Report on Rapid Assessment for Emergency Shelter and Non-Food Item Afar Regional State MARCH 2020 I. BACKGROUND The Afar national regional state is located in the north eastern part of Ethiopia. It comprises of 5 zones and 34 woredas. The region is prone to both natural and man-made hazards that have led to mortalities, displacements and loss of properties. The region consists mainly of dry areas hence; more than 75% of the woredas found in the region are susceptible to drought and high shortage of water. Thus, 24 woredas of the region are categorized as priority number one as shown on woreda hotspots classification and frequently affected with different humanitarian hazards1 which is mainly drought. On the other hand, flood is among the hazards, which has been challenging the region that led to deterioration of humanitarian situation in the region especially due Awash River over flow. In addition to drought and flood, conflict has been causing for displacement, casualties, and resource destruction in the region. The conflict between ethnic groups of Afar and Somali community on pasture and water has long history mainly in Zone one and three weredas but the nature of the recent conflict is an exceptional as described at region, woreda and community level. The conflict since beginning of October, 2019 escalated and resulted in loss of many lives, displaced large number of people and damaged their properties and assets. Since October,2019 , according to the Afar regional Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Food Security Coordinator office, the number of IDPs reported 46,225 people (9245 HHs) from seven weredas in zone one and three of the region but inaccessible due to security situation. As a result, movement, communication and trade between the two communities are not possible. Thus, the humanitarian needs for the displaced peoples did not assessed in well. According to the regional authorities a total of 35,406 people (5,901 HHs) in 26 sites/kebeles2, are affected by the recent conflict since two to three month. In the other side, some of these kebles were affected by previous flood and also they are affected with the current drought which is escalating. Most of the IDPs are from Garani, Hanruka and Gelalo woredas having 1,944HHs’ (11,664 individuals), 1,927HHs’ (11,562 individuals) and 700HHs’ (4,200 individuals) respectively. During the assessment, there are no any humanitarian partners providing any support to the affected communities, except the regional government providing food with the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) with both relief and PSNP and water trucking. The assessment was coordinated and undertaken by the regional Disaster Prevention and Food Security Program Coordinator Office (DPFSPCO) together with IOM and International Rescue Committee (IRC). II. ASSESSMENT LOCATION AND DURATION The assessment team have been planned to visit six woredas, but an able to reach three and the rest left due to the currently undergoing conflict. Besides, discussions held with government bodies (woreda and region) and UNOCHA regional focal. The assessment undertaken from 11 to 17th of March 2020. 1 January 2020 Hotspot woredas classification 2 Regional Disaster Prevention and Food Security Program Coordination Office 1 | P a g e III. OBJECTIVE OF THE RAPID ASSESSMENT The objective of the Rapid assessment is to assess the current IDP situation and identify the priority humanitarian needs particularly ES/NFI needs, existing response capacity, and priority woredas for ES/NFI as well as to determine possible response modalities in Zone 1 and 3. IV. METHODOLOGY OF THE ASSESSMENT The objective of the assessment achieved through the below methods; Conducting briefing/de-briefing discussions with government and stakeholders; Group discussion with displaced peoples; Field observation of the IDP sites; The existing data from the region also utilized. However due to security problem in Gewan, Gelalo and Hanruka woredas, the team could not visited the sites where as the information data of the woredas collected from regional authority. V. FINDINGS OF THE RAPID ASSESSMENT The assessment identified the overall number of IDPs, number of sites, humanitarian needs, the current ES/NFI needs and feasible response modality. Number of IDPs and IDP Sites Due the conflict happen between the Afar community and the Somali, many people have fled from Afar kebeles those bordering area, have been displacing where they think safe and they lost their resources (livestock’s and residences). The conflict is active in some kebeles of Gelalo, Hanruka and Gewane woredas still. As a result, escalated and resulted to reports of deaths and displacement in region. A total of 35,406 people (5901HHs’) are displaced from the border of the regions in 26 IDP sites/kebeles (see the annexed table_IDPs sites vs the displaced peoples), though the actual number of IDPs anticipated to be higher since there are areas where the team unable to access due to security because there is active conflicts still in Zone 3 specifically Gelalo, Gewane and Hanruka woredas of the region. Currently majority of the IDPs are sheltered together with the host communities and few of them constructed temporary shelter by using the materials that they moved with. The basic humanitarian needs do not reached and no in pipe line as witnessed by the government and UNOCHA. In Erole sites the team witnessed that IDPs’ are using the plastic sheet for temporary shelter that removed/disposed due aged from the Tandaho Sugar Factory dama (see the below picture). Table 1. Number of IDPs due conflict in Afar Region, March 2020. IDP No HHs S/No Zone Woreda sites IDPs Individual Causes Remark Visited by the 1 Awsi Rasu (zone 1) Mile 6 670 4020 Conflict team Garani* (new Visited by the 2 Awsi Rasu (zone 1) woreda) 11 1944 11664 Conflict team 3 Awsi Rasu (zone 1) Chifra 1 100 600 Conflict 2 | P a g e Visited by the 4 Awsi Rasu (zone 1) Afambo 1 360 2160 Conflict team Subtotal 19 3074 18,444 5 Gabi Rasu (Zone 3) Gelalo 2 700 4200 Conflict 6 Gabi Rasu (Zone 3) Gewane 1 200 1200 Conflict Inaccessible Hanruka** (new due conflict 7 Gabi Rasu (Zone 3) woreda) 5 1927 11,562 Conflict Sub Total 7 2827 16,962 Conflict G/total 26 5901 35,406 Conflict * reported under Dubti in DTM **reported under Amibara in DTM Picture 1: Shows the Afar traditional house those hosted the IDPs (Left) and while the IDPs’ making house in newly displaced area (Right), Erole site, Garani woreda Visited IDPs sites The Rapid assessment team visited three woredas those in zone one; namely Mile, Garani and Afambo only due the current security situation as aforementioned. As seen during the visiting, the IDPs’ are living with the host communities (those arrived and settled) there before and from time to time the flux increased. Table 2. Shows the IDPs sites visited in Awsi Rasu (zone one), Afar Region, March 2020. S/N Zone Woreda Visited Displaced Displaced Remark IDP site IDPs (HHs’) from 1 Awsi Rasu Mile Galaha 240 Sanas & 250 individual (zone 1) Kusrto recent displaced 2 Awsi Rasu (1) Garane Erole 200 Gabilema 3 Awsi Rasu (1) Garane sabalo 240 Hinani 90HH new fled 4 Awsi Rasu (1) Garane Gawuli 350 kabada All new flow 3 | P a g e 5 Awsi Rasu Afambo Obno 360 Sanga New since three (zone 1) month Picture 2. Shows the Focus group discussion done in Mile woreda, Galaha kebele (Left) and Garani woreda, Gawuli site (right) MAJOR HUMANITERIAN NEEDS Even though the team would like to see the ES/NFI, in the meantime the IDPs’ raised there priority needs and gaps. During the discussion the major gaps that revealed are; Food: entire visited IDP sites, they mentioned as food is at critical need. In the other side, the regional government mentioned as both relief and PSNP foods provision undergoing. Shelter/NFI: All the visited sites seen as at critical need of Shelter/NFI particularly those in Garani and Afambo woredas particularly those new arrivals. The woredas those in zone three (Gewane, Gelalo and Hanruka woredas) expected in more at critical need since the conflict is active and the team could not accessed due to the acute conflict ( the detail will be stated in below topic). Since the information coming shows deaths and different attacks happening. Security threat: during the discussion with IDPs in Mile, Garani and Afambo woreda of zone one they mentioned that they are not fleeing safe even in the current location (Galaha ,Obino, Erole ,Sabuli and Gawuli) sleeping not possible at night time (particularly men) because of fear of further assault they said. Currently security condition in the zone three Woredas Amibara and Gelalo through (Gedamayitu) and Gewane through (Undufo) and zone one Mile woredas through Adayitu kebele remains very volatile and restrict due to the security. Water shortage: All the visited areas are seriously in need of water, some of them getting water by trucking (like Garani woreda) and some are using ponds/rivers like those in Afambo. Besides, no any water storage (plastic tankers) to reserve the water that provided by trucking. So, the water trucking do not meet the number of the current IDPs’. The point of use (PoU) water treatment chemicals neither distributed to the IDPs nor available in the local market. 4 | P a g e Hygiene and Sanitation: The hygiene and sanitation status of the IDPs are at very poor condition and no anybody responding on the area. No any latrine exist in the visited sites where they settled and open defecation common. Besides, the women mentioned as they left any of their property and need for dignity kits. Health and Nutrition: No any health facilities observed near to the IDPs sites and they mentioned occasionally as the woreda health team visiting them.