Focus on Ethiopia - Mar 2008

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:

- 2008 HUMANITARIAN REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

- 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

2008 HUMANITARIAN REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY

The Joint 2008 Humanitarian Requirements document that requests for approximately US$ 68 million to address food and non-food needs in the drought affected areas of the country was launched on 10 April.

The document identified approximately 2.2 million beneficiaries from Somali, SNNP, Tigray and Oromiya regions that require emergency food assistance amounting to 171,646 MT. The majority of the beneficiaries are from Somali Region. In addition, 947,380 emergency beneficiaries in safety net areas are expected to be addressed through safety net contingency resources. The emergency nutritional requirements in the safety net areas, amounting to 5,968 MT, will be covered through emergency relief resources as the existing safety net food package does not include blended foods.

The 2007 seasonal meher assessment, recent rapid verification assessments and special situation reports formed the basis for development of the emergency beneficiary figures in the requirement plan. This year's emergency situation is associated to unfavorable weather situation in the country, which is highly related to the prevailing global climate change. Failure of deyr/hageya rains in most pastoral areas of Somali Region and Borena zone in Oromiya Region, followed by poor-to-very poor belg/ganna rains resulted in extreme food insecurity in the south and south eastern pastoral and agro pastoral areas of the country. The forecasted low performance of belg rains is anticipated to affect belg producing areas of the country in the northeastern highlands, central and southern parts of Tigray, Amhara, SNNP regions. Belg planting is delayed in these areas, which is expected to result in poor or failed production in July/August.

Emergency requirements for the non-food sector - Health and Nutrition, Water and Sanitation, and Agriculture - are set with particular emphasis to address the adverse impacts of the prevailing drought conditions in different parts of the country for three months duration. Approximately US$ 25.5 million is required to address Health and Nutrition Emergencies related to acute malnutrition, measles, meningitis, malaria and acute watery diarrhea. To address emergency Water and Sanitation requirements of approximately 1.9 million people in Somali, Oromiya, SNNP, Amhara and Afar regions, US$ 3.4 million is required to undertake a number of interventions including water trucking, water purification and rehabilitation and maintenance of schemes. A total of US$ 5.8 million is required to address prioritized emergency and recovery requirements in crop and livestock sub-sectors in Somali, SNNP, Afar, Amhara and Oromiya regions. (See table below for detailed breakdown).

To ensure effective and timely preparedness and response, any unanticipated emergencies will be captured through the regular National Early Warning System and the forthcoming countrywide belg/gu impact assessments as the year progresses. Based on the findings, necessary adjustments will be made and specific contingency plans or specific flash appeals will be prepared as required.

Notes:

(1) Includes 5,968 MT of blended food needed for emergency beneficiaries in safety net woredas.

(2) Indicates the value of 41,684MT of grain, blended food and oil.