Focus on Ethiopia - Jan 2008

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:

- REGIONAL OVERVIEW

- NEWS: - POOR RAIN FORECASTS SUGGEST ...

- NEW NATIONAL NUTRITION STRATEGY

- UPCOMING & ONGOING MEETINGS

Focus on Ethiopia is produced by UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), collaboration with other UN agencies and partner NGOs. Focus on Ethiopia provides a monthly overview humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, as well focusing on particular issues of interest. Send comments, suggestions and contributions to ocha-eth@un.org

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

OROMIYA

The food security situation in the lowland woredas of Borena, Guji, Bale, Arsi, East and West Hararghe zones is of concern due to the poor performance of genna and hageya rains. Poor households in these woredas have resorted to coping mechanisms such as reduction of daily meals and slaughtering of milking cows. Meanwhile, good meher harvest is anticipated in the highland and midland woredas
of the region.

Serious shortage of water and pasture is reported in Dillo, Miyo, Dire, Dhas, Moyale, Teltele, Arero, and Yabello
woredas in Borena zone; Liben woreda in Guji zone and 56 kebeles in various woredas of East Hararghe zone. The situation is severe in Dire woreda. Most of the ponds and cisterns have dried and the yield of traditional wla/wells has decreased. Most hand pumps, motorized units, and boreholes require immediate rehabilitation. Pasture reserves in Borena zone are over grazed, resulting in unusual livestock migration. Influx of herds from
neighboring Somali Region aggravated the situation. Some schools are reportedly closed and dropout rates have increased, according to a joint assessment undertaken in early January 2008. In addition, locust infestation in Bale, Borena and East Hararghe zones is damaging vegetation.

As a result the physical condition of livestock deteriorated and deaths of cattle is being reported. CARE reported deaths of livestock including calves and milking cows in Dire woreda.

A rapid emergency assessment conducted by the Oromiya Pastoralist Commission in Borena zone identified priority intervention requirements including animal feed, vaccination and treatment, rehabilitation of water points
and water tankering. Similar requirements have been classified by the Regional Emergency Coordination
Meeting and the zonal Borena Emergency Meetings on 22 January and 6 February.

The situation is most severe in Miyo and Dire woredas, particularly in the most affected four kebeles of Haralo,
Melbana, Bokuluboma and Gorile. The government and humanitarian partners including FAO, SC-US, CARE and the Pastoralist Commission, Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Livestock and Meat Marketing Project (SPS LMM) are planning to initiate a commercial de-stocking programme as well as animal feed and veterinary interventions.

Responses have started in some of the affected woredas of Borena zone. Water rationing has commenced in Miyo and Dillo woredas; the intervention however, should be scaled up. The Food Security Bureau has requested immediate food aid allocation for 88,000 emergency beneficiaries identified in PSNP woredas to be addressed by safety net contingency fund. The beneficiaries are identified by the meher assessment, in addition to the regular 124,000 PSNP beneficiaries in the zone. DPPA also allocated CSB for PSNP beneficiaries. Additionally, CARE is providing animal feed for approximately 4,200 head of cattle in Dire, Miyo, Dhas woredas. It also plans to conduct water rationing interventions in the zone.

Preliminary results of a nutritional survey conducted by the regional and the zonal health bureaus in Miyo and Moyale woredas of Borena zone in early January indicates a 7.5 percent GAM and 1 percent SAM in Miyo woreda and a 0.5 GAM and 0.6 SAM for Moyale woreda. The finding of the survey is being finalized. The situation should be closely monitored as traditionally Borenas' prioritize feeding their children during emergencies.

More than 650 suspected cases of measles were reported in Guji zone at the beginning of February. Surveillance and preventive measures are strengthened; while proper case management is on-going. Another measles outbreak in early January in West Shoa, North Shoa, Bale, Illubabur, East Wollega, and West Hararghe zones has been controlled. Meanwhile, health surveillance data from the FMoH indicate that the region has not reported new AWDcases for more than a month.

Although supplies of staple food to markets were normal in most parts, high prices of both cereals and livestock
continue to be reported across the region. In Borena zone, a significant increase in the price of staple foods has largely reduced the purchasing power of pastoralists. The price of maize in Moyale and Dire woredas has increased from 190 birr per quintal in December 2007 to 250 - 290 per quintal in January 2008. On the other hand the price of Ox has reduced from 1,300 birr to 900 birr in January. Demand and prices of livestock in Medawelabu, Dawe Serer and Dawe Kitchen woredas of Bale zone have been depressed as the traditional livestock market with Somali Region has been blocked due to clan tensions.

Meanwhile, Kenyan refugees in Dire woreda are receiving relief rations, however lack of water and health services continue to be of concern. Although, the IDPs in Harolimu woreda of East Wollega zone that were displaced by clan conflict last year, returned to their woreda of origin, no measures were undertaken to effectively rehabilitate them.