Attachments
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
Note: The last situation report was dated December 2, 2009.
BACKGROUND
Consecutive seasons of failed rains, a rapidly growing population, increased inflation, endemic poverty, and limited government capacity have led to chronic food insecurity and water shortages in large areas of Ethiopia, including Somali Region and parts of Oromiya, Afar, Tigray, Amhara, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) regions. The USAID-supported Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) anticipates that the delayed onset and poor performance of the June to September kiremt rains, combined with the widespread failure of the previous four rains, will result in increased humanitarian needs during the first half of 2010. Populations in many areas of the country confront significant humanitarian challenges, including conflict, malnutrition, and delayed food deliveries. In Somali Region, insurgent activity and security operations have disrupted trade networks, and restrictions on the movement of people and livestock, combined with the failure of past rains, have exacerbated food insecurity.
On December 7, 2009, the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE) released a Multi-Sectoral Contingency Plan (MSCP) identifying an estimated 4.8 million people in need of emergency food assistance from January to June 2010. In addition, an estimated 7.5 million chronically food-insecure beneficiaries currently receive food assistance and/or cash transfers from the GFDRE-managed Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP).
On October 5, 2009, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Tulinabo Mushingi reissued a disaster declaration in response to the ongoing complex emergency in Ethiopia. In FY 2009 and to date in FY 2010, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided support for nutrition, economic recovery and market systems, agriculture and food security, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs throughout Ethiopia, as well as logistics, relief commodities, refugee assistance, emergency food assistance, and humanitarian coordination and information management.
Map: USG Humanitarian Assistance to Ethiopia (as of 07 Jan 2010)