Focus on Ethiopia - Dec 2007

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:

- REGIONAL OVERVIEW

- UPCOMING & ONGOING MEETINGS

Focus on Ethiopia is produced by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in collaboration with other UN agencies and partner NGOs. Focus on Ethiopia provides a monthly overview of humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, as well as focusing on particular issues of interest. Send comments, suggestions and contributions to ocha-eth@un.org The Regional Overview in this month's publication summarizes the findings of the DPPA-led Multi-Agency seasonal assessment that was undertaken during 15 November -to- 16 December 2007.

This year the Household Economy Approach (HEA) was utilized in SNNP, Afar, Somali, Amhara and Tigray regions; while, the traditional methodology was used in the remaining regions. The approach is an improved methodology of the needs assessment in Ethiopia that quantitatively analyses household's livelihood situation to determine the food security prospect of an area. The method takes into account baseline information from a wide range of variables and analyses the impact of current hazards on food and income.

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

SOMALI

The DPPA led-multi agency seasonal assessment mission identified the population anticipated to face food and income deficits in the coming three to six months. Food gaps are mostly higher in cropping areas compared to pastoral areas.

Food and income gaps have been identified in all livelihood zones of the deyr receiving areas - Degehabur, Korahe, Warder, Gode, Afder, Liben and Fik. This is due to crop production failure, poor livestock production and high cereal prices combined with expected increases in the price of food and decline in livestock price.

The performance of the deyr rains in most parts of the deyr receiving zones was rated as "below normal" to "much below normal". The previous gu rains were also "poor" to "very poor" in five zones of Korahe, Gode, Fik, Warder and Degehabur; while they were "near normal" to "normal" in the remaining four zones - Jijiga, Shinile, Liben and Afder. In Jijiga and Shinile zones, the performance of the karan rains was normal except in Aysha and parts of Dembel and pockets of Afdem woredas.

Crop production has failed in all the seven deyr receiving zones resulting in a second season performance failure, as the gu crops have also failed in Korahe, Degehabur and the agro pastoral pockets of Fik. The deyr crops production failure further increased food gaps for cropping areas. The performance of maize and sorghum crops was also below normal in the sedentary areas of Jijiga and Dambel of Shinile zone respectively.

Although livestock condition was not severely affected, production was below normal. The situation is however, anticipated to deteriorate with the start of the Jilal (dry) in January.

Shortage of water has been reported in the chronically water insecure areas. Emergency water tankering is needed in Gorobaqaqsa, Filtu, and Hudet woredas of Afder and Liben zones. The situation could further deteriorate with the start of the Jilal season.

The multi-agency assessment team reported that community level reports indicate that AWD and dysentery have caused the death unspecified number of people in Sagag, Degehamado and Fik woredas since October 2007. There were no other disease outbreaks in other parts of the zone though endemic diseases were prevalent in pockets areas. Malaria, diarrhea and respiratory diseases claim the highest prevalence in the rural areas. Poor human and veterinary services as well as shortage of essential drugs are reported in most rural areas.

Current prices of food items are lower than the past few months but they are still higher than normal prices by an average of 30 to 60 percent in most markets of the deyr receiving zones. Food prices are expected to rise further in the worst affected zones due to crop production failure and increase in demand during the jilal. Livestock prices have slightly increased to normal levels in November 2007 due to improved internal and external demand. This however, is expected to decrease sharply with the expected decline in demand and deterioration in the body condition of livestock during the jilal. Both factors will severely affect the purchasing power of the households and will increase food gaps particularly in the deyr receiving zones.

GAMBELLA

The overall food security situation in woredas visited by the meher assessment team showed a deteriorating trend.

Akobo, Jikawa, Wentawa, Jor, Lare and Itang woredas are among the most affected areas, which were hard hit by floods during the rainy season. Apart from Lare and Itang, most of these areas are still inaccessible by road. The situation of the Akobo returnees is of particular concern as they did not cultivate their lands. Weather adversities including flooding, erratic rainfall and hailstorm damaged crops resulting in poor crop production prospect. Food deficit, therefore, continues to be of concern in these areas.

The regional Agricultural Bureau distributed agricultural inputs in advance including seed that contributed to timely land preparation and planting. The area cultivated in most woredas was larger than that of the last year, and the overall crop production is slightly better. The recurrent overflow of Gilo and Baro rivers, however, damaged maize and sorghum that were at germinating stage. In Jor, Akobo, Wentwa and Jikawo woredas a large scale production loss was anticipated due to overflow of the rivers. Out of 20,806 ha cultivated land approximately 16 percent was damaged and only 192,155 quintals of crop production is expected.

There was no major human disease outbreak. Incidences of allergic conjunctive eye disease, however, were reported in Gog, Abobo, Gambela, Itang and Lare woredas. According to woreda officials, Medicines San Frontiers has provided treatment and medicine to control the disease. There is also high risk of malaria and water born disease outbreaks due to the floods. Although, no recent nutritional survey was conducted, the EOS screening conducted in August identified 2,410 malnourished under five children and nursing women in ten woredas. Supplementary feeding has been provided to the identified beneficiaries.

No major animal disease outbreak was reported apart from incidences of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Trypanozomosis and liver fluke during the rainy season. Pasture shortage was reported in flood affected woredas during July and August that has improved since mid September except for flood affected woredas of Akobo, Jikawa and Wentwa. Livestock in these areas were forced to travel to higher grazing lands which resulted in below average livestock physical condition compared to normal year. Meanwhile, there are no reports of water shortage in the region.

In most selected markets of the region prices of crops and livestock have shown a significant increase as compared to the average year. The price of sorghum in Godere and Itang woredas has reportedly increased by approximately 35 percent and 52 percent respectively compared to the average price and 50 percent and 34 percent from last year. The price of goat has also increased by approximately 35 percent and 58 percent in the two above mentioned woredas. In the flood woredas of Akobo, Jikawo and Wentwa, supply of grain to the markets has decreased and cereal price has significantly increased.