By a Staff Reporter

In various zones of the Southern Region, it was reported that 1.3 million people will require emergency assistance for the coming three months starting from June. The humanitarian situation in Oromia Region continues to deteriorate due to the prevailing drought. High levels of malnutrition and increased admissions of severely malnourished children to treatment centers have been reported in lowland and highland woredas of the region.

The food security situation continues to be of major concern in Somali Region due to the cumulative effects of repeated shocks (drought and floods) combined with market disruption and increased cereal prices. The food security situation in Afar Region requires close monitoring due to the poor performance of the rains and delayed distribution of productive safety net programme resources The performance of the belg rains in most parts of Gambella Region was good with reports of even distribution. The poor performance of belg rains contributed to total production failure in Tigray Region. The rains were erratic and inadequate with limited coverage. Focus on Ethiopia is produced by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with other UN agencies and partner NGOs. It provides a monthly overview of humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, as well as focusing on particular issues of interest. We published this article with the consent of UNOCHA.

SNNP

The situation with regard to food security, nutrition and health is critical in SNNPR with current hotspots in Woliyta, Sidama, Hadiya, Kembata Tembaro and Aleba Special woredas and emerging hotspots in Gurage and Siliti. A recent DPPA led verification mission to the region revised emergency beneficiary figures. Communities have resorted to extreme coping mechanisms including: increased sale of productive assets, growing number of school dropouts, wild food consumption and requests from teachers in to receive salary in food instead of cash.

The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) led joint rapid verification mission in hotspot woredas of Woliyta, Sidama, Gamo Gofa, Kembata Tembaro, Alaba, Amaro, Dawro, Hadiya, Silti and Gurage zones reported that 1.3 million people will require emergency assistance for the coming three months starting from June. Additionally, the team noted that cash distributed to safetynet beneficiaries can only accommodate 50 percent of their food requirements and the assistance will end in June at the pick food insecurity period. The team recommended provision of supplementary food to 35 percent of the beneficiaries, provision of seeds and strengthening the initiated child nutrition programs. DPPA/WFP has distributed 28,222 MT of food for more than one million beneficiaries and the dispatch for the second allocation is underway. Targeting is a concern in the region as households are receiving equal amounts of food ration regardless of their family size and wealth status, reports the team. The Federal DPPA and Regional DPPB offices together with WFP plan to conduct food aid management training for 139 zonal and woreda staff from 10 to 16 June 2008. The failure of the rains has prevented farmers from planting crops necessary to bridge the hunger season.

The livelihood of communities is highly threatened as the major root crop, Enset, has been severely depleted due to the drought, excessive consumption and diseases. Sweet potato, Irish potato, haricot beans, cabbages and green maize production has totally failed due to the extended dry season. According to WFP, late planted maize and haricot beans are showing promising production. In Koso woreda, the status of planted teff is also good. A recent field assessment by OCHA found that only 20 percent of the belg farm areas have been planted in the belg dependent areas. Some areas have received rain. However, similar to other areas of the country, this has yet to directly mitigate the impact of the drought upon the food security situation.

The Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit under the Early Warning Department of DPPA reports that admission rates to therapeutic feeding programmes continue to rise and have identified hotspot areas in Woliyta, Sidama, Hadiya, Kembata Tembaro and Alaba Special. NGOs are carrying out emergency interventions in areas severely affected by drought and consequent nutrition crisis but continue to face shortages of essential supplies. There are reports of confirmed cases of AWD in Abashange woreda in Gurage zone. WASH and nutrition partners are concerned about the implications of possible further spread of AWD to CTC (OTPs/SCs) sites where there are large concentrations of vulnerable children. Increased cases of malaria were reported in Boricha, Damot Gale, Ketcha Bira and Boloso Sore woredas highlighting the risk of outbreaks in malaria prone areas. A meningitis vaccination campaign is ongoing in high risk areas of the region following reports of outbreaks in Aleta Wendo and Dara woredas in Sidama zone. Market prices of grains continue to increase forcing traders in Konso to stop outflow of maize, sorghum and haricot beans. The alarming hike of fertilizers continues to restrict pastoralists favorable access. The price of daily laborers reduced from 10 birr to 4 birr.

OROMIA

The humanitarian situation in Oromia Region continues to deteriorate due to the prevailing drought. High levels of malnutrition and increased admissions of severely malnourished children to treatment centers have been reported in lowland and highland woredas of the region. A recent joint Zonal DPPB, OCHA and WFP assessment mission to Siraro, Shasemene, Shalla, Gedeb Asasa, Kore, Arsi Negelle, Kofelle and Adaba woredas reports that the food security, health, livestock situation is rapidly deteriorating. The situation is severe in Siraro and Shashamane woredas. The mission recommends for immediate provision of drugs and nutrition supplies to treat cases of SAM, scale-up support to agriculture and livestock recovery by providing seeds and equipment and direct emergency food relief to affected communities.

The food security situation has been severely compromised as a result of the drought and it is expected to continue well beyond the month of June. Farmers have not been able to prepare land or plant crops and consequentially there will not be sufficient yield of crops to fill the food gap and carry people through the hunger season. Outbreak of armyworm in Borena and Guji zones and Raytu, Sewena and Dewe Kechen woredas of Bale zone  has affected the limited planted crop land. WFP reports that 10,340 hectares of crop land and 10,000 hectares of grazing land in Liben woreda of Guji zone have been damaged by armyworm.

WFP reports that the food security situation in Seraro, Sheshemane, Gedebe Asasa and Kofele woredas of West Arsi; Merti, Guna, Jeju and Golocha woredas of Arsi; Dinsho, Deolomena and Medewelabu woredas of Bale zone and Liben and Wadera woredas of Guji zone is critical. The highland surplus producing woredas of Dinsho, Meda Welabu, Sinana and Delo Mena in Bale zone; Kersa and Goro Gutu woredas in East Hararghe zone and Gedab Assasa, Kofele and Adaba woredas in West Arsi zone also report serious food insecurity with reports of high levels of malnutrition.

SOMALI

The food security situation continues to be of major concern in Somali Region due to the cumulative effects of repeated shocks (drought and floods) combined with market disruption and increased cereal prices. The livelihoods of pastoralists is still at risk, owing to significant decline of the purchasing power of pastoralists attributed to decreasing livestock price and demand combined with large scale livestock deaths.

Although the performance of the good gu rains improved in May, the distribution was not uniform across the region. In Shinile and Jijiga zones, the gu rains have stopped; while erratic distribution continues to be reported in the deyr receiving zones particularly in Shilabo, Mustahil, Ferfer, Kelafo, Aysha, Afdem, Geladi, Bok, Warder, Bare and Hargele woredas. On 29th of May, Jijiga River broke its banks and flooded several kebeles in the town and its vicinities, following heavy down powers. The floods killed 29 people and displaced 350 households.

The rains alleviated severe water shortages in most areas, apart from Warder and Korahe zones. Water tankering interventions have been significantly scaled down. The Regional Government terminated its water tankering operation as of the first week of May 2008. The rains will likely increase incidences of water related diseases including Acute Watery Diarrhoea. Surface water has been highly contaminated, following large- scale livestock deaths due to the drought, highlighting the urgent need for water treatment interventions. In Degehabur increased cases of water-borne diseases have been reported. UNICEF has pre-positioned WASH stocks in Gode and is in the process of storing supplies in Degehabur and Kebridehar. To date, the Regional Water Bureau supported by UNICEF maintained 17 boreholes out of the 26 planned. The Bureau also subsidized fuel supply for 23 functional boreholes in 17 woredas. Moreover, it is in the process of procuring 20 generators with accessories utilizing the 7 million birr allocation from the Regional Government.

The Regional Health Bureau, in collaboration with UNICEF and WFP, conducted nutrition surveys in Garbo and Dihun woredas of Fik zone and Warder woreda in Warder zone, and is awaiting approval from the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) to release the findings. According to MSF-Greece, Degehabur hospital continues to receive high numbers of malnourished children. The majority of the cases originate from Fik and outlying kebeles of south of Fanfal. MSF is planning to increase outreach programmes to the south of Fanfal. Moreover, UNICEF reports that admission rates to therapeutic feeding programmes in Gode hospital has increased. Furthermore, WFP reports that large numbers of moderately malnourished children and mothers identified by the Regional Mobile Health and Nutrition teams are not being assisted as the teams do not have the resources and capacity to treat the cases.

Meanwhile, UNICEF reports that 110 cartons of plumpy’nut are available in UNICEF store in Gode zone and 300 cartons in Kebridehar hospital. The 16 Mobile Health, Nutrition and WASH teams (14 with UNICEF support and two with ADRA support with UNICEF technical assistance) deployed in 14 woredas of the region since January 08 continue to provide treatment for more than 28,000 people on monthly basis. The teams extend health, nutrition and WASH to the villages and distribute nutritious food to malnourished children. UNFPA is expected to provide technical support to the teams and other health facilities in relation to maternal and reproductive health in Gode and plans to extend the service to Kebridehar and Degehabur.

The performances of the teams were reviewed from 21 to 22 April 08 in Jijiga town. Due to late onset (about a month) of the rains in Jijiga and Shinile zones, agro-pastoralists who were not able to plant long cycle crops are resorting to plantation of short cycle crops. Availability of seeds for such crops, however, is very limited in markets. In Jijiga area caterpillar infestation is destroying the newly emerging pasture. The impact of the rains in pasture replenishment has been limited. Livestock migration persists. WFP reports that unusual migration of pastoralists from arid lowland areas of Western and Northern parts to mountainous and shrubby areas of East with better gu rains have been recorded. A recent FAO assessment reported high concentration of livestock in areas where rain has been received, contributing to over-grazing of the limited browse and pasture. The assessment also indicated increased livestock mortality among shoats, camels and cattle in these zones. Livestock production and condition is yet to recover from the impact of the drought.

AMHARA
In Amhara Region, approximately 411,700 beneficiaries require emergency assistance due to failure of crop production. The most affected areas include Beyeda woreda in North Gonder zone; Guba Lafto, Bugna, Delanta, Dawnt woredas in North Wollo zone; Sayint, Legabmo and Tenta woredas in South Wollo zone; Dewe Harawa and Bati woredas in Oromia zone; and Geshe Rabel, Menze Keya, Menz Gera and Menz Mama woreda in North Shewa zone. The region has identified seed, animal feed, and livestock health interventions as major requirements.

Communities in these areas started to utilize coping mechanisms including a shift in consumption pattern - from barley to finger millet, reduction of meals, increased consumption of wild foods and desperate sale of livestock. Farmers are also reserving small leftover stocks from last year’s meher production in anticipation of shortage of food for the coming months rather than selling in markets. The situation in anticipated to further deteriorate when the hunger season sets in June and July.

Belg crop production has failed due to the extended dry season between January to April. Only 17 percent of the planned land has been planted and nearly all has dried up. The planting of long cycle meher crops (sorghum, maize and barely) in the lowlands and highlands started in April. Land preparation and planting however, have been affected

By poor belg rains particularly in parts of North and South Wollo zones. The situation of livestock in hotspot woredas of North and South Wollo zone remains of concern as the rains did not adequately replenish pasture. The situation is worse in eastern parts of the region where pasture is very scarce or has been totally depleted. The drought has exposed livestock to increased incidences of endemic diseases including blackleg, pastrolosis, and sheep pox. WFP reports that significant loss of in Sayint, Legambo, Tenta and Ambassel woredas of South Wollo zone; Gubalafto woreda in North Wollo zone; and Kewet woreda of North Shoa zone. Sporadic cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) have been reported in March and April. Identified hotspot areas include Dera woreda (South Gonder), Denbecha woreda (West Gojam), Ankesha woreda (Awi), Tisabay, Wonkshet (West Gojam) and Bahir Dar town. Poor hygiene and sanitation practices contributed to the spread. A rapid assessment conducted by woreda health officials revealed that holy water sites, particularly in Wonkshet, where up to 10,000 people gather on daily basis, are exacerbating the outbreak.

Water sources have been depleted particularly in northeastern parts of the region as of the first week of April. Communities in Minjar and Kewet woredas of North Wollo zone and Saynt woreda in South Wollo zone are travelling long distances to fetch water. The price of 20 litters of water is reported to have increased from three to seven birr. The price of cereals has increased significantly while livestock price continues to decrease, imposing reduced terms of trade for pastoralists. Most markets in the zone have supply shortfall. Reports from Ambassel and Sayint woredas of South Wollo have indicated that the supply of food to markets can hardly accommodate the demand. In remote areas, the problem is worse as most village markets are having very limited supply of cereals.

Moreover, teachers and other civil servants working in remote areas are facing serious food shortage as major crops such as wheat, teff and maize are not available in local markets. The Woreda Education Bureau started purchasing food from nearby towns to provide teachers with supplies to encourage the teaching-learning process continue.

The physical condition of livestock is deteriorating due to the shortage of pasture and water affecting milk production. WFP reports that signs of malnutrition have been observed in Amibara and Gewane woreda. Most PSNP beneficiary woredas only received one month (January) allocations. Dispatches of approximately 13,290 MTs of PSNP food for the months of February and March 2008 have started from main hubs. Although the distribution of PSNP resources has stabilized prices of cereals, Terms of Trade continues to be unfavorable for pastoralists. The purchasing power of pastoralists has declined considerably particularly in Aysaita market where 100 percent reduction is recorded in April compared to the same period last year.

GAMBELLA

The performance of the belg rains in most parts of Gambella Region was good with reports of even distribution. UNHCR closed Bonga and Dimma camps, following a repatriation of approximately 23,000 Sudanese refugees. Two out of the four camps hosting refugees from southern Sudan have been closed in mid-May. Approximately 28,000 Sudanese refugees have returned to their homes since the repartition exercise began two years ago. UNHCR is temporarily suspending the repatriation activity during the rainy season when roads become impassable. The remaining refugees from the emptied camps will be relocated to Fugnido (Gamella) and Sherkole (Beneshangul Gumuz) refugee camps.

Farmers in Gog woreda have started land preparation to plant long cycle crops including maize and sorghum. WFP reports that the condition of crops (maize, sorghum and sesame) sown at the beginning of the rainy season in Dimma woreda is promising. The pasture condition is reportedly good, resulting in increased milk production, which is serving the community as a coping mechanism. Fishing and wild fruit collection is widely reported in Gog, Gambella Zuria, Itang, Lare and Abobo woredas. The price of fish has decreased with the increased supply as many people have resorted to fishing activities, following the soaring grain prices. Meanwhile, the price of livestock and some cereals particularly maize have increased. There were reports of internal displacements and cattle raiding from six kebeles of Jikaw and Wontoha woredas caused by a conflict among Lou and Murle clans with the communities in the woredas.

TIGRAY

The poor performance of belg rains contributed to total production failure in Tigray Region. The rains were erratic and inadequate with limited coverage. Hailstorms were, however, reported in Ganta Feshum, Ofla and Atsbi Womberta woredas, damaging irrigated crops. The rains did not adequately replenish pasture forcing some farmers to feed their animals cactus in the affected woredas. Meanwhile, the supply of livestock and cereals is normal but prices of both items have increased.