secured US$ 45,000. The regional DPPB also 
started to mobilize resources. Additionally, UNICEF is finalizing a WASH 
intervention proposal. Continued internal and cross border livestock 
migration in search of pasture and water is putting pressure on limited 
available resources in Kebridehar and Debeweyin in Korahe zone; Gode in 
Gode zone; Danot in Warder zone; Gashamo and Aware in Degehabur, Hargele 
and Chereti in Afder zone; Babile woreda in Jijiga and areas around the 
Genale and Dawa rivers in Liben zone. Concerns over feed depletion in 
highly concentrated areas are combined with risks of animal disease 
outbreak. Meanwhile prices of imported food items continue to rise, 
increasingly weakening the purchasing power of both urban and rural 
consumers. Livestock prices on the other hand have continually declined as 
Jilaal progresses.

Out of the 53,000MT emergency food allocated for three months for eight 
zones in the region, approximately 22,810 MT has been dispatched to the 
five zones under military operation. To date, approximately 14,055 MT of 
relief food commodities have reached the FDPs, of which 76 percent has 
been distributed to beneficiaries. WFP monitoring teams have thus far 
visited 87 out of 186 FDPs - 47 percent. An agreement to include cost of 
offloading food aid within the transporters' contracts has been reached 
between DPPA and transporters. Delay in the transfer of offloading money 
has in the past hampered food aid delivery. The food security situation in 
Afder and Liben zones, where food has not yet been dispatched thus far, is 
of concern. Meanwhile, Targeted Supplementary Food (TSF) screening has 
been completed in 13 out of the 30 project woredas, and food distributions 
were undertaken in seven woredas. In the remaining five woredas in Afder 
and Liben zone, where screening has taken place, supplementary food 
dispatch will commence next week. WHO has assigned eight staff in the 
region to provide technical support to regional, zonal and woreda health 
authorities in responding to health emergencies. For more information: 
ocha-eth@un.org & wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

DETERIORATING FOOD SECURITY SITUATION IN BORENA ZONE, OROMIYA REGION

The cumulative effects of recurrent droughts combined with the failure of 
hagaya and ganna rains in 2007 have stretched coping mechanisms of 
pastoralist communities resulting in concerning food security situation in 
Borena zone, Oromiya region. Dire, Moyale, Miyo Dillo, Dhas, Arero, 
Yabello and Teltele are the worst affected woredas. There are reports of 
serious water shortage for both human and livestock consumption. Most 
water sources including water cisterns in schools have dried. 
Consequently, four schools were closed and school dropout rates have 
reportedly increased by 14 percent. Most grazing lands have been depleted 
and the physical condition of livestock has deteriorated. There are also 
reports of animal deaths including milking cows, raising child nutrition 
concerns. The situation is feared to further deteriorate with poor 
forecast for the upcoming short rainy season. A recent WHO rapid 
assessment indicated suspected measles cases in Abaya, Gelana, Bule Hora 
and Dugda Dawa woredas. Additionally a slight increase in incidences 
malaria has also been reported. Lack of essential drugs and medical 
supplies in the health facilities are among the major identified gaps. 
Water supply, animal feed and health interventions are priorities that 
require immediate intervention. Water tankering, rehabilitation of water 
points, animal feeding and health interventions are underway by government 
and humanitarian partners including FAO, CARE, SC-US, UNICEF and GOAL. The 
Regional Water Bureau in collaboration with UNICEF and CARE undertook 
water trucking interventions that addressed approximately 56,000 people in 
24 villages. The UN OCHA Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) is also 
reviewing emergency proposals for funding. On the regional coordination 
forum on 18 February, the need for immediate enhanced interventions was 
underscored to avert humanitarian crises. For more information: 
ocha-eth@un.org

BELG SEASON PROSPECT

Although land preparation and planting of belg crops has commenced in some 
of the belg producing areas, the progress to date is below normal due to 
inadequate rainfall. Climate forecast from National Meteorological 
Association (NMA) indicate poor/below normal belg/gu performance (February 
to May 2008), which is the main rainy season for most of Somali Region, 
Borena zone in Oromiya Region and South Omo zones in SNNPR. This year's 
belg crop production and pasture recovery from gu rains are, therefore, 
not promising. For more information: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

HEALTH HAZARDS

Reports from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) indicate that AWD is 
under control in most places. There are, however, recent reports of 
suspected cases in Filltu woreda in Somali Region that needs to be further 
investigated. Sporadic Meningitis cases are reported from Oromiya and Afar 
regions. In addition, cases of Measles are reported in four woredas in 
Borena zone, and in Hambela and Kercha woredas in Guji zone. Efforts are 
underway to enhance surveillance in the affected woredas and their 
vicinities. Humanitarian partners, including WHO, are supporting case 
management. The FMoH, in collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, is mobilizing 
resources to conduct vaccination campaigns in SNNP and Oromiya Regions in 
April 2008. Meanwhile, vaccination campaign including measles and polio as 
well as vitamin A and de-worming for children from 6 months to 59 months 
is underway in 32 woredas in Somali Region. For more information contact: 
who-wro@et.afro.who.int

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