Ethiopia - Situation Report, 18 May 2023

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights

• More than 20,400 people have crossed Ethiopia’s Metema border since 21 April.

• Recent arrivals of more than 5,300 in Almahal, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, require urgent assistance.

• The relocation of a few hundred refugees and asylum seekers to a newly set-up transit site, six kilometres from Metema has started.The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan stands at less than 22 per cent funded, out of the required US$3.99bn as of 15 May.

• Additional financial resources are required to meet the urgent needs of the arrivals from Sudan.

Read more in the full Flash Update.

Flood Flash Update

Highlights

• Floods have caused widespread destruction and displacement in Somali, Oromia, Southern Nations Nationalities & Peoples’, South West Ethiopia Peoples’ and Afar regions

• More than 35,000 households are displaced, 45 human lives lost, over 23,000 livestock perished, and more than 99,000 hectares of farmland destroyed in Somali Region alone.

• The Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian partners are providing lifesaving assistance to affected communities, but assistance remains inadequate relative to the scale of needs

• OCHA-managed funds - Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund and Central Emergency Relief Fund - are finalizing the allocation of US$40 million to address the needs of drought and flood affected people

Read more in the full Flash Update.

• Dengue Fever reported cases in Afar exceed 1000, enhanced response required.

• Concerns rising over spreading cholera outbreak in Oromia, Somali and SNNP regions.

• Since January 2023, a reported more than 170,000 people have been displaced in conflict affected Siti Zone, Somali Region, and require scaled up emergency assistance.

• The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan stands at only slightly over 20 per cent funded, out of the required $3.99bn as of 8 May.

• More than 71,000 displaced due to excessive rains between March and May mainly in Oromia, Sidama, SNNP and Somali.

Situation Overview

Summary

Cessation of hostilities(1) in the northern part of the country gave way to reach previously unreachable communities with humanitarian assistance. Despite improved access, a huge portion of the population in need remains underserved. Some drought affected areas in southern and eastern parts of Ethiopia have received relief from rains during the Belg/Gu/Genna season, however, the impact of the drought is still dire with populations remaining in need of continued humanitarian assistance due to loss of livelihoods, and fatefully also dealing with the brunt of floods that have led to further loss of livelihoods, damage to infrastructure and waterborne disease outbreaks. On the other hand, current and upcoming rainy seasons have opened windows of opportunities for farming in highland areas and pastoral/ agro-pastoral activities in lowland and drought affected areas of the country although recuperation of livelihoods may take years. Emerging situations include a Dengue Fever outbreak, which requires early response, and an influx of tens of thousands of people displaced from the ongoing situation in neighbouring Sudan.

Northern Ethiopia

Since the first quarter of 2023 and as of 1 May cumulative, 607,598 people in Afar, 312,320 people in Amhara and 138,378in Tigray received relief food assistance, bringing the percentage of targeted beneficiaries assisted under the first distribution cycle in 2023 to 91.6, 8.9, and 75 per cent (between 16 March and 19 April) respectively(2). Delay in agreed HRP 2023(3) caseload of people in need, incomplete food basket responses, as well as insecurity in the Amhara Region has affected food dispatch and distribution to the population.

In response to the reports of food diversion in Tigray, a temporary pause of food dispatch and distributions in the region has been decided. An investigation has been launched to establish all the facts and further strengthen controls. Humanitarian partners are working closely with the regional authorities to improve the process of identifying and registering beneficiaries. Food distribution will resume once it is ensured that food assistance reaches those most in need efficiently and effectively.

Despite the temporary pause of food aid, dispatch and distribution of other lifesaving supplies, including nutritional supplements, water and agricultural support continues in the region. Furthermore, in support of farmers in the current planting season (Meher), the first tranche of about 120 Metric Tons (MT) of fertilizers, out of required 80,000 MT of fertilizer and seed requirement of 36,900 MT for the season, agrochemicals and 26 ploughing tractors have reportedly arrived in Mekelle early May.

Despite all efforts to scale up response, a significant number of people in need have yet to receive food assistance, and alarmingly raising malnutrition levels across all three regions. In Afar, for example, admissions of severely malnourished children to treatment centers had increased by 46.5 per cent in February compared to January 2023, and by 39.6 percent compared to the same period the year before. Nutrition supplies to treat more than 9,400 severely malnourished children for three months has been dispatched to all *woredas *in Afar.

Meanwhile, limited presence of partners in the Amhara region, and shortage of nutrition supplies for severely malnourished children (F-75) and for the management of moderately malnourished cases are challenging responses to the affected population, including in Internally Displaced People (IDP) sites(4). As a result, 12 per cent of severely malnourished children and 24 per cent of moderately malnourished children were not linked to therapeutic programmes in the first week of April. Serious shortage of nutritious food supplies for management of moderately malnourished 18,159 under five children and 4,602 pregnant and lactating women in six zones of the region have been reported by the Amhara Public Health Institute (APHI).It is apparent that failure to treat moderately malnourished cases increases the likelihood of cases deteriorating to severe malnourishment.

The situation of Unexploded Ordinances (UXOs) and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) in previously conflict-impacted areas of the Northern Ethiopia continues to affect everyday lives of communities, especially now that farming activities and reopening of schools are underway. For instance, four incidents were reported in Adar*, Awsi Zone,* Afarin the month of April alone, while at least 15 incidents were reported close to Gashena, North Wollo Zone, Amhara leading to casualties. At least 41 victims of UXOs have been reported to have been treated in clinics in the Tigray Region since the start of the year. However, the number of casualties from UXOs is believed to be much higher, but data is not yet available. Community awareness and sensitization on risks is ongoing across all three regions. Clearance of UXOs and ERWs are underway in Tigray with a focus on schools in line of resumption of schools in May. Community awareness and sensitization on risks is ongoing across all three regions though further effort to cover all affected pocket areas is crucial, including in clearing/decontamination activities.

A Dengue fever outbreak has been reported in Afar, a region that already is grappling to control the spread of malaria amidst ongoing floods and stagnant water, which become breeding grounds for mosquitos. Over 1,000 suspected dengue cases in Mile and Adar (Zone 1) have been estimated as of 28 April. The situation remains a public concern amidst weak coordination and surveillance systems and non-functional response mechanisms, weak health systems including shortage of drugs, medical supplies and spray chemicals, as well as shortage of health workers (having been affected by Dengue), insufficient logistics and the need for stepped up interventions including on community awareness.