FOCUS ON PAGE 1

Photo: UNICEF

THIS ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS: The situation continues to be critical in Liben, , • REGIONAL OVERVIEW and parts of Fik zones, and below normal in the remaining • A HIGHLIGHT ON MARKET ANALYSIS parts of the region. The number of hotspot woredas is • RELIEF FOOD AND NON-FOOD UPDATE increasing (12 out of 32 woredas) with Degehabur, Warder • UPCOMING & ONGOING MEETINGS and parts of Shinile now considered as seriously affected. Meanwhile, a DPPA lead multi-agency re-assessment Focus on Ethiopia is produced by UN Office for the mission is currently assessing the humanitarian situation, Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in revising needs for food aid interventions as well as other collaboration with other UN agencies and partner NGOs. sectors emergency interventions in Afder, Gode, and Liben Focus on Ethiopia provides a monthly overview of zones. humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, as well as focusing on particular issues of interest. Send comments, Rains have been received in the northern zones, especially suggestions and contributions to [email protected] in and around Jijiga zone, which corresponds to the normal onset of the gu rains. About 1 to 5 days of rainfall were observed during the second week of March in Jijiga town REGIONAL OVERVIEW and neighboring areas, including Kebribeyah and Babile woredas. woreda in received four days SOMALI (from 22 to 25 March) of good rains, while Gerbo woreda in There is no significant improvement in the drought Fik zone reportedly received some average rains during the situation in . Pre-famine conditions prevail, third dekad of March. Geladin and Shekosh woredas of including increasing malnutrition rates; serious water received light showers during the first dekad shortages; and intensified cattle and shoats mortality. High of March. Some sporadic rains have also been reported rates of abortion of cattle; street begging; and distress sale from Degehabur, Korahe and Shinile zones. Rains in the of productive basic assets also continue to be reported. worst drought-affected southern areas are expected to Abnormal livestock migrations in search of pasture and begin in April. These areas, have so far only received some water; and abnormal human migrations to urban areas early light showers during the last week of February. The have also intensified.Terms of trade have worsened for the showers were not significant to improve the water and pastoralists as cereal prices are still very high and price of pasture shortages. livestock is very low.

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 2

Water remains the top priority in the southern zones. More transport issues for the drought emergency is now being than 640,000 people are in need of immediate water coordinated by a Transport Coordination Commission, set interventions. There are 104 water trucks currently working up at federal level, as well as in Nazareth and Dire Dawa. in the region. Of these, 38 are deployed by the DPPB and In addition, a new delivery method is devised, where trucks the rest are UNICEF, DPPA, international NGOs and transporting food will travel in convoy (a minimum of 20 woreda administrations. The Federal Water Resource trucks) escorted by the army. While the system could Ministry has provided 11 generators and submersible reduce food diversions, it could also result in delays. The pumps, pipes and bladders. Several well development and Road Transport Authority is also trying to increase the installation, generator replacement and maintenance, transport capacity for dispatches, with possible emergency scheme construction and rehabilitation are on- redeployment of trucks from Nazareth to Dire Dawa and going in Jijiga, Degehabur, Fik and Shinile zones by UN more involvement of Somali trucks in the operation. In agencies and International NGOs. However, the issue of addition, there are plans for printing vouchers for food water management problems, particularly in coordinating delivery and receipts will be printed for each woreda, and monitoring in water tankering activities prevails. instead of zones. There is hope that these measures will increase the previously slow dispatch rate. To date, 45 percent of the food allocated for February has been dispatched.

The Regional Health Bureau (RHB) reported 12 clinically confirmed cases of measles with four resulting in deaths in woreda (). There are also reports of small scale malaria and diarrhea outbreaks in the affected zones. According to NGOs, malnutrition has increased in Bare, Hargele, , and woredas (Afder zone) and East Imi, Mustahil, Ferfer and Denan woredas (Gode zone). In addition, GOAL recently reported critical malnutrition in Guna Goda woreda in Degehabur zone with 20.3 percent Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) and 3.9 percent Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) with 1.09/10000/day under-five mortality rate (U5MR). Even though nutritional surveys keep reporting the severity of the Large numbers of livestock are still dying in Liben, Afder situation, there is still a gap in nutritional programmes, and Gode zones due to prolonged feed shortage, water including Supplementary Feeding Center (SFC) and stress and diseases. The livestock condition is also very Therapeutic Feeding Center (TFC) in the affected zones. poor in Miesso and Erer woredas of Shinile zone. There are 59,000 malnourished beneficiaries identified for Livestock diseases including CCPP, internal parasite, Targeted Supplementary Feeding (TSF) from the 21 infectious diarrhea, trypanosomiasis, tick born diseases, Enhance Outreach Strategy (EOS) screened woredas. The pasteurellosis are reported in the region, particularly in DPPA has received information regarding the beneficiary Dolobay (Afder zone) and Erer (Shinile zone) woredas. numbers by food distribution centers for these screened Camels are hit by a disease locally known as kuududiye. woredas. The TSF will be dispatched to eight woredas in There are abnormal livestock migrations from Afder to the Gode during the first week of April. Approximately 18,500 neighboring Gode and Fik zones. Many livestock are beneficiaries will receive rations of CSB and oil in the area. migrating from these areas to the adjacent Oromiya Food will be dispatched to the remaining 13 woredas once woredas in search of pasture and water. There are also in- the Gode dispatches have been completed. In Somali migrations from to Awbere woreda of Jijiga zone. Region, a total of 58,500 children under five and women The regional agricultural bureau, FAO, ICRC, IRC, ACF, will receive food in April with the next round of distribution Save the Children USA and Save the Children UK are being planned for June. International NGOs, including MSF actively involved in livestock interventions such as - Belgium conducted a survey in the four EOS woredas vaccination and treatment. However, no tangible de- (Chereti, Bare, Moyale and ) and reported that stocking interventions are on-going, as most organisations they will provide the required interventions by establishing including VOCA, IRC and the Save the Children USA are Community-based Therapeutic Centers (CTCs). Their at planning stages. Meanwhile, clan conflicts in Geladin interventions will be complemented by the mobile health woreda of warder zone has resulted in displacement of teams. The screening for Geladin is still pending due to both animals and humans. There are also reports of clan security reasons. Meanwhile, a measles vaccination conflict in Mulli area, which is between Babile and Fik. campaign, coupled with Vitamin A supplementation, targeting 808,241 children, is being conducted in Somali Although there has been a considerable improvement over Region. UNICEF facilitated the Regional Health authorities' the last month, delayed delivery of food due to logistic- coordination of NGO involvement in the measles campaign. related problems and food diversions prevail in the region. Among others, Save-US, CARE, IMC and GOAL will The Government has taken measures to tackle these contribute staff and logistic support in the implementation of problems including giving priority for transporters to the the campaign. UNICEF sent 265 tonnes of plumpy’nut to region, regular radio broadcasts informing beneficiaries of the region to support the therapeutic feeding activities. food allocations and deploying military escorts. All

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 3

To strengthen the human resource capacity, 25 teams of adequate to improve pasture and availability of water. As a Federal health professionals including medical doctors, result the team recommends water rationing and animal health officers and nurses are deployed to the region. 11 feeding to continue in the zone, especially in Moyale, Dire, mobile health service teams, funded by UNICEF will be on Miyo, and Arero woredas. CARE and USAID in their the ground to provide curative services, Insecticide Situation Update report that the rains have slightly Treated Nets (ITNs) distributions and OTP (Outreach improved the availability of water and regeneration of Therapeutic Programme). A further five are planned to be pasture in Teltele and Yabelo woredas. As a result, deployed if additional staff can be found. In addition, eight livestock migration to Teltele and Yabelo from Miyo and more mobile heath service teams will be deployed by the Moyale woredas has increased, putting a strain on the RHB once the funds are secured. UNICEF has dispatched limited resources. In addition, the rains have also increased 16 Emergency Drug Kits to support the mobile health livestock mortality and morbidity. Meanwhile, some NGOs services. According to the RHB, the Expanded including CARE, Action for Development, LIVA and Gayo Programme on Immunisation (EPI) coverage in the region Pastoralist Development Initiative (local NGO) are providing is less than 10 percent. Humanitarian partners are livestock feed. The zone has recommended for 73,500 encouraged to assist in designing the new strategy for cattle to be fed for one month. To date, up to 7,000 pastoralists as the existing approach does not fit mobile livestock have been de-stocked (sold). However, communities. pastoralists in the remote areas are not benefiting from this opportunity as traders only focus on road-side markets. The The drought has overshadowed the reintegration terms of trade are still not in favor of the pastoralist as the programme of the IDPs from Hartishek and Fafen camps. grain price is sky-rocketing and price of livestock is very To date UNCT has returned 4,979 people (1,403 HHs) to low. FAO, in collaboration with Oromiya Pastoral Areas 21 locations in Degehabur zone. IOM plans to conduct a Development Condition and NGOs (CARE, LVIA, AFD and final movement for the remaining 1,000 IDPs, who were SC/USA), is undertaking vaccination and treatment left behind due to medical cases and failure to report. This campaigns targeting 150,000 livestock in five woredas of will bring the total the number of IDPs relocated to the zone. Degehabur to 6,000. There are however, up to 10,000 IDPs from other areas of the region remaining in the camps. Their condition is deteriorating due to absence of food distributions and water shortage. Mother and Child Development Organisation (MCDO) reported that its feeding centers in the camps are closed due to budget shortage, and that the condition of these IDPs is worsening.

OROMIYA The drought in Borena zone has deteriorated to such a level that there are reports of pastoralists feeding their animals the thatch roofs of their huts. Preliminary results of the DPPA led multi-agency re-assessment mission indicate that the beneficiary numbers for emergency have increased, including most of the caseload which were under close monitoring since the meher seasonal need assessment. The November 2005 meher assessment Water shortages prevail in drought affected areas of the mission identified 155,000 emergency beneficiaries and region, particularly in Borena, Rayitu, Seweyna and Dawe 100,000 people for close monitoring. The re-assessment Qachen woredas in Bale and lowland woredas of Arsi. mission (19-23 March), reported that rains have been There are 20 water tankering trucks in the region, which are received in midland woredas (Bule Hora, Gelana, Abaya, provided by the Government and different NGOs. Out of and Dugda Dawa) and it is hoped that this is the start of the 11 water tankering trucks in Borena zone, some are not the much needed gana rains. These areas had received functioning due to lack of maintenance and shortage of un-seasonal rains in mid-February and as result browse fuel. In all the woredas where there is water rationing has rejuvenated and some water points have been interventions (Moyale, Miyo, Dire, Teltele, Arero and replenished. However, the lowland woredas of Borena Yabello woredas), the amount is still below the zone including Moyale, Miyo, Dire and eastern parts of requirement. To support the rationing efforts, UNICEF has Arero woreda have not yet received rains. Meanwhile, the provided 20 pillow tankers to Borena zone, particularly in onset and distribution of the belg rains were rated as good schools where there is a feeding programme. In addition, to in East and West Hararghe zones, improving the minimise the contamination of water sources from the availability of potable water and pasture. Rains have also carcasses, UNICEF has provided 600,000 water improved the situation in Fentale woreda in East Shewa purification tablets to the zone. This brings the number of zone. UNICEF funded purification sachets distributed to the region to 780,000. To address the water needs in the zone, According to the re-assessment mission, the current more than 13 additional water tankers are required and showers received in different parts of Borena zone are not

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 4

rehabilitation and construction of water points should also PSNP beneficiaries receive their transfers timely, as it is increase as quickly as possible. thought that the delay up until now has exacerbated the situation in Borena zone. A serious shortage of food could As a result of the good performance of the belg rains, also occur in lowland woredas of East and West Hararghe crops are now in their normal stages and coverage of the zones due to delay in the Productive Safety Net area planted is normal in East Hararghe. However, the Programme (PSNP). In addition, safety net cash assessment team reported that agro-pastoralists in the beneficiaries have requested to be shifted to food as the affected areas of Borena zone have not planted belg money they receive does not buy the intended/sufficient (gana) crops, as seeds were not provided for them. The amount of food due to sky rocketing grain prices. The Food planting time for the gana season is at the end of March. Security Coordination Bureau (FSCB) and DPPA reported that the shift is not possible a due to shortage of grain in With regards to health, the critical shortage of health stock. professionals, essential drugs and equipments prevails in the region, particularly in Borena zone. Consensus has AFAR been reached between the federal and regional health In order to get a better picture of the impact of the drought authorities to deploy health professionals to the seven in Afar, the regional government decided to conduct a rapid worst affected woredas of Borena zone. In addition, assessment. This assessment took place in all five zones UNICEF will send seven mobile health teams to the zone from 17 to 25 March and was conducted by the Disaster in the second week of April. Malaria and diarrhea Prevention and Preparedness Food Security Bureau, Afar outbreaks are feared in the zone. The re-assessment team Natural Resources and Environment Programme and reported cases of malnutrition in children, pregnant and Water Bureau which were supported by UNICEF, FAO, lactating mothers as well as elders. IMC screened 650 APDA, CARE and ACF. Its results were presented in the malnourished children and women in Dire and Miyo regional Relief Task Force meeting in Semera on 29 March woredas and reported more than 60 severely 2006. With the exception of zone 3 which is considered malnourished cases. CONCERN also reported moderately affected in comparison to the other zones, all malnutrition (6.1 percent GAM and 0.8 percent SAM) with zones are ranked as seriously affected by the drought 1.34/10,000/day U5MR in Goro woreda in Bale zone. In according to the assessment report with differences from addition, CARE reported that the admission rate of woredas to another. The most affected woredas in zone 1 severely malnourished children in its Community-based are Dubti and Elidar, followed by Mille and Chifra, while in Therapeutic Care (CTC) programme has increased in zone 2 it is Aba Ala, Berahle, Erepti and Dalol. In zone 4 Grawa woreda in East Hararghe. Meanwhile, in response Teru, Yalo and parts of Gulina districts are the most critical to the serious malnutrition reported in January, CARE has while almost all districts are considered as critically affected supplied more than 100 tonnes of supplementary food in zone 5. Regarding livestock, most of the cattle herds (CSB and Famix) to Miyo, Teltele and Moyale woredas of have migrated; and zone 3, despite less affected, could Borena zone. In addition, UNICEF sent more than 116 actually face further problems – including potential clan tonnes of plumpy’nut to Borena zone and more than 280 conflict as it is a hosting area for migration. Though it is tonnes to East Hararghe. Under the TSF/EOS programme, difficult to assess conditions for the cattle, the team food dispatches are completed for 16 woredas in East reported a significant mortality rate for the shoats which is Hararghe with distributions to beneficiaries almost an indicator of serious food security deterioration. completed. By 10 April, food will move to an additional 47 According to the findings, water tankering is the very first woredas in the region. Significant delays have been priority for Afar region and it is estimated that 12 trucks are experienced in both retrieving the data and using needed to cover the most urgent needs in Berahle, Erepti, bureaucratic government transporting procedures. In this Dalol, Teru, Dubti and Elidar woredas. At present there is round, transporters have not shown interest to transport only one government water tanker operational in Elidar. In food to Borena (the three highland woredas), North Shewa addition to other emergency interventions proposed in (five woredas) and Kurfachele woreda in East Hararghe. livestock, sanitation and health sectors, there was a As a result, a total of 24 woredas out of 87 will not receive consensus that the total number of food aid beneficiaries, food during this distribution. The DPPB is giving emphasis including emergency assistance (54,600 beneficiaries) and to resolve the issues prior to the next round of screening, PSNP programme (472,229 beneficiaries) are reflecting the which is scheduled in May, when all 87 woredas are needs. However, as per the relief distributions, the PSNP expected to be covered. Finally, a mass measles distributions should consist of the full basket. Therefore, vaccination campaign, integrating polio vaccination and beneficiaries should receive oil and supplementary food as de-worming tablets, targeting more than 690,700 children well as cereals until June 2006, in order to avoid further is being rolled out in Borena, Bale, and Guji zones of the deterioration of their nutritional status. region. The sugum rains, which were meant to start at the Out of 13,000 tonnes of food allocated to Oromiya in beginning of March, have been poor with the exception of March, 84 percent has been dispatched. In Borena zone, zone 3 which received good rains since mid March. In distributions are completed for January and February and recent days parts of zone 1 also received rains, in Logiya, on-going for March. After two months delay, Safety Net Semera, Chifra and around Mile. However, according to food has been dispatched to the region and distributions Afar officials, these rains are “uneven” and not sufficient to have started recently in some woredas. It is crucial that have a significant impact on the drought situation.

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 5

An OCHA team observed Afar pastoralists from zone 1 response, CONCERN is planning to distribute and 4 in Kombolcha moving with their cattle in the supplementary food while GOAL continues to provide direction of Bati. The pastoralists are trying to reach the targeted supplementary food for approximately 16,000 still depleted pasture in Afar bordering Amhara. According beneficiaries in Berhale woreda of zone 2. In addition, EOS to the herders, the migration back to Afar started on 29 screening had been completed in six woredas of zone 1 March. According to an agreement between Afar and where 8,000 beneficiaries are identified as malnourished Amhara authorities, the pastoralists must leave the grazing and contracting with transporters is currently underway. lands in Amhara in order to avoid further conflicts. This Distributions of supplementary food distribution are return might exacerbate the critical food security situation expected to start within the first two weeks of April totaling in certain zones of Afar as the rains are not considered 228 tonnes of CSB and 25.55 tonnes of oil. sufficient at the moment to reple water and pasture need s for the herds. Out of the 500,000 plus beneficiaries in the region 472,229 people are covered by PSNP while 54,600 are to receive emergency food assistance. According to DPPFSB, the first round of food distributions for the PSNP has been completed. The dispatch of the March relief food allocation is under process, according to DPPA.

Meanwhile, the region organised training on the implementation of PSNP in the first week of March in which four government staffs from each woreda participated. The regional Livestock Crop and Natural Resource Development Bureau also held a two-day livestock emergency meeting on 10 and 11 March that reviewed the livestock situation and established a livestock forum comprising different partners.

SNNP Most parts of the region received normal belg rains in the second and third weeks of March. The rains have significantly mitigated the prevailing shortages of water and pasture. Land preparation and belg crop planting took place on time and crops are now in their normal growth stage. Farmers are also continuing planting teff and other crops such as pulses and sweet potatoes. If the current rains persist in the coming weeks, the large numbers of cattle that have left their traditional grazing areas in South Omo are expected to return.

This month, the regional DPPB undertook a post-harvest

crop assessment for meher, the major rain crop production Earlier in February, USAID and OFDA representatives season and pre-crop production for belg, the minor rain traveled to Afar Region to assess the humanitarian season. The assessment was undertaken through the situation. According to the report, the region faces stress newly introduced livelihood zoning, which divides the region from the cumulative effects of population pressures, water into 38 livelihood zones. The assessment results show shortages, reduction of pasture land, and food insecurity better crop production than that of last year (2005). pointing to wide-ranging and ongoing chronic assistance Generally there was an increase in crop production in most needs. Glaring deficiencies in all sectors are the result of of the zones and special woredas with the exception of years of insufficient investment in the region. The already some localised areas in Silte, Hadiya, Alaba, Dawro, Gamo precarious humanitarian situation has been exacerbated Gofa and Wolayita zones that were affected by uneven by the on-going drought. The report also indicates that rain, hailstorms, flooding and livestock disease outbreaks. some areas in the region have received only two The livestock and pasture situation for most parts of the productive rains since 1999, leading to a decline in human region is normal with the exception of an animal disease and livestock health. In addition, the drought’s impact is affecting livestock in Dawro and a shortage of pasture and exacerbated by the growing distance between areas with water for animals in South Omo. In the affected low pasture and areas with available water. The report production areas, signs of acute malnutrition were reported. indicated that if the coming rains are not good, a larger The assessment recommended close monitoring and relief percentage of the population will require additional food for the most affected households and timely assistance. implementation of the PSNP.

In mid March, CONCERN conducted a nutritional survey in There were no major human health problems in the region Yalo woreda of zone 4 that revealed 11.1 percent GAM and with the exception of meningitis in some areas which is now 1.1 percent SAM with 1.54 /10,000/day U5MR. In

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 6

under control. NGOs including IMC, Save the Children Wello, South Wello and North Shewa zones respectively. USA and CONCERN implementing CTC programmes Even planted crops are reported to be at reported an increase in the number of admissions seedling/germination stages. This could force farmers to compared to last month. It is believed that the number of shift to planting long cycle meher crops. admissions could continue to increase as the peak hunger period (April to June) approaches. In most woredas of the region, PSNP started in February/March but transfer of cash was delayed due to Nutritional screening conducted during the 4th round of the late allocation at the federal level. With the exception of EOS implementation in Hulla Woreda of Sidama zone for direct support beneficiaries, who have been receiving food the first time, screened a total of 26,075 under five children from the carryover stock in some woredas, cash and 9,462 pregnant and nursing women. In response, food beneficiaries are unable to receive payments on time even distribution has begun to 3,000 beneficiaries in Hulla though they have completed public works. To avoid the woreda. The total food distribution is completed for delay, new transfer mechanisms are being developed 105,000 beneficiaries in all except four woredas in the based on the woredas past transfer performances, region. The second round of distributions under the according to the regional officials. Consequently, PSNP TSF/EOS will begin in April. Food commodities distributed woredas are categorised as low, medium and high capacity in each round amount to 2,625 tonnes of CSB and 294 woredas. Seven woredas are identified as low capacity tonnes of oil. Meanwhile, the regional Health Bureau woredas and will receive food. The regional Food Security received supplies of plumpy’nut, F75 and F100 from Bureau (RFSB) proposed that the food resources for these UNICEF. The plumpy’nut has been distributed to NGOs woredas will be covered by WFP. Discussions are including IMC, CONCERN, GOAL, Mission of Charity and underway between WFP and RFSB. Last year, WFP Save the Children USA to continue implementing CTC covered more than 22 PSNP woredas in the region. Up to programmes. 28 better performed woredas are identified as medium and high capacity and will receive cash, but there are The PSNP in the region covers 58 woredas of which 10 indications that they may request a shift from cash to food receive food, 41 get cash assistance and seven woredas during the lean season. The woredas will notify about their receive a combination of both. Food is now being projections with the shortest delay. The remaining PSNP delivered while the cash transfer is expected in the first woredas will be covered by NGOs through USAID funding. week of April. The resettlement programme is also rolling- Recently a donor group made an assessment in the PSNP out and 400 family members from Sidama left Awassa to woredas and the report is expected shortly. join the heads of households in Bench Maji and Keffa resettlement zones. In addition, 340 family members left Regarding relief operations, it was planned to start in to Guraferda resettlement site in Bench Maji, while 60 February for only 3 woredas in the region. However, food went to Decha resettlement site in Keffa. Preparation is arrived in mid March and distributions are on-going. being finalised to resettle 1,500 heads of households to Meanwhile, targeted supplementary food is now moving to various resettlement sites in April. over 300 food distribution sites in the region. Up to 67,000 women and children under five will receive 1,675 tonnes of As in all regions, cereal prices are not following normal CSB and 187.6 tonnes of oil. seasonal trends. Prices have stabilized at a high level or increased since October 2005, and gone much above their WHO reported that the first polio case in 2006 was found in average levels. The same trend is observed in the region Sekota woreda in Wag Hamra zone bringing the total where it is better documented due to the implementation of number of confirmed polio cases in the country to 24 since the household food economy approach. This approach December 2004. The Ministry of Health (MoH), in used during the past meher seasonal assessment allowed collaboration with WHO and UNICEF, is planning to to estimate the negative impact of these high level and conduct an emergency outbreak polio immunisation increasing prices on the livelihoods of the poor. An campaign, in Wag Hamra zone and the surrounding areas increase was also indicated in the labour market and daily targeting up to three million children from 14-17 April. rates though this approach during the meher assessment. The expected decrease in cereal prices that usually occurs TIGRAY during harvesting period (October 2005 to January 2006) The overall food security situation in the region is stable. has not been observed in SNNPR as in the other regions This year’s belg rain started one month late (in the second of the country. week of March) in most woredas. The belg rains in south Tigray - the only belg growing zone in the region- was AMHARA delayed by 2 weeks of the normal onset. About 1-3 days of Belg rains started two months late, in mid March. The light-moderate rains were received during the 2nd week of rains were received only for two to three days and the March for the southern zone of Tigray. Although the onset performance was poor. Belg planting has started but it is was too late for the long cycle crops, short cycle crops such significantly affected by the late onset and poor quality of as teff in the lowland areas and wheat in some pockets of the rains. Under normal conditions, more than 50 percent highland areas were planted. The rains, despite being late, of the land gets planted by mid March in the belg allowed partial regeneration of pasture and preparation of producing areas; however reports indicate that to date only land for long cycle crops. However, the rains need to 5 percent, 13 percent and 42 percent are planted in North continue in the coming weeks to ensure proper belg

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 7

production prospect in the Southern zone of Tigray. Meanwhile, ITNs will be distributed in the region within the Meanwhile, reports indicate that heavy rains in mid March next two months before the rains arrive. have caused serious damage in Alamata town and in its surrounding kebeles, including Selen Wuha, Timuga, With regards to water interventions, a new well has been Tsesera and Merewa. Reports from the area indicate that drilled and the three existing wells are now operational in 50 houses were damaged and more than 230 households Akobo woreda. Two springs are currently providing lost their assets. An assessment is being done to evaluate services for more than 400 people in Godere woreda. the damage. The first repatriation of Sudanese refugees commenced The livestock situation in the region is normal except for from Bonga camp in Gambella Region with 500 refugees reported outbreaks of rabies, blackleg, anthrax and bovine on 31 March. There are up to 17,000 registered refugees pasteurolisis in Kola Tembien woreda in Central zone. that volunteered to be repatriated. The tripartite agreement Preparations are underway to conduct vaccinations. between UNHCR and Ethiopia and Sudanese Governments for the repatriation was signed on 27 For the PSNP, public works began in February for a total February. There are 73,000 Sudanese refugees that are beneficiary population of 1.5 million people. About 900,000 currently living in the five camps in Ethiopia. people are planned to receive cash and some 548,000 food transfers. The Relief Society of Tigray (REST) rolled- There have been reports of security incidences in and out its second year PSNP in the six (Ahferom, Degua around Dimma woreda. Extra defense forces are deployed Tembien, Mereb Leke, Werie Leke, Wukro, Raya Azebo) to reinforce security. most food insecure woredas of Central, Eastern and Southern zones. Following the completion of retargeting of beneficiaries in January, the programme now reaches up to 397,000 chronically food insecure people, which is 27 percent of the PSNP caseload in the region for the year. WFP is covering 4 food insecure woredas under this programme. Targeted Supplementary Food in support of the EOS amounting to 1,961 tonnes of CSB and 219.68 tonnes of oil will be completed by 4 April to 182 food distribution points to feed 78,457 beneficiaries. Distributions are well underway.

Meanwhile, UNHCR, in collaboration with the Government, is exploring the possibilities of a new site for Eritrean refugees, as adequate access to water could not be ensured in the site (Mai' Aini) that was originally planned for a new camp. The current Eritrean camp at Shimelba is currently full and it is vital to create an additional site to accommodate the continuous influx of Eritrean refugees into northern Ethiopia.

GAMBELLA

A mass EOS/CSI campaign was conducted in Gambella Region and the general indications of nutrition are ‘poor to EMERGENCY FOOD AND CASH RESERVE risky’, which is considered as normal for the region at this STATUS time. The EOS results are: 46,476 children (6-59 months) supplemented with vitamin A (83 percent of the target The Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSR) reports population); and 40,276 children (1-5years) de-wormed 232,849 tonnes of grain stock on hand, 84,520 tonnes (82 percent). In addition, three percent of the children (6- under withdrawal, and 87,635 tonnes of outstanding 59 months) screened for malnutrition (40,109 children, or loans as of 31 March 2006. EFSR also provides non- 72 percent) and five percent of the pregnant and lactating food items on returnable basis. Details of the supplies mothers (6,544, or 47 percent) were referred for and procedures to use the items are available at DPPB/WFP targeting supplementary feeding. http://www.dppc.gov.et/pages/EFSR.htm or contact Alemayehu Asfaw, 0115-500995. The National The total beneficiary number (1,289) identified as Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Fund malnourished during the EOS screening is far below the Administration (NDPPFA) offers US$ 13,269,455 in expected result of 10,500. This could be due to a number loans to fill financial gaps during early stage of of reasons, including exaggerated population figures and emergencies. An application form is available at poor screening coverage. Security concerns also http://www.dppc.gov.et/pages/EFSR.htm or contact contributed to the reduced mobility of the screening teams. Tamru Ayana, 0115 53 8343 Currently, food is moving to the region and dispatches to the food distribution centers will begin in mid April.

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 8

A HIGHLIGHT ON MARKET ANALYSIS

Cereal prices, in all major centers, are not following normal seasonal trends. Prices have stabilised at a higher level or increased since October 2005, and gone well above their average levels. This potentially reflects a stiff supply of grain compared to demand throughout the country, and challenges expectations of excess supply (with various sources estimating a ‘bumper’ harvest). Cereal prices have also increased slightly during February. February’s retail price of maize in Addis Ababa, the largest terminal market, is 81 percent above its 1999-2004 average prices for this time of the year. Although a slight increase in cereal prices is normal in the immediate post-harvest season (February – March), given the very high level of current prices in the country, the trend is particularly worrying this year.

Prices are expected to rise further in the coming months as an increasing number of rural households deplete their stocks and turn to the markets to purchase their food; a trend that will intensify as the typical hunger period of June – August approaches and reduce the effectiveness of Productive Safety Net Programme cash distributions in ensuring food access. Given the existing tight supply, it seems as though Government interventions including releasing of grain through Ethiopian Grain Trading Enterprise and cooperatives and the grain export ban are inadequate to counterbalance other factors, resulting in prices beyond the reach of the poor. Any additional food purchases, including local purchases of food aid and bulk purchases from the market, need to be coordinated and timed carefully so as not to further escalate prices. For more information contact: [email protected]

FOOD AND NON-FOOD UPDATE

The resource situation for the "non-food" sectors of the 2006 Humanitarian Appeal (health and nutrition, water and environmental sanitation, agriculture, disaster response and coordination) remains critical, with confirmed contributions only covering around 17 percent of requirements as of 31 March. In regards to food, the national relief pipeline is covered only to June, when cereals will run out unless new contributions are confirmed. Requirements in pastoral areas have been formally assessed only to June, and reassessments in June/July will confirm the needs for the second half of the year; this follows normal practice in Ethiopia. However, requirements for July-December can increase substantially compared to the requirements issued in January for the annual Humanitarian Appeal. Many of the beneficiaries currently receiving assistance are likely to require a continuation of assistance during July-December, which will increase the relief food needs and other requirements substantially. Donors are urged to confirm contributions made or pledged and to pledge new contributions to cover anticipated humanitarian needs in the second half of the year. For more Information contact: [email protected] and [email protected]

TOTAL FOOD REQUIREMENTS (Food and Supplementary Food Component of EOS) 366,413 tonnes TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS 284,126 tonnes FUNDED 77.5%

TOTAL NON-FOOD REQUIREMENTS US$ 111,014,995 Contributions: Agriculture US$ 3,179,368 Health and Nutrition US$ 13,215,358 Water and Sanitation US$ 2,454,597 Disaster Response / Capacity Strengthening US$ 65,363 Overall Coordination US$ 442,478

GRAND TOTAL US$ 19,357,164 FUNDED 17%

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs

FOCUS ON ETHIOPIA PAGE 9

Upcoming and Ongoing Meetings ETHIOPIAN MIGRANTS AND SMUGGLING IN PUNTLAND In Addis Ababa (Monthly Humanitarian Situation for Somalia, February 2006) April 3, 17 Oromiya Early Warning Working Group Meeting, FSDPPC, 1400hrs (Open to all) Smuggling of Ethiopian migrants and Somali nationals April 4 Mapping Task Force Meeting, Ethiopian from ports in Puntland to Yemen continue to pose a mapping Authority 1000hrs (Open to all) serious humanitarian concern, requiring urgent

April 4, 18 Oromiya Regional Coordination Meeting, international and local efforts to address the problem. In FSDPPC, 1400hrs (Open to all) a tragic incident, in the early hours of 25 February, a smuggler boat arrived in Yemen from Somalia, forcing April 5, 19 Multi-Agency Nutrition Task Force, 137 passengers overboard (134 and three ENCU, 1400hrs, DPPA (Open to all) Ethiopians) in the deep waters, far from the shore. Of April 11, 25 Strategic Disaster Management Team these, 33 people (31 Somalis and two Ethiopians) (SDMT), 0900hrs (UN internal meeting) drowned, while 84 (65 males, 17 females and two children) survived swimming to safety. Twenty people April 11, 25 Water Task Force Meeting, MoWR, are still missing. The survivors were taken to the 1000hrs (Open to all) UNHCR Maifa'a refugee reception centre in Shabwa, April 14, 28 Emergency Health Task Force Meeting, about 760km southeast of the capital Sana, where they MoH, 1400hrs (Open to all) were given medical care, food and other help. The magnitude of the smuggling problem can be judged from April 7, 14, 21, 28 DSS (UN Department of Safety & Security Meeting), ECA, 0930hrs (UN the fact that between 1 January and 28 February, 61 Internal meeting) boat loads of people left the Somali port of Bosasso for Yemen, mainly Ethiopians and Somalis. With an April 10, 25 UN Technical Officers meeting, UNOCHA, average of 100-120 passengers per boat, this could 0900hrs (UN Internal Meeting) amount to over 7,000 people. Very often, smugglers

April 13 Avian Flu, Nigeria Lounge, ECA force passengers off the boat while still far from shore. In compound, 1430hrs (UN Internal some instances, smugglers have been known to tie the Meeting) hands of passengers behind their backs, leaving them at the mercy of the high seas. Unlike Somalis, most of the April 19 Agriculture Task Force Meeting, FAO, Ethiopians opt not to report to UNHCR as they do not 0900hrs (Open to all) enjoy automatic refugee status in Yemen and proceed to April 20 UN/NGO Information Sharing Meeting, other gulf countries in search of better economic UNDP, 1000hrs (Invitation only) opportunities. However, even then, during the first two months of this year, 211 Ethiopian (including 49 women) April 25 Early Warning Working Group, DPPA conference room, 1000hrs (Open to all) and 3,329 Somalis (including 370 women) officially registered with UNHCR in Yemen. The Yemeni April 26 Food Aid Task Force Meeting, DPPA government has reiterated its call for help to stop conference room, 0900hrs (Open to all) smugglers from bringing Somali and Ethiopian migrants

April 27 Technical Information Management and asylum seekers, often under hazardous sea Exchange, DPPA conference room, conditions, into Yemen. The WFP/DRC emergency food 1000hrs (Open to all) assistance programme which commenced in November 2005 to provide life-saving assistance to the Ethiopian In the Regions migrants in Bossaso continues to fulfill the nutritional needs of over 2,000 Ethiopians. However, to find a more April 1, 15 Gode zonal Emergency Coordination durable solution and in line with the overall humanitarian Meeting, Gode, 0900hrs (Open to all) response plan for these Ethiopian migrants, on 28 April 5, 26 Somali Water Task Force Meeting, Jijiga, February, Heads of WFP and UNHCR met to discuss 0900hrs (Open to all) the phasing out of the WFP/DRC programme and agreed to close it down during the second week of April 14, 28 Somali Health Task Force Meeting, Jijiga, March. IOM will thereafter provide a "one-off" assistance 1430hrs (Open to all) to facilitate the return of willing Ethiopians under the April 11, 25 Borena zonal Emergency Coordination Assisted Voluntary Return programme, tentatively Meeting, Yabello, 0900hrs (Open to all) expected to commence in mid-March. UNHCR and DRC

April 17 Oromiya Regional Livestock Task Force will meanwhile monitor the responses and intentions of Meeting, OPDC, 1430hrs (Open to all) Ethiopians in the final stages of the feeding programme, with results of the monitoring passed on to partners. The April 25 Somali Coordination Meeting, Jijiga, issue of Ethiopian migrants needs to be tackled 0900hrs (Open to all) comprehensively by addressing the problem of

smuggling from Somalia to Yemen and the Gulf States Events of Note with the local authorities in Puntland. In this regard, the April 17, 18 Workshop on the Standardised Head of UNHCR will travel to Puntland from 9-11 March Monitoring and Assessment of Relief to discuss the matter with the Puntland administration. and Transitions (SMART) methodology, Meanwhile, the wide information media campaign to Organised by ENCU, 0115 52 35 56 raise awareness on the problem has started.

A monthly focus on humanitarian trends and activities in Ethiopia, produced by UN OCHA in collaboration with other UN agencies & NGOs