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Ethiopia

Relief Bulletin: Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia 16 May 2005

SOMALI REGION FLOOD UPDATE

The Federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (FDPPC) convened a Somali Flood Meeting on 9 May with NGOs and the UN to discuss the flood response. DPPC preliminary estimates indicate the total number affected by the flooding of the Wabe Shebelle river is 23,000 with 95 confirmed dead in five woredas. The Gode Technical Team (UN, International NGOs, regional authorities) who have also undertaken assessments since improved road access has been available (about ten days ago) report the figure affected to be 107,800 in seven woredas. Recent reports estimate the number of people dead to be 154. The DPPC confirms that existing food allocations in the 2005 Humanitarian Appeal for the affected areas should be sufficient to cover food needs of flood affected people. Further DPPC and sector assessments will establish the full extent of non-food needs. Immediate concerns are for medical and water and sanitation supplies to deal especially with the possibilities of malaria and diarrhoea epidemics. The UN is contributing stocks to those already identified to be in need. As the water recedes, access by road is improving daily but there are some areas that still cannot be reached. In villages near Kelafo in Gode zone beneficiaries walk up to two hours to collect supplies. Hope for the Horn, a local NGO undertook an assessment in Kebribeyah, Harshin, Aware, and Gashamo districts identified signs of diarrhoea and urgent need for preventive measures against malaria. The Regional Health Bureau has prioritised flood and drought affected woredas and subsequently revised distribution plans. The bureau also plans to go to Gode next week to conduct training for team leaders in the selected woredas on the new anti-malaria drugs, treated nets, and comprehensive mobile health packages. In addition, UNICEF has dispatched 30 emergency drug kits, 18,000 Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and 96 Rapid Diagnostic Test packs to Gode for distribution to flood affected areas. UNICEF will also be supporting 15 mobile clinics for 15 woredas. More information on the flood is available at www.ocha-eth.org

FOOD AND NON FOOD CONTRIBUTION UPDATE

US Government has announced a contribution of 100,000 tonnes of food valued at US$ 47 million in response to the Flash Update. An additional US$ 2.3 million USAID/OFDA contribution was received for non-food items in various sectors. On 4 May the Government and humanitarian partners issued a Flash Update to the 2005 Humanitarian Appeal seeking US$ 320 million, of which 47 percent was already secured.

CARE SITUATION UPDATE IN EAST AND WEST HARARGHE

CARE reports in its monthly Food and Livelihood Security Situation Update for April that the food security situation in most reporting woredas is relatively normal for the season. However, food security is believed to be under threat in Grawa and Kurfachelle Woredas of East Hararghe. Scarcity of pasture continues to be of concern in the extreme lowlands of Kurfachelle, Grawa and Bedeno woredas. A one-month advance Safety Net food payment has been implemented in both woredas on the understanding that the required public works would be done later. In addition, the entire one-month Grawa Safety Net food budget was distributed to only 12 kebeles while other kebeles are in dire need of food assistance. Another concern is that the Productive Safety Net resource for Grawa is 70 percent cash and 30 percent food. Given the continuing sharp rise in the price of food, the cash transfer may not effectively enhance the purchasing power of already weakened households. In Grawa, 132 severely malnourished children were admitted in Community Therapeutic Care programme (CTC) in April, compared to 103 in March and 25 in February; other indicators of food stress were reported to be on the rise. The steady rise in food grains prices in East Hararghe is also of concern as is difficulties in implementing the Productive Safety Net Program as well as lack of a timely response to the emergency Appeal. The situation is reported to be relatively normal for this time of year in West Hararghe and other reporting areas of East Hararghe. The full report is available on www.ocha-eth.org/reports/downloadable/carelivelihoodupdateApr05.pdf

APDA CONDUCTS A FOLLOW UP ASSESSMENT IN AFAR REGION

Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) conducted a humanitarian assessment in Afar Region and reported that the short rainy season has appeared to have ceased in all zones. According to the report the drought situation in the region has improved with the exception of eastern Mille, northern part of Dubti and north and east of Elidar woredas. In mid April the FDPPC and regional DPPB and Food Security Bureau (FSB) scaled up the relief grain distribution in the worst affected woredas following a federal and regional assessment. APDA is assisting the DPPB and the FSB to assess the situation every fortnight and has provided more than 2,000 destitute families in Barahale woreda with goats. For further information contact: afarpastoral@ethionet.et

EFGBCDO CONDUCTS NUTRITIONAL SURVEY IN SEMU ROBI DISTRICT, AFAR REGION

Ethiopian Full Gospel Believers Church Development Organization (EFGBCDO) conducted a nutritional survey in Semu Robi district in zone five of Afar Region in late March. The survey found a Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) of 11.96 percent and a 1.8 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). According to the survey the malnutrition and morbidity rates have increased compared to the last survey conducted in December 2004, due to the recurrence of drought and absence of relief support. The food security situation is also deteriorating and the majority of the community members are surviving by selling their livestock. As a result the team recommended an immediate Supplementary Feeding Programme and assistance for long-term food security initiatives by capacity building offices. For further information contact: efg.devt@ethionet.et

NEW UNICEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TAKES UP POST

Ms. Ann M. Veneman assumed the leadership of UNICEF on 1 May becoming the fifth Executive Director to lead UNICEF in its 60-year history. Veneman, a former US Secretary of Agriculture, was appointed by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to succeed outgoing Executive Director Carol Bellamy. For more information contact: igetachew@unicef.org

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