Ethiopia: National Emergency Coordination Centre (NECC) NECC Bulletin # 3 Date: 07 August 2020
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Ethiopia: National Emergency Coordination Centre (NECC) NECC Bulletin # 3 Date: 07 August 2020 Key highlights: • As of 5 August 2020, close to 55,000 people were affected by flooding in Afar, Oromia, SNNP, Amhara, Gambela and Somali regions, of whom 33,000 were displaced. • According to the Somali Regional Health Bureau, of 100 samples tested in Qoloji IDP sites, 17 people tested positive for COVID-19 (3 cases in Qoloji 1 site and 14 cases in Qoloji 2). All cases were asymptomatic. The Government and partners are closely working to prevent further spread of the virus and address all identified needs. • With funding support from US Food for Peace and Germany, WFP signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) to implement a cooked food project at a cost of more than ETB 157 million. The six months project (July – December 2020) will benefit 105,073 people in quarantine centres, isolation centres, and treatment centres. • With support from the National Emergency Coordination Centre, the Regional Emergency Coordination Centres are activated and are supporting response to COVID-19 pandemic and other hazards in Amhara and Somali regions. I. Situation overview Flood update Based on the National Meteorology Agency (NMA) weather outlook, normal and above normal rainfall is expected in July and August in the south western, western and central parts of the country. In July, especially in the second decade, above normal rain was observed in these areas. As a result, floods were observed in Oromia (Ilu and Sebeta woredas), Afar (Asayita, Dubti, Millie, Dulecha and Awash Fentale woredas), SNNP (Dasench and Gnagatom woredas), Amhara (Fogera, Dera and Libokemkem woredas) and Gambela (Agnewak and Nuwer zones). This trend is expected to continue in August. Several dams have either reached their maximum level or nearing full capacity. Some dams such as Gibe and Tekeze have started discharging. The release of dam water increases the flood risk in downstream communities, including in South Omo zone of SNNPR and Western and North Western zones in Tigray and Amhara regions. As of 5 August 2020, close to 55,000 people were affected by flooding in Afar, Oromia, SNNP, Amhara, Gambella and Somali regions, of whom 33,000 were displaced. The National Disaster Risk Management Commission, in collaboration with humanitarian partners, is currently working on flood preparedness and response measures. Qoloji IDP camp update According to data from the Displacement Tracking Matrix 22(DTM 22), around 78,000 IDPs live in Qoloji IDP sites (Qoloji 1 and 2). During the National Emergency Coordination Centre meeting on 30 July, the Somali Regional Health Bureau stated that of 100 samples tested in Qoloji IDP sites, 17 people tested positive for COVID-19 (3 cases in Qoloji 1 site and 14 cases in Qoloji 2). All cases were asymptomatic. The National and regional ECC, are closely working with humanitarian partners to prevent further spread of the virus and address all identified needs. Several initiatives were taken so far, including: • An isolation centre was established inside a nearby school. • An Incident Command Post was established. • The WaSH Cluster has provided a roto tank to the isolation centre, has deployed four water trucks to the sites and is rehabilitating water points in the sites). 1 • The Shelter/NFI Cluster has allocated funding from the OCHA-managed Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) for site decongestion and distribution of core relief items (a revised kit for mitigation of COVID-19) in the Qoloji sites. • The Protection Cluster has provided dignity kits to the isolation centre. COVID-19/Migrant returnees update The NECC, in collaboration with regional governments and partners, continues to support migrant returnees across the country. Since April 2020, more than 28,000 returnees arrived from the Middle East and neighbouring countries (Sudan, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea). Approximately 1,500 migrant returnees are arriving every week. More resources are required as COVID-19 cases have doubled in the last few weeks (there were 5,689 COVID-19 cases as of end of June, and the number drastically increased to 15,810 cases as of the end of July). There is fear that cases will further increase in the coming months, with 59 per cent of the cases now due to community transmission. II. Federal Level Response • This year alone, the Federal Government allocated more than ETB100 million for flood mitigation activities to minimize the impact of Awash river overflow. This budget was allocated and divided between Oromia and Afar regions. • In June 2020, the National Flood Task Force (NFTF) issued a national Flood Contingency Plan in order to mitigate the adverse impacts of anticipated floods, and to pre-position essential supplies in key locations across the country. The plan identified 434,000 people that are likely to be displaced during the kiremt/summer season. Accordingly, Food, WaSH, Shelter/NFI and Nutrition clusters pre-positioned life-saving items in selected areas of the country enabling them to reach 20 per cent of the estimated beneficiaries within the first 72 hours. • The National Disaster Risk Commission (NDRMC) has supported the regional governments to address the current displacement by providing Food, NFI, boats and helicopter in support of ongoing flood-response operations. Critical gaps identified include ES/NFIs, boats and budget to cover the full operation. On Firday 07 August, a Flood Task Force meeting will be convened to review the current flood situation across the country and prepare a Flood Reponse Plan. • With the support from the National Emergency Coordination Centre, a multi-agency assessment was conducted at Points of Entry (PoEs) and quarantine centres in six regions and Dire Dawa city administration in June 2020. The assessment identified several gaps, which concerned line ministries and partners are currently addressing. • With funding support from US Food for Peace and Germany, WFP signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) to implement a cooked food project at a cost of more than ETB 157 million. The six months project (July – December 2020) will benefit 105,073 people in quarantine centres, isolation centres, and treatment centres. • With support from the National Emergency Coordination Centre, the Regional Emergency Coordination Centres are activated and are supporting response to COVID-19 pandemic and other hazards in Amhara and Somali regions. • NDRMC has allocated partial NFIs to respond to the needs of 12,834 households in Qoloji sites. III. Regional Level Response • The Afar and Amhara regional governments allocated more than ETB10 million each for flood mitigation activities (river de-siltation, dyke maintenance, community awareness on flood early warning, preparedness and mitigation) to minimize the impact of Awash river overflow and Tana river backflow in Afar and Amhara regions. • Somali region ECC has established an Incident Command Post to coordinate the multi-sectoral responses in Qoloji sites. IV. Challenges • Funding shortages to respond to the needs of COVID-19/migrant returnees and flood IDPs. • Weak coordination and linkages between the national ECC and some regional coordination mechanisms. • In July, Dire Dawa ECC/ICP establishment is on hold due to the insecurity situation across the country. For more information, please contact: Mr. Negye Hailu, ECC Planning Chief/NDRMC, [email protected]; Mr. Yewondwossen Assefa, OCHA/ECC Information Management, [email protected]; Mrs. Lemlem Abreha, UNDP/ECC-GIS Specialist, [email protected] .