By a Staff Reporter

The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) weekly humanitarian report revealed that outstanding logistics constraints, including limited trucks and access constraints, continue to impact timely distribution. During the week approximately 397MT of blended food was provided to 15,740 beneficiaries in Oromia and Somali regions.

The outstanding shortfalls for relief and targeted supplementary food for December stand at 50,380 MT, amounting to USD 43.5 million. Approximately 90 percent of the October relief food allocation has been dispatched to various food distribution points countrywide. Food security indicators such as livestock body condition and production are improving in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas.   In crop growing regions of Oromia, Tigray and Amhara food insecurity continues to deteriorate due to crop failure. Despite the recent cereal prices decline, the prices remain extremely high when compared to the five-year average (2003-2007) and the normal year. According to the emergency nutrition co-ordination unit, during the week, a total of 2,103 new admissions were reported from the six regions.

Humanitarian situation update

Food security indicators such as livestock body condition and production are improving in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas. Nevertheless, recovery of drought-affected households in these areas, including Oromia and Somali regions, Afar and South Omo in SNNPR, will take time as most drought- affected households have lost significant proportion of their livestock during the height of the drought in 2008, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).

In crop-growing areas such as East and West Hararghe, parts of Bale zones in Oromia Region, eastern and southern Tigray, Wag Humra North/South Wello and North Shewa zones in Amhara Region, food insecurity continues to deteriorate due to crop failure. The heavy unseasonable rains in parts of the country in October and November have damaged crops and led to pre-harvest losses, according to preliminary information from the field, which will further affect households’ recovery from current acute food insecurity.

In Somali Region, approximately 25,429 flood affected households in Gode, Liben, Afder, Jijiga and Degehabur are identified by the region to require emergency assistance. As of 24 November, 16 MT of food has been airlifted and 343 MT dispatched from Adama (Nazareth) by road to Gode.

Market update

Cereal prices have continued to decline since September 2008, Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWSNET) and WFP report. The decline is attributed to meher harvest, availability of government subsidized wheat in the market, continued food aid programs and the extension of the productive safety net program (PSNP) program that switched most beneficiaries from cash to food beginning in July 2008.

Nevertheless, despite the recent decline, the prices remain extremely high when compared to the five-year average (2003-2007) and the normal year, reports WFP and FEWSNET. According to the report, the price is anticipated to remain high throughout the coming year as the starting price for cereals following the recent harvest was about 100 percent higher compared to that of the 2007 prices.

If the high prices persist, or rise, food security conditions will continue to deteriorate, particularly for the poor urban populations; poor market-dependent farmers; and pastoral and agro-pastoral populations that rely heavily on purchase of food.

Nutrition

According to the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU), during the week, a total of 2,103 new admissions were reported from the six regions - SNNPR, Oromia, Afar, Tigray, Amhara and Somali. New admissions continued to decline in SNNPR and some partners have started handing over TFP sites to government health facilities.

Reporting rates are not consistent in the remaining five regions, which poses a challenge in analyzing the admission trends. Rapid assessments conducted by Samaritan Purse in Semurobi hotspot woreda in Afar; Goba Lafto and Mekedela by GOAL in Amhara; Wadela, Delanta and Meket hotspot woredas by SC UK indicated a need for emergency nutrition interventions in these areas. Preparations are under way to undertake nutrition interventions.

Meanwhile, GOAL is planning to conduct standard nutrition assessment in Mekedela woreda in Amhara Region to ascertain the nutrition situation following rapid nutrition assessment that indicated higher levels of proxy GAM and SAM.

Food

Approximately 90 percent of the October relief food allocation has been dispatched to various food distribution points countrywide.  In Somali region 12,000 MT has been dispatched to the FDPs – 61 percent of October and four percent of November allocations.

Outstanding logistics constraints, including limited trucks and access constraints, continue to impact timely distribution. Meanwhile, during the week approximately 397MT of blended food was provided to 15,740 beneficiaries in Oromia and Somali regions. The outstanding shortfalls for relief and targeted supplementary food for December stand at 50,380 MT, amounting to USD 43.5 million.

Health update

There is an overall decline in Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) cases nationwide. Continued multi-sectoral efforts are, however, needed to ensure the full containment of the epidemic. Currently a joint team comprised of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and PSI are in regions intensifying AWD epidemic prevention activities.