By a Staff Reporter

The emergency beneficiary figure has been adjusted from 2.2 million to 4.6 million due to the drought condition in different parts of the country, following the findings of the rapid verification assessments and a desk review exercise conducted by the multi-agency Early Warning Working Group. The total food and non-food resource requirement has been revised last week to US$ 325,252,248 million to address the needs of the estimated beneficiaries.

The net food requirement for the estimated beneficiaries stands at 391,651 MT from June to November amounting to US$ 268,430,658. In addition, the Targeted Supplementary Food Programme that assists children and pregnant mothers requires approximately US$ 18,148,755.

In April 2008, the government and its partners released a joint document that set out the humanitarian requirements for 2008. The analysis was based on the Meher/pastoral area assessment in November/December 2007 and rapid assessments that were conducted in March and early April 2008. The Meher 2007 rains were good in most parts of the country, except some pocket areas where weather adversities such as excessive rains, hailstorms and flooding caused damages to crops. The Meher assessment anticipated an overall improved food security situation in 2008, with the exception of the seven deyr rain receiving zones of Somali Region and Hageya rain receiving areas of Borena Zone in Oromia Region. Additionally, the crop production estimate was noted to be higher than the previous year’s post harvest estimate.

As a result, the government-led multi-agency needs assessment that was conducted in November/December 2007 with the support of rapid verification exercise in March and early April 2008 estimated approximately 2.2 million beneficiaries to require emergency food assistance in 2008. The total food requirement for these beneficiaries was estimated at 177,614 MT. These estimates were considered for a period of at least 6 months based on the assumption that 2008 Belg season performance would improve. The situation however deteriorated in a number of areas after the 2008 Humanitarian Requirement Document was published in April.

The performance of the seasonal rains, Belg, Gu, Ganna and Sugum, have been poor or have failed in most parts affecting the food security situation. Farmlands covered by crops have declined significantly in most Belg producing areas. Similarly, in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of the country the failure/poor performance of the rains (sugum/gu) affected water and pasture availability leading to poor livestock body condition and production. There were reports of livestock deaths in some parts of Oromia, SNNP and Somali Regions due to shortage of resources coupled with incidence of livestock diseases.

In addition, the failure of the “Sapia” rains affected root crop production in most parts of SNNPR further deteriorating the food security situation between March to early April 2008. The root crops have significant contribution to the livelihoods of many communities. Incidences of malnutrition have also been observed in some parts of SNNP,

Oromia and Somali Regions
 Furthermore, the supply of food crops in markets has significantly declined regionally and internationally due the global food crisis. The situation has led to sharp increase in prices of cereals and other food commodities that eroded the purchasing capacity of particularly poor households.

To capture the new developments and revise requirements, the government together with humanitarian partners deployed rapid verification assessment teams to affected areas of SNNP, Oromia, Amhara and Tigray Regions. The revision of beneficiaries was also supported by a desk review exercise. In addition to the hotspot areas in Borena and Somali, the results of the assessments and desk review have indicated that, most woredas in Hadiya, Kembata-Tembaro, Sidama and Wolayita Zones of SNNPR and lowland areas of West Arsi, Arsi, East Harareghe, West Harareghe and Bale Zones of Oromia Region are the worst affected. The level of child malnutrition is reportedly very high in these areas and adult malnutrition has also been reported in some areas. Increased school dropout rates have also been reported in some pockets.

In order to avert the current drought-induced food shortage problem, relief interventions have been under way since January. The coverage and the capacity of responses have reached its peak during the second quarter. Accordingly, over 26,900 MT of food items, including cereals, pulses, blended food and vegetable oil, have been dispatched to affected areas, mainly in Somali Region, during the first quarter. A total of 63,000 MT have been dispatched to SNNP, Somali and Oromia Regions, respectively in April and May. Of this particular allocation, more than 50 percent has been dispatched to SNNPR. In addition, about 26,000 MT of relief food have been allocated to SNNPR and Oromia for June distribution, and additional allocations are being made largely to reach more hotspot areas.

In the non-food sector, the Government and humanitarian partners extended considerable support to mitigate the impacts of the drought condition. Water tankering and treatment was extended to the affected areas for both human and animal consumption. Livestock vaccination and treatment along with provision of fodder was extended in drought affected areas particularly in Borena and Guji zones of Oromia and Somali Regions.

TheMinistry of Health together with UNICEF and WHO also conducted measles immunization and meningitis vaccination campaigns in high risk areas. Significant response was also made to address the present malnutrition emergency in the drought affected areas.

Revised relief needs for second half of 2008
According to the recent assessments and desk review, the total number of beneficiaries that will require emergency food assistance is estimated at 4.6 million. The total food requirement for the estimated beneficiaries stands at 509,916 MT (cereal 411,366 MT, oil 12,342 MT, pulse 41,136 MT and supplementary food 45,078 MT). Approximately, 118,265 MT is available or has been pledged, reducing the net requirement to 391,651MT (cereal 319,943 MT, oil 8,749 MT, pulse 33,303 MT, CSB, 29,400 MT) for the period of six months (June to November 2008). The figures and requirements will be updated in the coming Belg and Gu seasonal impact assessments.

The Targeted Supplementary Food programme is providing fortified blended food and oil to moderately malnourished children and malnourished pregnant and lactating women who have been identified through the Enhanced Outreach Strategy/Child Survival screening. The food requirement to reach an estimated 737,017 beneficiaries from June to December 2008 is 29,481 MT of CSB/Famix and 3,368 MT of vegetable oil. WFP had to reduce the number of woredas where the TSF operates due to resource constraints, but hope to receive additional resources to be able to reach the areas worst affected by the drought. The EOS screening has been completed in Oromia and SNNP regions, in which increases of 46 percent and 29 percent were found, respectively. Screening is on-going in other affected locations.

Emergency Health and Nutrition
The number of beneficiaries has been revised from 2.2 million to 4.6 million. The number of children with Severe Acute Malnutrition is accordingly adjusted from 40,000 to 75,000 due to water and food supply shortages generated by the drought in Somali, SNNPR, lowlands of Oromia and some pocket areas in Amhara and Tigray regions. The most prevalent health and nutrition emergencies during drought season, including severe acute malnutrition, diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections, have been identified as priority emergencies that require immediate response. Comprehensive mobile health and nutrition teams will be organized with packages of emergency health services to strengthen support to affected areas in Somali Region and emergency health kits will be supplied to areas in need.

A threat of major meningococcal meningitis epidemics is expected and cases are being reported from Guji zone, Oromia Region. The Ministry of Health developed an Emergency Response Plan and has secured the required resource. Although malaria epidemic is a potential threat in emergency situations, additional funding is not required as there is adequate preparedness through the regular malaria prevention and control programme.

Requirement
Approximately, a net requirement of US$ 25.2 million is needed to address the health and nutrition emergencies.

Management of Acute Malnutrition: Targeted Supplementary Feeding is an important Child Survival Programme to reduce child mortality and address acute malnutrition (moderate malnutrition and prevention of severe malnutrition). In the coming 4 months, under-five children in the 124 drought affected woredas will be screened and the necessary response will be made to manage 75,000 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition.

Measles: The prevailing drought situation is anticipated to exacerbate measles outbreaks. The first phase measles supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) in Somali, Dire Dawa, Addis Ababa and some areas of Oromia has been completed with an estimated administrative coverage of 90 percent. The second phase measles SIAs will be conducted in Amhara, Tigray, Benishangul Gumuz and Gambella regions and in the remaining zones of Oromia Region during the 4th quarter of 2008. Approximately, 6.6 million children under-five are planned to be covered with at least one dose of measles vaccination, Vitamin A supplementation and de-worming.

The estimated budget requirement for the second phase measles SIAs campaign is US$ 6,612,257, of which US$ 3,131,502 available. The routine EPI does not have funding to cover the supplemental immunization activities and, therefore, to US$ 3.4 million is required cover the gap.

Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and other communicable diseases: In drought affected areas there will be favorable conditions for transmission of AWD. Adequate preparedness is important to contain the present outbreaks, prevent new outbreaks and treat patients adequately. Active AWD surveillance will be a key measure to achieve the above. This opportunity will also be used to strengthen surveillance for other communicable diseases. Other communicable diseases: It is likely that other communicable diseases would occur in the current drought season, requiring adequate preparedness by strengthening health service including re-stocking health facilities for an estimated 40 percent of the total 4.6 million relief food beneficiaries. These include the re-stocking of the mobile teams operating in Somali Region and capacitate the Health Extension Workers (HEWs) in nutritional screening in other regional states.

Strengthening health services in emergency settings: Adequate health services are crucial in addressing potential health problems in emergency situation. The deployment of mobile teams to needy areas in order to address emergency health and nutritional problems and providing training to health extension workers is part of the response plan.

Emergency water and sanitation
The 2008 Humanitarian Requirement Document indicated a net requirement of US$ 3.4 million to address emergency water and sanitation requirements of 1.9 million beneficiaries in the drought affected areas of Somali, Afar, lowlands of Oromia and pocket areas in SNNPR.

Although the 2007 rains recharged groundwater tables and restored surface water sources including rivers, streams, birkas and ponds, an extended dry season in early 2008 created acute water shortages in the above mentioned regions. The Government and humanitarian partners minimized the threat through quick response and the lives of many people were saved.

The performance of the rains in most parts of the country has improved, making it difficult to anticipate the continuation of the drought hazard with any certainty. The positive impact of the rain, however, could lead to other water related emergencies including floods and Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD). The sectoral requirement, therefore, has been prepared to mitigate the impacts of the anticipated emergencies by providing safe and clean water to the affected population and conduct the necessary mitigation activities in a timely fashion.

Disinfection of water resources, provision of household water treatment chemicals and maintenance of non-functional water schemes in the affected villages have been identified as priority requirements for preparedness and response activities.

Revised requirement
The WES sector revised the emergency requirements with the anticipation that emergencies, including floods and AWD, will affect large numbers of woredas in vulnerable regions of Afar, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Gambella, Somali, SNNP and Tigray and few localities in other regions. The impact of flooding will be significant in some woredas of Afar, Amhara, Somali and Gambella Regions; and some villages in Oromia Region are also expected to be affected. Approximately, US$ 6.6 million is required to address emergency water and sanitation needs of 650,000 beneficiaries

Emergency agriculture and livestock
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in consultation with respective regions and partners, has reviewed the response to date to the 2008 emergency agricultural requirements. According to the findings of the review, despite scarce and late availability of resources, it appeared generally that the anticipated impact of failure or late onset of the 2008 Belg season in most Belg rain benefiting areas on agriculture and livelihood has been minimized through collaborative efforts of government and partners, including FAO, CARE and Save the Children USA.

In this regard, a number of agriculture related emergency interventions, including animal feed supply, animal health intervention and facilitation of commercial de-stocking, have been implemented. The primary goal was to address priority needs in most affected areas and, as a result, the majority of interventions were implemented in the Borena and Guji Zones of Oromia Region.

A recent report by OCHA indicates that a total of $US 699,809, US$ 700,000, and US$ 614,015 budget have been approved and allocated to FAO, World Vision, and Goal Ethiopia respectively from the Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF1), for provision of emergency seeds to needy woredas in SNNPR for the 2008 Meher cropping season.

Requirement
Considering the current condition on the ground and resources made available to date, the Ministry/task force has revised the previous emergency agricultural needs included in the April 2008 Humanitarian Requirement Document. Approximately, US$ 6.9 million is required to implement prioritized interventions including provision of emergency seed and animal health services.

Seed supply: The 2007 poor harvest in some pocket areas and failure or poor performance of the 2008 belg season in most belg growing areas appeared to have led to critical shortage of seed in a total of 121 woredas in Oromia, Amhara, SNNP, Tigray, Afar, and Somali regions. It is estimated that a total of US$ 5.7 million is required to respond to this critical need by providing emergency seeds to a total of 240,580 affected beneficiaries for three months period starting from June.

Animal health: The primary purpose of the livestock relief intervention is to improve the immunity and health of livestock through minimizing the effects of diseases induced by drought. Emergency animal health intervention will mainly focus on prophylaxis and curative treatment since vaccinated and treated animals are expected to better tolerate the impact of disaster and contribute more towards household food-security. Vaccination will be administered before the animals are severely affected and completely loose their capability to develop immunity. Therefore this particular intervention needs to be implemented on time so as to minimize the likely impact of disasters on livestock sub-sector. A total of 3,154,267 livestock are targeted for animal health intervention and the budget required for the intervention is estimated at approximately US$ 1.2 million. The requirement is for duration of seven months starting from June to December.

Contingency plan for addressing unanticipated flood emergencies in 2008

According to recent meteorological forecasts, many parts of the country will receive normal to above normal rains during the just-entering Meher (main rainy season). In fact, the season will experience Elnino phenomenon, which would cause considerable flood problems mainly in flood prone areas of the country.

In view of this forecast, the Awash area has indicated a preliminary resource requirement for flood emergency in this document. Since the response to the flooding problem would also require other interventions, a more complete and comprehensive requirement will be reflected in the coming weeks through a flood contingency plan that will be worked out in collaboration with all concerned partners.