Joint Appeal
MID-YEAR REVIEW
JULY 2006
Joint Appeal
MID-YEAR REVIEW
JULY 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.Executive Summary
II.The External Environment: Humanitarian Conditions and Response
III.Regional Summary
IV.Summary by Sector/Cluster
Food
Agriculture and Livelihoods
Health
Nutrition
IDPs
Water and Sanitation
Cross Cutting Issues
V.Funding Levels and Humanitarian Activity
VI.Priorities to the end of 2006 and outlook for 2007
Cluster Leadership Approach
Planning Assessments: Towards a More Comprehensive and Inclusive Process
Mainstreaming Vulnerability and Risk
annex i.
NGO and UN Activities by Sector and Region
ANNEX II.
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
1
Ethiopia
I.Executive Summary
Successive years of drought, failed agricultural seasons, livestock loss, asset depletion and chronic structural weaknesses culminated this year in the need to assist approximately 9.8 million people including 2.6 million emergency food recipients and another 7.2 million through the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). Consequently, in January 2006, the Ethiopian Government, together with United Nations agencies and humanitarian partners launched the Joint Humanitarian Appeal for Ethiopia requesting US$[1] 166 million in emergency food and non-food assistance.
In spite of international response received to date, substantial gaps in the food and non-food sectors of the Appeal remain. In the non-food sector, some $111 million have been requested with only
$36.7 million in contributions confirmed to date (33%), mainly for drought-affected areas. In the food sector, an estimated 2.6 million people are in dire need of assistance valued at approximately
$182 million[2]. However, thanks to a significant carryover from 2005 as well as contributions received during the first half of 2006, estimated unmet requirements stand at $54.6 million[3]. Food requirements during the second half of the year are likely to expand as large numbers of previously unaccounted for beneficiaries will be entitled to receiving assistance.[4] Unless additional funding is received, severe cuts in the monthly food pipeline to beneficiaries are expected. Accordingly, donors are urged to confirm prior contributions and to make new pledges to cover anticipated humanitarian needs during the remainder of the year. The Ethiopian government, with support from the United Nations and its humanitarian partners is currently conducting a seasonal assessment to determine additional emergency food and non-food requirements for the remainder of the year.
Over the past six months, a series of external factors influenced the situation on the ground. From January to April, persistant dry conditions increased the vulnerability of populations living in drought affected areas. This was followed in April and May by heavy rains which contributed to sporadic flooding and impeded humanitarian access. Health concerns regarding a spread of malaria and water-borne diseases increased as a result. Nutritional issues, particularly over access to therapeutic foods also required particular attention. During the same period, economic conditions in the country continued to deteriorate and prices of basic foodstuffs, livestock, and agricultural inputs rose dramatically.
Security conditions have emerged as a major humanitarian challenge in terms of access to the populations. For example, in the Somali region large-scale counter-insurgency operations led by the Ethiopian Defense Force (EDF) against the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) have created disruptions in the distribution of emergency food and non-food relief assistance.
Internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia remain in a state of extreme vulnerability with as many as 280,000 people affected as a result of conflict, economic shocks, drought and other causes.[5] In May 2006, the International Organization for Migration completed the return of nearly 6,000 IDPs from the Somali region back to their place of origin. Following an agreement with the Ethiopian government in 2005, plans are underway for the conduct of a national assessment of IDPs during the second half of 2006.
Despite significant challenges, several important achievements have been made over the past six months. Relief food has been dispatched in all eight regions benefiting from this type of assistance under the Appeal. The World Food Programme (WFP) has dispatched 144,000 Metric Tonnes of food during the first half of the year. Availability of blended food at the beginning of the year enabled emergency blanket supplementary feeding to take place in areas of particular concern, especially in drought affected areas. Targeted Supplementary Feeding under the joint United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)/WFP Enhanced Outreached Strategy Programme has expanded into all 10 regions, and is now covering 411,360 beneficiaries. During the first half of 2006, the programme has expanded from 176 districts to 271, including three additional regions (Afar, Gambella and Benshangul Gumuz). UNICEF was able to quickly respond to the drought in Somali Region and the Borena Zone in Oromia though the use of pre-positioned funds. Mobile health teams have been able to reach a significant portion of nomadic pastoralist populations. Pre-positioning supplies located within the Ministry of Water Resources was used to respond to the drought and outbreak of acute watery diarrhoea in Gambella.
The Appeal has also benefited from two new funding mechanisms established in 2006 that are geared towards providing a rapid and flexible response to humanitarian needs. The Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) for Ethiopia, which is managed by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator with support from OCHA, has disbursed its first allocation of $6.6 million for life-saving interventions in the drought-affected regions of Oromiya and Somali. Moreover, an additional $4 million was received from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
II.The External Environment: Humanitarian Conditions and Response
Condition 1. From January to April, drought conditions continue.
Result: Large-scale humanitarian response to drought affected areas, as evidenced by the Joint 2006 Humanitarian Appeal.
Condition 2. Beginning in April, seasonal rains begin.
Result: Relief for drought-prone areas. Stabilisation of food security issues in some regions. Annual flooding incidents have occurred and some families have lost their homes. Increased health concerns related to malaria and water-borne diseases. Livestock disease also becomes a concern. Humanitarian emphasis shifts to drought recovery and development.
Condition 3. Mounting concerns about the humanitarian consequences of conflict.
Result: Questions about humanitarian access in conflict-affected areas, especially in Somali Region. Difficulties assessing conditions in conflict-prone regions, particularly in Gambella Region. Health concerns due to shortages in skilled labour, especially in Gambella Region. Questions concerning possible influx of refugees from Somalia into Somali Region. Mounting mortality and IDPs in Oromiya Region.
Condition 4. No War No Peace along the border with Eritrea.
Result: Continued signs of physical stress along the border. Inability to maintain educational institutions in border areas. Population increases in urban areas.
Condition 5. Dramatic price increases for foodstuffs.
Result: Mounting stress on the PSNP.
Needs Assessment Process for 2006 Appeal and Mid-Year Review
To identify emergency needs in the non-food sectors, various task forces conducted rapid assessments in all regions for the development of the 2006 Contingency Plan. Additional assessments were then carried out by selected task forces in various woredas (administrative sub-division, equivalent to a district). In the health and nutrition sector the methodology was refined for the subsequent assessments in 19 highly vulnerable woredas of six regions for preparation of the Appeal. In addition, the findings of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) were also considered. The Agriculture sector organized consultative meetings with the regions and was assisted by the joint FAO/WFP crop and food supply assessment carried out in November/December of 2005 which provided valuable information on overall weather conditions, prior crop performance, seed and livestock situations. The assessments resulted in estimates of emergency requirement needs for each sector down to the district level. The funding requirements per sector in this appeal were calculated by the task forces on a per capita (beneficiary) basis, with variations per district based on type of action needed. Projects were formulated by UN, Government and NGOs following the launch of the Appeal. Currently, the health and agriculture sectors are performing a seasonal assessment in order to determine respective needs. Emergency assessments were also conducted in response to quick-onset emergencies in Gode and Afder Zones in Somali Region. Joint DPPA-led re-assessments were performed in the post-drought period in March and April and included non-food emergency needs. In response to clashes between Borena and Guji, an OCHA-organized rapid needs assessment was performed between 23 June and 2 July.
III.Regional Summary
Afar
Overall, the short rains from mid-March have alleviated drought conditions in the region although concerns continue in the north where water-tankering and other non-food activities are ongoing. Currently there are 54,600 relief food beneficiaries in this region. Most of the food insecure population in Afar (472,000 beneficiaries) are covered by the PSNP. PSNP in Afar started in February and has been the most successful region in receiving and distributing food.
Other Concerns: In early April, the Awash River burst its banks, flooding four villages. Humanitarian partners responded with food and non-food assistance. The late arrival of the short rains resulted in abnormal livestock movement and migration in search of water and feed. The spread of livestock disease among goats, sheep and camels resulted in heavy livestock losses. Through FAO, more than 300,000 livestock received vaccination and treatment services. The region has also experienced an influx of large numbers of Eritrean Afaris from across the Eritrean border. Seasonal assessments in the region are currently underway.
Amhara
Approximately 155,000 people currently receive emergency food assistance under the Appeal. Current plans provide for the resettlement of as many as 50,000 households in the region. The pace of resettlement could decrease, however, as the Government Food Security Coordination Bureau has placed an emphasis on consolidating the development of previously established settlement sites.
The joint Humanitarian Appeal anticipated that the food security situation will be stable due to favourable meher rains and good production. Rainfall for the belg crop producing areas was delayed by two months, affecting the planting period. Nevertheless, the rains have performed well in both distribution and amount following their late start. Eastern Amhara (South and North Wollo) continues to be food insecure. The recent rains have also regenerated pastures, replenished water supply, and encouraged initiation of land preparation for the main planting season.
Malnutrition and health problems were reported in the Western Amhara resettlement sites. WHO reported the first polio case in 2006 in Sekota woreda in Wag Hamra zone.
Benishangul Gumuz
With the exception of some pocket areas, the overall food security situation is stable. Most households in the affected areas are expected to meet their food needs by drawing additional income from livestock sales, gold mining and wage labour. Approximately 4,200 people required emergency food assistance during the first six months of the year. In addition, 9,790 people required close monitoring.
Gambella
Security issues remain a significant factor influencing the lives and livelihoods of people in this region. A belg/gu assessment to the area was cancelled due to ongoing security concerns. Approximately 50,000 people received relief food assistance in this region during the first half of the year.
The overall health environment in Gambella is adversely affected by problems of access, severe shortages of skilled labour and poor health service utilisation. Potable water is a scarce commodity in the hospitals. In April, acute watery diarrhoea resulted in the death of at least ten people and affected hundreds of others. Health issues impacted on UN operations as a repatriation of Sudanese refugees was put on hold - largely as a consequence of the acute watery diarrhoea outbreak. To date, UNHCR has repatriated 1,504 refugees back to their areas of origin. Another 1,038 refugees returned from Sherkole in Benishagul Gumuz.
Oromiya
Initially, the humanitarian situation in Oromiya revolved around issues related to drought. Early in the year, the area was experiencing a serious humanitarian crisis due to the failure of the main rainy season. Critical shortages of water and pasture for livestock were reported in Dire, Teltele, Moyale and Arero woredas of Borena zone. Livestock migrated within the region and from Kenya in search of pasture and water. Considerable livestock deaths were reported and there was considerable concern that livestock deaths would increase as a result of the rains and cold climate. Through FAO more than 300,000 livestock were vaccinated and treated against major endemic diseases in five highly drought-affected woredas of Borena Zone. Nevertheless, a Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Agency (DPPA)-led multi-agency re-assessment mission to the region identified further livestock health needs and increased food beneficiary numbers. The Appeal identified 733,780 relief food beneficiaries in the region. Of those recipients 155,000 live in Borena zone. While recent rains improved the pasture situation in Borena zone, malnutrition and livestock health continue to be a major problem in the region particularly in several woredas in East Harerghe and Arsi zones. Outbreaks of malaria, measles, diarrhoea and cases of meningitis have been reported.
Since late May, ethnic violence has risen dramatically. UN agencies confirmed reports indicating that clashes between rival clans (mainly Borena and Guji) have claimed several lives. Initial assessments of the displaced estimated their numbers in the tens of thousands. Government and humanitarian partners are providing food and non-food assistance and parallel discussions are ongoing among traditional leaders and Government authorities to stabilise the situation.
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP)
With a few exceptions, conditions in SNNP Region have not deviated significantly from those outlined in the Appeal. The food security prospect in the region appears to be generally normal at this time. Emergency food assistance beneficiaries for the first half of the year number 35,910.
For the past six months meningitis and malnutrition were serious concerns in the region. The Ministry of Health reported 740 meningitis cases from October 2005 to February 2006. Preventive mass vaccination, which covered more than 296,000 people, was conducted by the health bureau in February.
The lowland areas of the Region suffer from high levels of malnutrition due to the depletion of food stocks from the previous harvest, high grain prices and delays in transferring PSNP resources. Screening for the UNICEF/WFP Enhanced Outreach Strategy/Targeted Supplementary Feeding Programme began at the end of May. The third distribution for the year is well underway.
Somali
After the failure of two successive rainy seasons, Somali Region was already into a state of emergency crisis in early 2006. The drought impact was most critical in Liben, Afder and parts of Gode zones. More than 640,000 people faced critical water shortages. The situation deteriorated further with the dry ‘jilal’ season. Out of a 2.6 million relief food caseload for 2006, more than 1.5 million came from the region.
To cope with the disaster, people resorted to extreme coping strategies, including street begging, selling of basic assets, slaughtering of weak animals and killing of calves. The closure of local schools following low attendance rates was another social consequence of the drought. In Liben, Afder and parts of Gode zones livestock deaths and production losses became serious issues due to the outbreak of various diseases, food and water shortages.
Malnutrition and communicable diseases were major health problems. Estimates indicate that more than 56,000 children were vulnerable to moderate and severe malnutrition across the affected areas. Alarming rates of malnutrition were reported in January in some woredas. Diarrhoea was the main causes of death for children under five. Measles and meningitis outbreaks were also a concern.
In April, the much-needed rains (gu) brought relief to drought-affected areas. The gu rains were generally favourable in Shinnile, Jijiga and most parts of Liben and Afder zones but were poor in the remaining five zones of the region. Priorities shifted as the rains incited concern about the spread of water-borne disease and malaria. Floods affected pocket areas in the region. New efforts focused on sanitation and water purification activities.
IDPs in Somali continued to be vulnerable especially in the camps of Hartishek and Fafen[6]. The IDPs have not received food for more than ten months and are entirely dependent on the host community. Recently DPPA agreed to provide a one-month food ration to the IDPs while assessments of the humanitarian conditions for the IDPs will determine the extent of further assistance. Meanwhile, the repatriation of the first caseload (6000 IDPs) to Degehabur zone was completed.
Security has also emerged as a problem in the region. Large-scale counter-insurgency operations by the EDF against the ONLF disrupted humanitarian activities. Non-UN vehicles experienced restricted access to critical areas. Although restrictions were partially lifted, private transporters are still reluctant to travel in these areas.
Tigray
Significant advances have been achieved by the Enhanced Outreach Strategy programme over the past six months, with its first round screening and second round targeted supplementary food distribution well underway.
Nevertheless, the humanitarian impact resulting from the stalemate between Ethiopia and Eritrea remains a concern. Tensions have created population displacements in rural areas resulting in a swelling of populations towards the urban centres. The population shifts have caused serious stress on physical and social infrastructure. The Government of Ethiopia has approved the expansion of the Shimelba Refugee camp in northern Tigray Region from 10,000 to 15,000. Further improvements are being sought to address issues of malnutrition.