Ethiopia Weekly Humanitarian Bulletin, 13 February 2017

Key Issues

• Ethiopia Humanitarian Fundsupported projects are addressing priority needs in targeted drought - affected areas

• Pastoralists continue to settle in temporary sites as drought conditions deepen in Somali region

Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund-supported projects are addressing priority needs in affected areas

In support of the Ethiopian Government’s response efforts to the new drought in the southern and south eastern regions, the OCHA-managed Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) allocated US$17 million towards the 2017 humanitarian requirements. The fund was channeled towards projects addressing high priority needs in the nutrition, WaSH, agriculture and health sectors, as identified by an inter-cluster prioritization exercise. Of the $17 million, $6 million supported WaSH interventions in Oromia (UNICEF and Aciton Contre la Faim - ACF) and in Somali (Oxfam GB and Save the Children International) regions. Partners are also set to start emergency livestock intervention in Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions for $5 million. Save the Children International, ACF, Islamic Relief, VSF Suisse and Mercy Corps will operate in Somali, while CARE, SOS and ACF will intervene in Borena zone of Oromia region. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) will support core breeding animals through provision of animal feed, animal treatment and livestock destocking in Hammer, Malle and Benetsemay woredas (Somali region).

Urgent and additional funding needed to mount a timely response

Despite on-going efforts by Government and partners, resources available to date are insufficient compared to existing needs. At least $2.7 million is required per week to meet water trucking needs alone. Livestock deaths are being reported in Borena and Guji zones of Oromia region, South Omo zone of SNNP region, and in most zones of Somali region. The humanitarian context can quickly deteriorate without adequate and timely interventions.