Food Security Update Growing food insecurity across the southern zones of is driven by a combination of factors, including the failure of the October to December 2010 deyr (short) rains and the poor performance of the April to June 2011 gu (main) rains. According to the Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS), as highlighted in the revised Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD), the poor performance of the rains resulted in scarcity of pasture and water, poor crop production in agro-pastoralist areas, poor livestock body condition, livestock disease, high livestock mortality and the slaughter of calves, outbreaks of disease, including diarrhoeal diseases and measles, and increased malnutrition. The decline in cereal availability, continuing poor market access, illegal trade restrictions placed on the Somali region by , and the temporary suspension of WFP relief food distributions have pushed local cereal prices up by more than 250 per cent, substantially reducing household purchasing power in all livelihood zones. The situation is particularly critical in woredas (districts) nearer to the borders with Somalia and Kenya, including Bare and Dolobay (Afder zone), Dollo Ado, Hudet and Moyale (Liben zone), Ferfer, Kelafo and Mustahil (Gode zone), Debeweyin and Shilabo (Korahe zone), , Geladi and Warder (Warder zone). Food security for pastoralists in parts of Shinile zone, particularly in Ayisha, Erer and Shinile woredas – which did not receive any rain in the month of July – is also deteriorating. The karan rains (July to October) are the main season rains for northern Somali region bordering Afar and Djibouti. For more information, contact: [email protected]

WASH Update With the renewed onset of the dry season, following the poor gu/ganna rains, critical water shortages have continued and are re- emerging in parts of Somali, Oromia, Afar and Tigray regions. As a result, requirements for water trucking are growing once again. Some 53 trucks are deployed in these four regions. In Somali, 15 trucks are deployed in parts of Bare and Qarsadula (Afder zone), Kelafo (Gode zone) Hudet and Moyale (Liben zone), and Shinile (Shinile zone) woredas, with 2 trucks supported by the regional government and 13 by ADRA, PAPDA, Save the Children UK, Save the Children US. Due to the deteriorating water situation in other parts of the region, the Somali DPPB has requested that water trucking begin in six additional woredas, including Debeweyin and Shilabo (Korahe zone) and Boh, Danot, , and Warder (Warder zone). Water trucking is also needed in five areas within Dollo Ado woreda. In Oromia, 20 trucks are deployed in Dillo, Dire, Miyo and Moyale woredas (Borena zone) and Shalla and Siraro woredas (West Arsi zone). Water trucking in Borena is supported by ACORD (5 trucks) GOAL (11 trucks), and Oxfam Canada (2 trucks), and is reaching some 90,782 people, with a gap of 15,731 people. The government and UNICEF are supporting water trucking in West Arsi, with two trucks serving communities, as well as stabilization centers and outpatient therapeutic feeding programmes (TFPs). The situation in parts of Bale, East Hararghe and Guji zones is being closely monitored. In Afar, water trucking is ongoing in Afdera, Bidu, Dubti, Elidar, Erebti, Kurri, and Teru woredas, with 11 trucks deployed by the government with support from Pastoralists community development project(PCDP) and UNICEF. In Tigray, water trucking continues in pocket areas of Ganta Afeshum (Adigrat town), Geter Adwa, Shire Endasilasie (Shire town), Raya Azebo, and Tsegede woredas with 7 water trucks providing support to 70,823 people. The trucking is supported by UNICEF and the regional government. For more information, contact: [email protected]

Refugee Update According to UNHCR, as of 3 August more than 76,000 refugees from Somalia had arrived in in 2011, bringing the total number of refugees in the Dollo Ado area to 118,271. With the average daily arrivals rate having reduced substantially to 250 to 300 per day, UNHCR and the government Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA) have managed to clear the backlog at the reception centre, and can now register new arrivals on the same day of arrival. However, the transit centre in Dollo Ado remains congested, with more than 15,000 refugees awaiting transfer to one of the camps in the area. With the three existing camps (including Kobe, which opened at the end of June 2011) over maximum capacity, all efforts are focused on opening the fourth refugee camp at Hilaweyn, to enable refugees to be relocated from the transit centre to the camp. Trucking of water from Malkadida camp began on 1 August, and temporary health facilities at Hilaweyn are being set up by MSF-Holland. More than 300 tents (shelter for 1,500 people) had been set up by 3 August, with capacity to erect tents being increased by bringing in additional workforce from Kobe camp. With the first transfer expected to start imminently, IOM has been requested by UNHCR and ARRA to assist with the transportation of up to 1,000 refugees per day. Throughout the refugee-hosting facilities in Dollo Ado, expanding the coverage of health and nutrition programmes, particularly supplementary feeding for children under 5, continues to be the priority, followed by the provision of shelter and non-food items, as up to 50 per cent of new arrivals not yet having received tents. ARRA has also called on organizations to support the building of schools around Dollo Ado.

An increasing number of refugees from Somalia are also reported to be crossing the border into other parts of Somali Region. A joint rapid assessment to Morodile in Adadle woreda of Gode zone, which was conducted by zonal authorities and UN and NGO partners between 21 and 23 July, identified 300 households that had crossed the border into Ethiopia in the past two months. According to community elders, the refugee influx is happening concurrently with an influx into Morodile town of pastoralists who lost their livestock, with approximately 400 such households reported. With no food, little shelter and no access to health services, the situation could deteriorate rapidly if partners do not act quickly to provide assistance. The NGO Merlin has redeployed two mobile health teams to the area and a nutrition intervention is being planned, while WFP will provide a one- month ration to the arrivals equivalent to the ration for relief beneficiaries. In response to the reported influxes, UNHCR and ARRA have agreed to lead a joint assessment with UN and NGO partners and regional authorities, to look at the situation of refugees outside the camp environment. The assessment is planned to start on 8 August. For more information, contact: [email protected] & [email protected]