OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
29 September 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

EMERGENCY BENEFICIARY NUMBER REVISED

The Government has indicated that approximately 6.4 million people will be 
in need of relief food assistance for the coming months. The number is 
reported to include 1.9 million beneficiaries in the Somali Region. The 
6.4 million is in addition to the 5.7 million Productive Safety Net 
Programme (PSNP) beneficiaries in drought affected areas that receive 
extended assistance (food and cash) for three months. The Government and 
humanitarian partners are currently revising the Humanitarian Requirements 
Document of June 2008 to capture the developments. For more information 
contact: info@dppc.gov.et, wfp.addisababa@wfp.org & ocha-eth@un.org.

HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS

Food insecurity

The combined effects of belg failure coupled with the delayed onset of 
meher rains and increasing food prices continue to deteriorate 
humanitarian conditions in some areas of the country. Konso, Amaro and 
Burji Special Woredas in SNNPR continue experiencing food insecurity and 
water and pasture shortages, notes WFP. Poor food security situations 
continue to be reported from East and West Hararghe zones and Dire Dawa. 
WFP has also reported worsening food insecurity in West Arsi, Bale, Borena 
and Guji zones of Oromiya Region. There has been serious shortage of 
water, depletion of pasture and deteriorated livestock physical 
conditions. Unusual livestock deaths also continue to be reported in some 
kebeles of Arsi and Borena zones.

In Somali Region, critical water shortages continue to be reported from 
Jijiga, Degehabur, Fik and Shinile zones of Somali Region. Large numbers 
of livestock deaths have also been reported from Degehabur, Fik, Korahe 
and Warder zones, WFP reports. Continually increasing food prices have 
degraded purchasing power of the community. People as a result continue to 
resort to unusual coping mechanisms such as reduction of meals, selling of 
household assets, collecting firewood and migration to urban areas and 
food distribution points.

In Afar, karma rains have improved water supply and pasture regeneration 
in most parts of the region, Afar Pastoralist Development Association 
(APDA) reports. Most drought affected people have returned to their 
localities and milk supply has also resumed at the household level. 
Nevertheless, some areas including Northern Elidar, Biru, Kori, Konnaba, 
Berhale, Dalul, Erebti, Mille and Teru woredas remains to be of great 
concern due to chronic water shortage and significant herd loss. Critical 
water and pasture shortages have also been reported in Raya Azebo of South 
Tigray Region.

Malnutrition

The deteriorating food security situation continues to impact nutritional 
status of vulnerable groups in some areas in SNNP and Oromiya Regions. 
According to the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU), 2,384 
children in SNNPR have been admitted to Therapeutic Feeding Programmes 
(TFPs) during 12-18 September. In Oromiya, 1,114 children with severe 
acute malnutrition have been admitted to TFPs during the same period. In 
addition, ENCU reports that malnutrition in Afar remains worrying and 
capacities to respond are highly limited.

Resource shortfalls

The current shortfall for Relief, Productive Safety Net Programme and 
Targeted Supplementary Food programmes for September to December totals 
US$ 223 million or 275,000 MT of food, according to WFP. WFP also reports 
that September food allocations for both 6.4 million relief and 2.7 
million PSNP beneficiaries have been approved. Allocations include reduced 
rations for all commodities (10 kg of cereals, 3kg of blended food, 1 kg 
of pulses/300g oil) for relief and PSNP beneficiaries with oils and pulses 
only provided to those beneficiaries in hotspot areas (priority 1 and 2). 
For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org, info@dppc.gov.et & 
afarpastoral@ethionet.et

HEALTH UPDATE

Active cases of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) continue to be reported from 
Amhara (eight woredas), Oromiya (three woredas), Tigray (six woredas) and 
Afar (two woredas), WHO reports. Emergency Health and Nutrition Task Force 
partners are advocating for integrated response to the epidemic. 
Recommended response areas include strengthening case management, 
provision of water purification products, hygiene promotion and 
surveillance, reports WHO.

In response to the flood emergency situation in Gambella, a three days 
training was conducted on AWD prevention and containment. A total of 38 
health workers participated in the training where UNICEF has provided 
financial support. Moreover, the Regional Water Bureau has distributed 
water treatment chemicals supplied by UNICEF to Itang, Lare and Abobo 
woredas. For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int & 
kmcdonald@unicef.org.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
.  Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
.                              guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -