OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
10 November 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Although the current unseasonable rains contribute to improved water and 
pasture availability in the pastoralist and agro-pastoralist areas, the 
rains are anticipated to adversely impact crop yields in some cropping 
areas of eastern and central Oromiya, Amhara, Tigray and SNNP regions 
mainly in the mid and lowlands, where crops are ready for harvest, WFP 
reports. Meanwhile, the food security situation in SNNPR and some parts of 
Oromiya has improved due to ongoing harvest and continued humanitarian 
interventions. The food security situation in some lowlands of West and 
East Hararghe in Oromiya Region, however, continues to be of concern. 
There are reports of decrease in the portion and quality of meals, 
increased sale of livestock, and rising abnormal labour migration. The 
food security situation in the drought affected areas in Afar Region also 
continued to deteriorate. In Tigray Region, water shortage for both human 
and livestock consumption continued to be reported in the nine eastern and 
southern woredas affected by poor belg and meher rains. According to 
UNICEF and WFP, the most affected woredas include Raya Azebo and Hintalo 
Wajirat, Atsbi Wonberta, Gulo Mekeda, Sease Tseada Emba, Alamata, Erob, 
and Tanqua Abergele

Meanwhile, the multi-agency seasonal assessment has commenced in Tigray 
Region. The assessment will continue in the remaining cropping and Afar 
Region on 17 November and in Somali Region on December 02. A briefing 
session for the assessment teams is tentatively scheduled on 14 November 
at the DMFSS. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org & 
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org.

Nutrition Update: During the week, a total of 3,090 new admissions to the 
therapeutic feeding programmes were reported from five regions - SNNPR, 
Oromia, Tigray, Amhara and Somali. No reports were received from Afar 
region. The slight increase in the admission rate is attributed to 
increase in the number of TFP sites that submit reports in Oromiya region. 
The nutrition technical review committee is reviewing emergency nutrition 
proposal for Tigray and Amhara hotspot woredas for possible HRF funding, 
as part of the effort to enhance interventions in hotspot woredas with low 
coverage of life saving emergency nutrition interventions. Meanwhile, the 
Oromiya Regional bureau in collaboration with UNICEF commenced an Enhanced 
Outreach Strategy for Child Survival targeting more than 5 million under 
five children and approximately 1.2 million pregnant and nursing women.

Two rapid assessments were conducted in Afar region in Eldaar and Belhare 
woredas by MSF Holland, while Samaritan Purse conducted similar 
assessments in Semulobi woreda. Results of the assessment are expected to 
be finalized in the coming week. A Preliminary report of a standard 
nutrition assessment conducted in Kewot woreda, North Shoa Zone in Amhara 
region was submitted to ENCU for plausibility quality check, which will be 
circulated then after. For more information contact: orlao@dppc.gov.et

Food: During the period 27th October and 2nd November, 521 mt of blended 
food have been provided to 33,498 people, of whom 15,144 individuals in 
Somali Region and 18,354 others in Amhara. The total shortfall for relief 
and TSF programmes until the end of 2008 stands at 86,169 mt valued at 
US$75.2 million of which 78,299 mt is for Relief and 7,785 mt for TSF. The 
requirements under PSNP for 2008 are met. For 2009, foreseen shortfalls 
over the first quarter amount to 371,416 mt valued at US$313.6 million. 
The breakdown by activities is as follows: 282,807 mt (i.e. US$ 244.3 
million) for Relief; 79,218 mt (i.e. US$ 68.4 million) for PSNP and 9,391 
mt (i.e. US$8.1 million) for TSF. The requirements will be further revised 
based on the findings of the multi-agency emergency assessment. For more 
information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

HEALTH UPDATE

Although the number of Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) cases significantly 
decreased during the week, risk factors such as inadequate safe water 
supply, poor sanitation coverage and hygiene practice remain. Presently 
only 12 woredas in four regions report or expect to report active cases: 6 
in Amhara (Gonder Zuria, Takusa, Awabel, Fogera, Yilma Densa and 
Shenkora), one in Oromiya (Zway Dugda and Dukem), two in SNNPR (E. 
Badawasho and Dugna Fango) and three in Tigray (A. Tesmbila, Kafta Humera 
and M. Zana). No new woredas have been affected during the past two weeks. 
During the week, the Oromiya Regional Health Bureau (RHB) in Collaboration 
with WHO, UNICEF and Population Service International (PSI) organized a 
three-day training on AWD epidemic response for Integrated Disease 
Surveillance and Response focal points and environmental health 
Coordinators from 17 woredas, co-funded by WHO and ECHO. Meanwhile, UNICEF 
provided water purification chemicals to Tigray Region, and also 
dispatched 400 bottles of water guard to Gog Woreda in Gamblella Region. 
For more information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -