Key Issues
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Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) allocated US$9.5M for underfunded refugee response in Ethiopia
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Drought expected to continue into mid 2017 in southern and south eastern part of Ethiopia
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Shortage of learning supplies and lack of school feeding to hamper school enrolment
Drought exacerbated by El Niño, combined with extensive flooding, disease outbreaks and the disruption of basic public services, continue to have a negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of 9.7 million Ethiopians. Overall food security and agricultural production remain severely affected, with cascading effects on livelihoods, nutrition, health, water, sanitation, education and other sectors.
Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) allocated US$9.5M for refugee response in Ethiopia
A total of 35,257 South Sudanese refugees have arrived in Gambella since 03 September due to renewed clashes in South Sudan, bringing the total number of refugees and asylum-seekers in Gambella and Assosa to nearly 317,000 and leaving UNCHCR with a funding gap of US$113.8M.
In response, CERF allocated $9.5 million under the Rapid Response window to provide high impact life-saving emergency interventions in Food, WaSH, Health and Nutrition, Protection and Core Relief Items to asylum seekers and refugees in Gambella region. Since 2006, CERF has allocated more than $3.7 billion to help millions of people in 92 countries and territories across the world.
Drought expected to continue into mid 2017 in southern and south eastern part of Ethiopia
Southern and south eastern parts of the country are affected by new bouts of drought due to poor performance of the 2016 seasonal rain which normally starts in late September. In Oromia, poor performance of Hagayya rain is affecting pastoralist and agro-pastoralists in Bale, Guji and Borena zones. Shortage of water and pasture, and deteriorating livestock physical condition are rising in these areas. Following recent assessment conducted by the Borena zone sector offices in collaboration with NGOs operational in the zone, the regional Government deployed 13 water rationing trucks to woredas experiencing serious shortage of water and pasture However, more requests are coming for water trucks and livestock feed support from Guji and Bale low lands which are facing the same problem.
The situation will continue until the next rainy season which is expected in March 2017.
In Afar region, the food security situation is improving, but the regional Disaster Risk Management Technical Working Group expects some parts of the region to be vulnerable to shocks due to the protracted drought in the previous two years. Despite the recharging of water sources by the good amount of kiremt rains received, there are reports of water shortage in the Region. Currently, three water trucks are functioning in Abala, Elida’ar and Serdo Kebele of Dubti woredas with the support of GIZ and the coordination and monitoring role of DPFSPCO
Most of parts of Somali region have not received the Deyr rain expected from late September. Water trucking intervention has started in Dolo Ado zone where the drought situation is severe. The 2016 Gu assessment in June predicted some 236 kebeles to require water intervention by the end of September. According to the WaSH Cluster, water trucking is ongoing in 38 woredas with 57 trucks in Afar (3 trucks), Oromia (34 trucks), SNNP (5 trucks), Somali (3) and Tigray (12 trucks). The current 2016 drought response in Ethiopia is the biggest ever of its kind, which thanks to Government leadership and generous donor support has been averting a major catastrophe.
Shortage of learning supplies and lack of school feeding to hamper enrolment
As of 03 October 2016, about 22.6 million pre-primary, primary and secondary school children are registered in Ethiopian schools that started late September. The provision of learning supplies (exercise books, pens and pencils) to 1.7 million school children (42 per cent) has reached nine regions. The FMOE has prepared a response plan to provide support to 2.9 million children with school feeding and submitted for approval by National Emergency Council. The cluster revised response plan of school feeding for three months for 1.1 million children and submitted to OCHA for prioritization and support by humanitarian community. Cluster is concerned that the gains achieved in enrolment of school children may be hampered due to shortage of learning supplies and lack of school feeding in emergency affected areas which are apparently caused by lack of funding.
For further information contact: ocha-eth@un.org
Disclaimer
- UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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