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A joint mission report to Gumbi Bordode and Miesso woreda of West Hararghe zone Date:3-4 June 2020 Participants: Plan International, CARE and OCHA 5 June 2020 Executive Summary The IDPs in Burka Anani kebele of Gumbi Bordode woreda were displaced from their original place Ta’a Gumbi kebele across the border with Afar region in February 2020. The IDPs counted over three months in this new place. A total of 740HHs(3700 people) were displaced and dispersed in three locations: Burka Anani(240HHs),Sama(255HHs) and Aragessa(245HHs).The IDPs in Burka Anani site is the one visited by the team. According to our observation, these IDPs can be considered as neglected population with critical and huge humanitarian needs among which food and water were put on the top. The IDPs reported not receiving food for the last 3 months except the one-month half ration they received from Badessa town community as a part of people to people support. Access to water is very challenging. In addition to the need for long travel of over 10 Kms, security remains a major concern hindering/frightening women not to travel alone to fetch water.Reportedly,some armed men has to travel to the river early in the morning(starting from 6am) to patrol the area before the women and children go to fetch the water . The women and children will follow the men starting from 7am and the families who remain at home remain worried until all return around noon. The IDPs are not getting basic health services. No health post in their current location and outreach services from HEWs based in Gololcha has been compromised due to the security. Reported death of one child due to measles and some 7 who fall sick are under traditional treatment. There was no COVID-19 awareness provided to them. Very few who have access to radio have got minimal information about COVID-19. The IDPs reported that all their properties were burnt with their houses and women are reporting critical need of cooking materials and NFI needs including clothing, blankets, matts and shelter materials. Miesso IDPs also reported having critical food shortage and access to water. They only get water once in a week time with no fixed schedule and when it comes is always after the mid-night and very few are chanceful to collect before it goes. The two rotos (10,00lt capacity) in Genda Buno/Mieso IDP resettlement site are empty since WV and IRE stopped water rationing. Hand washing practice during this time of COVID-19 is impractical at this site. Mieso IDPs also claim of critical food shortage resulting in child malnutrition case increase. According to the report from IDPs Women representative, in two weeks’ time,9 children from the site were admitted to SC. Lack of TSF supply for screened MAM children was also raised as a problem aggravating the SAM cases. Contextual Analysis About 740 IDPs (3700 people) who were displaced on February 23 from Ta’a Gumbi kebele across asphalt road from Bordode to Awash check point bordering with Afar region are scattered in three different sites(Aragessa,Burka Anani and Sama) across the sides of Gumbi mountain and close to Awash river valley. According to the IDPs of Burka Ananai kebele, they used to encounter conflict with the Afar people several times but managed to defend and stay at their original place they inherited from their ancestors. The first round organized attack was made in July 2019 where some of their houses were burnt and left 3 dead but managed to restore. Reportedly, the second-round war which was opened on 23 February 2020 was completely different from all the previous types. According to the IDPs representative-Mr Abdi Asabot, a well-organized and armed people with latest weapons opened a fire on 22th of February early in the morning killing 7 people at a place. He said that they expected similar conflicts they used to but found this time war completely different. Mr Abdi said, “We lost 11 people in half a day. The war longed the whole day and continued the second day. The Oromia Police who came to sustain peace were also attacked. They lost 7 of their members. Starting from the 2nd day, we informed our children and women to leave. After 3 days of heavy fight, we were forced to leave our beloved place and scattered in the bush. They destroyed all our properties including School, water and animal health posts estimated to 7 million birr. We used to get food support from WFP a year before and two times from the Government starting from August 2019 until the displacement time. But, for the last three months we didn’t get food and encountering critical challenge in accessing water.” According to the report from the woreda DRMO, these IDPs are dispersed across three kebeles of the host community: Aragessa kebele-245HHs (1225 individuals);Burqa Aananii kebele-240HHs(1200 individuals) and in Saama kebele-255HHs(1275 individuals).The Burka Ananani kebele chairman reported that they still face threats and living in an insecure condition. He reported that on 2 June,30 of their abandoned houses were burnt by the Afari’s. Access to water is highly compromised due to long distance and insecurity. On the other hand, measles epidemic is currently the major PHEM of the zone with significant increases in Gumbi Bodode and Miesso woredas. According to zone Health Office report, a total of 2768 measles cases were reported from 192 kebeles in 13 woredas of the zone with 17 deaths. Majority of the cases were reported from Oda Bultum 621 (22%) followed by Gumbi Bordode 301 (11%), Boke 300 (11%), Mieso 259 (9%), Tullo 220 (8%), Habro 213 (8%), Gemechis 209 (8%) and Bedessa 191 (7%).New case has been reported from Dobba as well. Following a vaccination campaign conducted in three woredas, currently, the outbreak has been interrupted in Boke, Gemechis and Oda Bultum weredas.69% of the measles cases are children under 5 years of age .51% of the cases were not previously vaccinated at all while 42% were vaccinated at least once. Out of the 17 deaths, Gumbi Bordode counted 7 and Miesso 3. Mieso health office reported that additional 6 community deaths have been reported but to be verified yet. Low measles vaccination coverage (≤ 51%), vaccine failure (expected 15% of primary vaccine failure when given at 9 months),unexpected (e.g. cold chain problems, poor quality of vaccine, etc.),high population mobility, cultural practice which prevent isolation of infected children and poor coordination were identified as major risk factors for recurrent and further spread of the outbreak. Moreover, shortage of supplies; Antibiotics, Lack of operational costs to conduct mass treatment campaign and lack of supportive supervision and logistics have also contributed to the poor management of the disease. The zone health office also warned that Measles Outbreak could be out of control and associated increase in malnutrition during the hunger season is also an alarming issue as already being reported from some woredas. On the zonal coordination meeting of 2 June 2020, a joint mission to Gumbi Bordode and Miesso was recommended and a team from Plan International, CARE and OCHA made a visit to Gumbi Bordode and Miesso woreda from 3-4 June 2020. Mission Objectives ✓ To observing the existing situation of IDPs in Burka Anan kebele and identify needs ✓ To assess the IDP situation in Miesso resettlement site ✓ To assess measles situation in Gumbi Bordode and Miesso woreda Assessment Methodology ✓ Direct Observation ✓ Key Informant Interview ✓ Small group discussion ✓ Secondary data collection from woreda sector offices ✓ Discussion with woreda sector offices Findings and conclusion IDPs at Burka Ananai kebele ✓ The IDPs at Burka Ananai were displaced from Ta’a Kura kebele on 23 February 2020 by a well organized and armed Afari militia/solder for territory expansion. This was a 2nd well organized attack. The 1st one was in July 2019. ✓ The root cause for the invasion was territory expansion, water and pasture resources strategy for contrabandist’s. The kebele chairman also reported that Ta’aKura was a strategic detour for smugglers to bypass the Awash check point. ✓ The current location is at 27Km from the woreda capital Bordode but in a hard to reach area ✓ The security situation in the area is still critical. Freedom of movement is constrained, and women can’t go to fetch water without the escort of armed men ✓ As already explained in the context analysis, these IDPs (240 HHs) are in critical humanitarian needs ✓ A total of 740HHs (3700 people) were displaced from Ta’a Kura kebele and scattered across three adjacent kebeles: Burka Anani- (240HHs-1200 individuals), Sama (255HHs-1275) and Aragessa(245HHs-1225). ✓ The IDPs reported having critical water shortage after they were displaced from their original village, Gumbi Ta’aa where there was a natural spring called Oda Bute which is suitable for drinking ✓ Access to water is very challenging. In addition to the need for long travel, security remains a major concern hindering/frightening women not to travel alone to fetch water.Reportedly,some armed men has to travel to the river early in the morning(starting from 6am) to patrol the area before the women and children go to fetch the water from Burka river-not clean . The women and children will follow the men starting from 7am and the families who remain at home remain worried until all return around noon. Priority needs identified by the IDPs in the order of ranks 1. Food and Water 2. ESNFI and household utensils 3.

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