Somali Region Faces Critical Water Shortages With large parts of the currently facing critical water shortages due to the prolonged dry spell, the regional authorities have requested humanitarian organizations to support water trucking activities under the draft comprehensive response plan for the region. The Regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau (RDPPB), which is coordinating the operation, reports that 51 of the 70 trucks required, have been deployed across the region. UNICEF is currently supporting water trucking through DPPB (eight trucks) and the Ogaden Welfare Development Association (five trucks). In addition to the 64 trucks currently deployed, there is a gap of some 11 trucks to be covered (variance in total number of trucks due to requirements for distribution per region). UNICEF has approved an additional 11 trucks through its implementing partner, DPPB, to fill the remaining gap, and the operation will start in the coming days. OCHA is maintaining a matrix showing available assets for the trucking. Some areas not currently covered by the water trucking response require additional assistance while in other areas that are covered by the programme, coverage, frequency and quality of the water supplied remains a concern. As part of the emergency water response, UNICEF is also supporting the rehabilitation of boreholes and shallow wells. In addition to the emergency intervention, moreover, longer-term, sustainable solutions are needed to resolve the region’s recurrent water supply problems. For more information contact: [email protected] & [email protected].

According to FAO, the regional water shortage has forced pastoralists from Ayisha woreda (Shinile zone) and woreda ( zone) to move their stock into (). Internally, the drought has forced thousands of people to move from Fik into Babile town, while pastoralists have taken their livestock into the nearby Erer valley for grazing. Livestock that earlier migrated to woreda have progressed further north to the Oromiya region, while livestock moving away from drought- affected areas of northern Kenya through Dillo and Moyale (Oromiya) have pushed further north into Dhas, Miyo, Dire, Yabello and Arero and west into Teltele (Oromiya). In Arero, the animals have been able to graze on pastures abandoned by local communities fleeing conflict.

FAO remains concerned over potential resource conflict in areas hosting the migratory stocks, as well as outbreaks of trans- boundary animal diseases. FAO is working with Save the Children UK in Fik, Mercy Corps and IRC in Degehabur, and the Somali Region Livestock, Crop and Rural Development Bureau (LCRDB) in Afder, Jijiga (to address animals migrated from Fik) and Korahe Zones to support treatment and vaccination campaigns through private animal health practitioners and Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs). For more information contact: [email protected].

Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) Update Outbreaks of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) continue to affect five regions of (Afar, Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP and Somali) as well as all 10 sub-cities of the capital, Addis Ababa. In the past week, there has been a relative decline in the number of new cases reported in the capital, with 843 cases reported. In total, 1,211 new cases were reported countrywide, with low reporting rates from some areas. In Addis, 85 per cent of all AWD cases are clustered around rivers and streams, in areas of the city where the water supply is irregular. The Mayor of Addis is working with the Regional Health Bureau (RHB) to ensure a more consistent supply of city water in these areas. For more information contact: [email protected].

Nutrition Response The roll-out of the Outpatient Therapeutic Programmes (OTP) continues in hot spot woredas of Amhara, Oromiya, SNNP and Tigray regions. In Tigray, 48 per cent of the 406 targeted health posts are currently providing OTP services, with roll-out planned for 23 woredas. In Oromiya, where OTP roll-out is planned in 107 woredas, 37 per cent of the 524 targeted health posts are currently providing services. In SNNP, where the roll-out targets 84 hot spot woredas, 71 per cent of the 2,325 health posts are providing OTP services. And in Amhara, where 66 woredas are targeted, less than 16 per cent, or 248 of the planned 1,604 health posts, currently have OTP capacity.

UNICEF also reports that the Expanded Enhanced Outreach Strategy for Child Survival (EOS) has begun in 10 woredas of the Somali Region. The EOS targets more than 300,000 children under five years with child survival interventions including vitamin A supplementation and de-worming tablets. For more information contact: [email protected].

Sixth Round Food Aid Allocation WFP reports that discussions are ongoing to prepare a sixth round of food allocations to the projected 6.2 million emergency beneficiaries in the country, despite the reported pipeline break in October. To date, only five rounds of food distributions for the projected caseload have been programmed, including the September allocations. Meanwhile, as of 28th September, WFP in- country stocks for relief stood at 3,890 MT, while DRMFSS in-country stock was at 12,464 MT. For more information contact: [email protected]

Mid-Meher Assessment Starts The mid-meher assessment teams, which will assess the impact of the 2009 meher (June to October) rains on food security in crop-producing and pastoral areas, are deployed on 28 September 2009 to 17 selected woredas in Afar, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa, Gambella, Harari, Oromiya, SNNP, Somali and Tigray. The teams’ assessment will form the basis for projected humanitarian requirements in the first half of 2010. The two-week long assessment will be conducted in both hotspot and agricultural surplus-producing areas in order to develop a global overview of food security prospects for the country. Meanwhile, Sectoral Task Forces in other thematic areas, including health, nutrition, water and sanitation and education, are to conduct desk review to provide projected requirements in their sectors as well. For more information contact: [email protected].