Relief Bulletin: Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia 21 Aug 2006

DEVASTATING FLOODS IN SOUTH OMO VALLEY

The Government of Ethiopia confirmed on the 16th August that 364 people have been killed and approximately 6000 - 10,000 have been displaced by severe flooding in Kuraz woreda, South Omo. The affected area is in the isolated delta of the Omo River in both Daseneche and Nyngaten woredas, about 800 km away from the capital, Addis Ababa. Around 14 villages in these two woredas are flooded and isolated from each other by the water. As more information is obtained from the remote villages now encircled by flood waters, the level of casualties is expected to be even higher. Nearly 3000 livestock have also perished. Search and rescue operations are underway since the 15 of August with deployment of members of the national army. To date 1300 people have been rescued but there are many more still stranded. At least 14 boats and 2 helicopters are in the area for the initial stage of the operation. A high level mission from both the Federal and Regional Governments, headed by the President of the SNNPR, was in the affected area to assess the severity and magnitude of the problem. The Prime Minister has also visited the affected areas. DPPA's allocations of both food and non-food items have already arrived at the woreda. Distribution of the relief supplies started on 17 August and air-dropping of essential supplies is underway. Action Aid, Farm Africa, IRC, EPaRDA, ERCS, UNICEF, WFP are among the NGOs and UN family working in the affected area. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org

FLOODS REPORTED IN MOST REGIONS NATIONWIDE

Following the unusually intense and continued rainfall, especially from the last dekad of July 2006, reports of flash flooding and overflowing of rivers have been received from all regions except Harari and Beneshangul Gumuz. In total, around 118,000 people have been affected country wide by the recent floods. The devastating floods that perished 256 people in Dire Dawa two weeks ago was the start of a country wide crisis. In Amhara region, there are reports that 23 administrative units of 7 woredas surrounding Lake Tana have been affected with more than 10,000 people displaced and staying in temporary shelters. In Afar region, residents of some woredas have been forced to evacuate their villages for fear of imminent flooding. The Wabi Shebelle and Weib Rivers burst their banks in Somali region between 15th and 18th August affecting 43 villages in Mustahil, Hargele and Cherreti woredas affecting at least 30,600 people. In Tigray, 450 households were displaced by floods from Tekeze River but most of them have now returned to their localities following recession of the floods. Over 2000 people are reported to be displaced in Oromiya in Southwest and West Shewa Zones. Meanwhile, the National Meteorological Agency's forecasts continue to indicate warnings of normal to above normal precipitations over large parts of the country that may induce severe flash floods. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org

ACUTE WATERY DIARRHOEA (AWD) UPDATE

Preliminary data indicate that there have been a total of 11,800 cases with 146 deaths since the outbreak. The Regional Health Bureaus, UNICEF, WHO, MSF, Merlin, PSI and ACF are currently working on treatment, prevention and control including IEC materials in the affected areas. There are currently 44 Case Treatment Centers (CTCs) set up in West Arsi alone, although only about 32 are currently function. The MOH has deployed additional staff to these CTCs and NGO partners are providing ongoing training especially in the area of hygiene and sanitation. Nevertheless, despite collaborated efforts containment of the disease has not been successful with the disease spreading at an alarming rate. Cases are now confirmed in the capital, Addis Ababa and as far south as Guji Zone. UNICEF has sent supplies and staff to Guji to support the zonal government and MSF-B in setting up CTCs in the affected woredas. For more information contact: mapted@unicef.org

UPDATE ON RELIEF FOOD DISPATCHES TO SOMALI REGION

Regarding food relief dispatched to drought affected areas of Somali Region in 2005, the DPPA has transported ten percent of the fifth round of relief food allocation while dispatches are nearly finalized for the zones of Afder and Liben and 18 percent of the fifth round of food has been dispatched to Fik zone. Food aid dispatches are expected to start shortly in the remaining zones. Security problems continue to hamper deliveries to some areas. Furthermore, 250 tons of food aid allocated for the IDP camps of Fafan and Hartisheik has been distributed to the beneficiaries through a local NGO. This covers one month of food needs for the IDPs. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org