Ethiopia: Flash Floods - Nov 2008

GAMBELLA, 13 September 2010 (IRIN) - Officials in Ethiopia's western Gambella Region have scored conflict and erratic rainfall a dead certainty this year, potentially affecting more than 150,000 people.

Mission Highlights

- Poor 2009 secondary season "belg" rains followed by late meher rains affected 2009 crop production, particularly long maturing crops, in several parts of the country.

- National cereal and pulse production in 2009/10 is forecast at 16.8 million tonnes, comprising 15.69 million tonnes from the meher peasant holdings, 350 000 tonnes from commercial and cooperative farms and a forecast average belg harvest of about 780 000 tonnes in 2010.

- At this level, national cereal and pulse production in 2009/10 is some 4.7 percent below the all time …

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The overall poor performance of the 2009 belg/gu/ganna/sugum rains further deteriorated the food security situation during the first half of 2009. The number of beneficiaries increased from 4.9 million in January 2009 to 5.3 million in May due to prevailing food insecurity.

The Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change study (EACC) will inform the international community's efforts to provide new and additional resources to developing countries through a better understanding of the global costs of adapting to climate change. It will also help decision makers at the national level to better cost, prioritize, sequence and integrate robust adaptation strategies into their development plans and budgets.

Why Ethiopia?

Ethiopia is extremely vulnerable to drought and other natural disasters such as floods, heavy rains, frost and heat waves.

Sixty-fourth session
Item 72 (a) of the provisional agenda
Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and
disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including
special economic assistance: strengthening of the coordination

This report covers the period 01/01/2009 to 30/06/2009

In brief

Programme purpose: The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) programmes in the first half of 2009 focused on making a real change in the lives of the targeted communities. ERCS reduced the impact of disasters, diseases, public health emergencies and number of deaths and injuries among the vulnerable population in Ethiopia.

General Assembly
Sixty-fourth session
Item 72 (a) of the provisional agenda
Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and
disaster relief assistance of the United Nations, including
special economic assistance: strengthening of the coordination

Mission Highlights

The CFSAM phase-2 mission sought to integrate the findings from two assessments that took place in November and December 2008: the FAO Crop and Food Supply Assessment (phase-1) and the government-led, multi-agency Meher Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA).

President Girma Woldegiorgis urged the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to strengthen efforts to link humanitarian activities with poverty alleviation programs in Ethiopia.

The president made the statement on Thursday May 7, 2009 in connection with World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day 2009, due to be marked on Friday, May 8, 2009.

The president said the effort made by the societies to attach humanitarian activities with poverty alleviation programs should further be strengthened.

President Girma, who is also patron of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), said ERCS has been …

(ECHO/ETH/BUD/2009/01000)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community;

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC, EURATOM) No.1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid and, in particular, Article 2 and Article 15(2) thereof;

Whereas:

(1) Ethiopia is regularly affected by natural end/or man-made disasters which particularly affect the most vulnerable part of the population. Food production is extremely uncertain as it is determined by the amount and distribution of rainfall received.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This document summarizes emergency food and non-food requirements in 2009 identified by the multi-agency assessment conducted during November/December 2008. The effects of food insecurity caused by poor performance of seasonal rains, poor crop production coupled with the soaring cereal prices posed several humanitarian challenges to the lives and livelihoods of many in some areas in eastern half of the country. A total of 4.9 million beneficiaries are identified to require emergency assistance in 2009.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UPDATE

Food Security Update

The first part of the FAO Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission (CFSAM) indicated that meher crop performance is good in the western parts of the country, and harvest could be average especially for the main crop growing areas notes WFP. However, teff production is likely to be below average due to the effect of the unseasonal rains received during October/early November. Harvest prospects are below average in the eastern half of the country.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UPDATE

Crop harvest prospects

There is an overall improvement in the food security situation in some parts of the country. Poor meher rains have, however, caused substantial damage to crops in the low and midland areas of Eastern Oromiya, Dire Dawa, Harar and eastern Amhara, according to the latest WFP food security update. In the lowlands of East and West Harerghe zones, crops of maize and sorghum have dried-up and are used for animal feed.

Contexte général

La situation en RDC est toujours instable avec une aide humanitaire qui ne parvient pas à atteindre plusieurs personnes. L'épidémie de choléra au Zimbabwe n'est toujours pas sous contrôle. Elle se propage dans les pays d'Afrique australe.

Each week, the World Health Organization Health Action in Crises in Geneva produces information highlights on critical health-related activities in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Drawing on the various WHO programmes, contributions cover activities from field and country offices and the support provided by WHO regional offices and headquarters. The mandate of the WHO departments specifically concerned with Emergency and Humanitarian Action in Crises is to increase the effectiveness of the WHO contribution to crisis preparedness and response, transition and recovery.

Rome, 17 December 2008 - Facts, figures and the latest updates from WFP's high profile emergencies.

DRC

- Negotiations to resolve the conflict, between delegations from both the DRC Government and the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP), which started on 8 December 2008 in Nairobi under the mediation of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for eastern DRC, Olusegun Obasanjo and former Tanzanian president, Benjamin Mkapa, will resume again on 17 December 2008.

Contexte général

La situation en RDC est toujours instable avec une aide humanitaire qui ne parvient pas à atteindre plusieurs personnes. L'épidémie de choléra au Zimbabwe n'est toujours pas sous contrôle. Elle se propage dans les pays d'Afrique australe.

General Context

The situation in DRC is still unstable with humanitarian aid not reaching many people. The cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe is still out of control. The outbreak is spreading in the Southern African countries. WHO and partners continue to support efforts aimed at information sharing from affected border districts, strengthening surveillance, as well as for resource mobilization.

Countries Situations

Acute Crises

- Angola: The cholera outbreak is of high concern as the possibility of spreading to all the Country is becoming real.

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UPDATE

Water and Crop Performance

Crop performance and production prospects for late planted crops are promising in parts of East and West Harerghe zones of Oromiya Region, according to CARE. The unseasonable rains received in early November benefited crops such as teff, chickpeas and fruits. The rains also helped to replenish water sources and pasture in the pastoral areas of Borena and lowland agro-pastoral areas of East and West Harerghe zones.