OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia
17 November 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION

Floods

Heavy rains in Somali Region and in the highlands of Oromiya during the 
past week forced Wabi Shebelle and Genale rivers to break banks causing 
floods in parts of Somali Region. The Region reported that floods affected 
communities in Mustahil, Ferfer and East Imi of Gode zone, West Imi and 
Dolobay of Afder zone, Gunegado woreda of Degehabur zone, Dolo Odo woreda 
of Liban Zone and Kebribeyah woreda of Jijiga zone. The floods have 
reportedly caused some displacement and damaged approximately 2,000 
hectares of crop land. The Regional Health Bureau (RHB) mobile health 
teams are stationed in Ferfer, Kelafo, West Imi and East Imi to provide 
support. The RHB also plans to send additional team to Dolo-Odo woreda. 
WHO is finalizing preparations to send Emergency health Kits to Somali 
region based on recommendations from the Federal Ministry of Health. 
Immediate Sectoral responses including food, water, and health and 
non-food items provision are required. A multi-agency mission, which will 
commence on 2nd of December, 2008 is expected to identify Emergency and 
recovery needs. Humanitarian partners are advocating for strengthened 
preventive mechanisms as most of the areas are prone to flooding.

In SNNPR, overflowing waters from Woito and Omo rivers have affected 
communities in South Omo zone, According to initial assessment findings by 
Dasenech woreda administration on 07 November, 1,199 households have been 
displaced. In Hamer woreda, 36 households have been displaced. 
Additionally, floods during the past week affected a total of 423 
households (2538 people) in Shashego woreda and six households in Wonko 
Kebele of Katchabira woreda in SNNPR, The displaced population is 
reportedly sheltered under temporary shades made of plastic sheets. The 
displaced figures are expected to decline as the water in Woito and Omo 
Rivers have shown decreases in their levels. For more information contact: 
kmcdonald@unicef.org & ocha-eth@un.org

Nutrition Update

During the week, 2,729 new admissions of severely malnourished children to 
the therapeutic feeding programs were reported from the hotspot woredas of 
five regions - SNNP, Oromia, Tigray, Amhara and Somali. In SNNPR, trends 
in new admissions have continued to decline. The situation is anticipated 
to improve following commitment by partners including Save the Children 
US, Save the Children UK, GOAL, Samaritan's Purse and World Vision 
Ethiopia to expand nutrition interventions to new areas. For more 
information contact: orlao@dppc.gov.et

Food

WFP reports that improvement in dispatches of food in Somali Region is 
expected with the start of the Hubs and Spokes food distribution system. 
Since the commencement of the system, some 9,000 MT (out of 18,500 MT 
allocated for October) has been dispatched from the DMFSS/WFP hubs in Dire 
Dawa to hubs in Degehabur and Gode and also to Food Distribution Points 
(FDPs) in Degehabur, Shinile, Warder and Jijiga zones. Meanwhile, the food 
distribution committee (DMFSS/WFP/JEOP/Donors) decided that in view of 
delayed food arrivals, the November rations will only include cereals 
(10kgs) and blended food (4.5 kg); pulses and oil will not be distributed. 
To meet the requirements, WFP will borrow 26,000MT of cereals from the 
Emergency Food Security Reserve Administration (EFSRA). Currently, 
resource shortfalls for relief, PSNP Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) 
programmes for the period until the end of 2008 amounts 85,819 MT worth 
US$ 74.1 million. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

HEALTH UPDATE

The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) reports that Acute Watery Diarreah 
(AWD) cases continue to decline nationwide, with no reports of newly 
affected woredas during the past four weeks. Nine woredas continue 
reporting active cases in the past four weeks: four in Amhara (Awabel, 
Gonder Zuria, Tegede and Yilma Densa), one in Oromiya (Zway Dugda), one in 
SNNPR (Dugna Fango) and three in Tigray (A. Tsmbila, Kafta Humera and M. 
Zana). Meanwhile, teams from WHO, UNICEF and PSI are supporting Regional 
Health Bureaus in training health workers on AWD epidemic response. 
Further, preparations are underway to conduct training for 50 
environmental health workers in East Shoa zone of Oromiya Region. For more 
information contact: who-wro@et.afro.who.int

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