Revised Humanitarian Requirements Document Launched the Disaster

Revised Humanitarian Requirements Document Launched The Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) launched the Revised Humanitarian Requirements Document (HRD) on 24 November 2010. The release of the revised document, prepared based on the findings of the belg/gu seasonal assessment conducted in June and July and subsequent verification monitoring, was delayed by almost four months due to late endorsement of the beneficiary figures from some regions according to DRMFSS. The revised HRD identifies some 2.3 million people in need of emergency food assistance during the last six months of the year, with 29 per cent of beneficiaries in Somali Region, 29 per cent in Tigray, 26 per cent in Oromia. The document identifies US$ 187.7 million in requirements for general food rations (178,341 MT), as well as $25 million for targeted supplementary feeding (25,074 MT) for 450,429 children under five and pregnant and nursing women in 168 woredas. However, in presenting the revised HRD, DRMFSS noted that there were sufficient food stocks available to meet needs; thus, no new funding for relief food was being sought for the remainder of the year. For the non-food sectors, however, some $20 million is required to address emergency requirements in water, sanitation and hygiene ($10.4 million), health ($2.1 million), agriculture ($3.2 million) and education ($4.2 million) for the remainder of the year. The Nutrition sector did not include requirements in the revised document due to adequate availability of resources for November and December. The next HRD is expected to be released in the opening months of 2011, based on the results of the ongoing meher pre-harvest assessment. For more information, contact: [email protected] Food Security Outlook The latest FEWSNET/WFP food security outlook anticipates a generally stable food security situation in the country between November 2010 and March 2011, due to the average to above-average meher season production. According to the report, the meher harvest will improve access to food and food availability at the household level. Improved food security is also expected in the marginal eastern meher-producing areas with the start of the barley, wheat, beans and lentils harvests in October. Despite these improvements, however, poor households in most parts of the country continue to be moderately to highly food insecure due to chronic vulnerability and exposure to a range of shocks. Households in the flood affected woredas of North Wollo, South Wollo and Oromia zones (Amhara) and some woredas of East and West Hararghe zones (Oromia) are likely to become highly food insecure starting from January due to anticipated harvest loss. Wheat-growing areas that have been affected by the yellow rust crop disease require close monitoring. In the southern pastoralist zones, the performance of the hageya/deyr rains has been below-average, creating shortages of pasture and water in the southeastern pastoral and agro-pastoral parts of the country. For more information, contact: [email protected] Agriculture Update FAO reports that the below-average performance of the deyr/hageya rains is affecting livestock and crops in some areas of South Omo (SNNPR), lowland pastoral areas of Borena (Oromia) and most parts of the seven southern zones of Somali Region. Livestock body condition, particularly among cattle, is notably deteriorating in Dasenech woreda (South Omo). FAO is following up reports of livestock deaths due to drought-associated diseases in the same woreda. Moreover, according to FAO, migration of cattle into Hamer and Nyangatom woredas could potentially result in resource-based clashes between pastoralists. Moisture stress has also affected sorghum fields in Bena Tsemay woreda of the zone. FAO also reports that grain prices have slightly increased in some lowland areas of Borena zone due to a decrease in grain supplies in markets. In Somali Region, although the performance of the deyr rains has been poor and agro-pastoralists have not planted crops, the body condition of livestock remains generally good. For more information, contact: [email protected] Health Update A total of 159 new cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD), with two deaths, were reported in Oromia and SNNPR between 1 and 14 November 2010. The majority of the cases (85 cases) and both deaths were reported from Oromia. Affected woredas include Haro Maya and Jarso in East Hararghe zone and Uraga, Shakiso and Adola in Guji zone (Oromia) and Dara and Bona Zuria in Sidama zone and Wenago, Dila town and Yirgachefe in Gedio zone (SNNPR). UNICEF reports that Case Treatment Centers (CTCs) have been established in Haro Maya woreda and prevention activities, including distribution of water treatment chemicals and dissemination of AWD prevention messages, are in progress. CARE has provided medical supplies and water storage containers to the woreda. Meanwhile, there have been no reports of AWD cases associated with the Dire Sheikh Hussein religious ceremony in Oromia. Ahead of the celebration, the Regional Health Bureau (RHB), UNICEF and Merlin provided pilgrims with water treatment chemicals and conducted extensive awareness raising campaigns on AWD prevention and mitigation. During the same period (1 to 14 November), a total of 481 new cases of measles – none fatal – were reported in Benishangul Gumuz, SNNP (Male, Bena Tesemay, North Ari and South Ari woredas in South Omo zone) and Tigray (Tsegde, Welkait and Kafta Humera woredas in Western zone) regions. To strengthen the measles response in SNNPR, UNICEF sent 16 emergency drug kits to South Omo zone, Gamo Gofa zone and Basketo Special Woreda. Four additional kits were sent to the RHB for pre-positioning. The kits will increase access to health care service for an estimated 50,000 people. For more information, contact: [email protected] & [email protected] .

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