Humanitarian Situation in Somali Region
In our last November 2003 issue of FOCUS
ON ETHIOPIA, it was reported that the 2003 Deyr rains might fail in the
Somali region causing yet another episode of humanitarian crises. In response
a joint rapid assessment mission involving the regional government, UNICEF,
WHO and OCHA Ethiopia and local NGOs was undertaken between 27 November
and 3 December 2003. The assessment was conducted pending the deployment
of the regular federal DPPC-led post Deyr assessment for detailed study.
Major findings of the rapid assessment team were discussed in a Government/NGO/UN consultative meeting held in Jijiga on 5 December 2003. A set of action points was defined for intervention, monitoring and follow up.
Rainfall
Insufficient to Regenerate Pasture, Elevate Retreating Water Table and Recharge Drying Shallow Wells
Although it has rained in some parts of Deyr receiving areas of the Somali region, its distribution and intensity were far below normal. In its emergency session of 30 December 2003, the House of Representatives in Addis Ababa discussed the humanitarian situation in the Somali region, agreed with the findings of both the rapid assessment mission and the DPPC led post-Deyr assessment mission.
Following de-briefings at the Federal DPPC, 1.1 million people, around one-third of the population in the region will need emergency assistance in 2004. This is close to the middle - case scenario developed in early November 2003 by the regional working group on contingency planning and is particularly appropriate for Fik, Degehbour, Korahe and Warder Zones.
Water Supply
Critical Situation Seems Imminent in Early 2004
The problem of water will be critical in many parts of the region particularly during the forthcoming Jilaal season. Although some underground water storage facilities (Birkas) have captured running surface water during the brief Deyr rain in December 2003, the amount was insufficient to elevate the water table to have a significant impact on increasing the yield of shallow wells and boreholes.
Because of the alarming situation, the Jijiga consultative meeting urged the regional Bureau for Water Resources Development (RBWRD) and UNICEF to draw up a detailed emergency intervention in the water sector. It was also suggested that the possibility of utilizing UNHCR water tankering equipment in Jijiga be explored to augment needs without affecting the ongoing refugee programme in eastern Ethiopia.
UNICEF has approved 1.6 million Birr for local procurement of generators, water pumps and accessories for motorized water schemes in the affected areas to ensure continued operations. In addition, UNICEF has made available 634,055 Birr for rehabilitation of Gode town water supply system, construction of water supply systems for 11 schools benefiting from WFP/UNICEF assisted school feeding programme, construction of additional shallow hand dug wells in Gode Zone and provide fuel for Gode town and 11 motorized water schemes located in different areas to sustain operations and staff training. Funds have also been released to DPPB to tanker water for selected areas and UNICEF has appealed for additional funds to support this effort up until the next rainy season in Somali region. UNICEF supported activities are carried out through the Water Bureau, DPPB and various local NGOs from the region.
In the field of sanitation, UNICEF has released funds to the regional Health Bureau to carry out various sanitation activities. In addition UNICEF through Education Bureau is assisting construction of school latrine in 10 existing schools in Jijiga and Shinille zones.
In a similar development, ACF is planning to undertake water tankering operations for vulnerable groups in Warder and Shekosh districts in collaboration with the regional government. UNHCR Regional Liaison Office in Addis Ababa has expressed its readiness to make available eight used water tanker lorries to UNICEF to augment needs in water tankering equipment if maintenance and operational costs are absorbed by UNICEF. This is an example of the extensive cooperation between members of UNCT in Ethiopia, aid agencies and the regional government in responding to humanitarian crises in a collaborative manner.
Pasture/Livestock
Immense Pressure on Pasture and Water Points. Veterinary Support far too short
The availability of pasture in Deyr receiving areas is isolated to the few areas that have had some rains in December 2003. The pasture in these areas has acted as a magnet to pastoralist families from nearby areas and far away distances including northeast Somalia (Puntland) and northwest Somalia (Somaliland). The problem facing pastoralist families is complicated by the import ban imposed by Gulf States on livestock from the Horn of Africa region. The import restriction has become the major cause for the accumulation of livestock assets in the region as a whole. In addition, overpopulation by livestock has compounded the problem of the already poorly resourced veterinary services of the region. This issue is most keenly felt in the regions currently hosting the influx of livestock in search of water, but is a broader development issue, which needs to be jointly addressed by the government and aid agencies.
As an emergency intervention, ICRC is planning to extend veterinary support services and initiate a de-stocking programme in the most affected areas of the region. ICRC is presently procuring veterinary drugs from Nairobi for vaccination and treatment of some 240,000 livestock against endo- and ectoparasites, bacterial disease and trypanosomiasis. With regard to the de-stocking programme, the pilot project aims to purchase weak animals from pastoralists in Gode and Degehbour areas for slaughtering and distribution of meat to the affected population as supplementary food.
ACF will also take part in the emergency intervention in livestock health. ACF is planning to extend veterinary support services to the most vulnerable groups in Korahe and Warder Zones who have no access to veterinary services. Some 350,000 head of cattle and sheep will be vaccinated and treated through the ACF network in the region with the engagement of 52 community based animal health workers trained for this purpose. The programme will be launched in January 2004. On its part, FAO has prepared a project proposal on emergency livestock intervention with government for Warder, Korahe and Degehbour and will present it to donors for funding. Further humanitarian assistance is expected from other sources, with FAO taking the lead in advocacy for increased donor support in the current emergency in the livestock sector and sensitizing international developmental institutions for partnership in creating linkages between relief and development.
Education
Schools Closed Because of the Drought
Education The rapid assessment mission found that many school age children in Warder Zone have abandoned their schooling because of the drought. UNICEF has donated 40 MT of BP-5 to the regional Bureau of Education for distribution to needy schools.
Presently, almost 6,700 students in 20 schools in Shinile and Jigiga zones of Somali region are benefiting from a joint WFP-UNICEF school-feeding programme, while a further 5,000 students in 13 additional schools in these zones are receiving school meals and basic educational materials through a USAID funded programme. Some of the UNICEF supported emergency education activities being carried out include training of teachers and educational personnel on educational and psychosocial needs of affected children; monitoring the trends of the impacts of drought on the regional education system; and construction of temporary learning centers at food distribution points. UNICEF has also recruited and deployed an Assistant Emergency Education Field Officer to Somali Region so as to strengthen the local emergency response capacities of the region.
Health/Nutrition
Poor Health Services with Signs of Malnutrition
The rapid assessment mission reported that general health services need to be strengthened in all areas visited. This will entail additional staffing, supply of emergency drugs and provision of IT facilities for data processing, information sharing and reporting. The consultative meeting in Jijiga recommended that an emergency intervention project be jointly prepared by UNICEF and the Regional Health Bureau for UNICEF funding.
UNICEF has responded by providing funds and supplies for the implementation of emergency health care in the first quarter of 2004. The programme includes the deployment of mobile health teams to the affected areas for services with preventive measures in public health. In addition, UNICEF has delivered 48 emergency drug kits and 20 medical supply kits. In addition, insecticide-treated nets (ITN) have been distributed as follows: 19,125 to Gode, 16,125 to Shinile, 16,125 to Jijiga and 14,625 to Korahe zone. Staff training has been completed on ITNs and it has been agreed that free nets be provided to drought-affected populations in Fafan as well as Hartishiek IDPs. Through MCDO and SCF-UK, populations in Fik are also included in this free distribution. The Regional Health Bureau has responsibility to monitor this distribution, both of emergency procurements and routine supplies.
The regional Health Bureau has also prepared a proposal for conducting measles and Vitamin A supplementation campaign in Degehbour, Korahe and Warder Zones in close cooperation with the federal Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF. It is expected that the campaign will be launched in January 2004 taking into account lessons learnt from previous programme activities undertaken in other parts of the region.
In the field of nutrition, there are indications of growing malnutrition in the affected areas because of repeated episodes of drought resulting in food insecurity, loss of livestock assets, diminished purchasing power and destitution. The problem has been increasing year after year due to the lack of basic health services and the absence of responsive recovery/rehabilitation programme in the region. However, detailed nutritional surveys need to be undertaken for emergency interventions to be planned. In particular nutritional surveys are needed for Degehbour, Fik, Gode, Korahe and Warder. The need for launching measles and Vitamin A supplementation campaign in the above zones will be considered in the survey process.
Because of the deteriorating situation, UNICEF has reached an agreement with the regional government to support the establishment of a supplementary feeding programme (SFP) in Warder, Geladin and Boh areas of Warder Zone in cooperation with the regional DPPB, the Bureau for Health and NGOs with possible extension to Fik and Degehbour Zones.
Food
Distributions
Recent food distributions have been to around 1.05 million people per month in Somali Region: October 15,000 tonnes (9,000 tonnes DPPC/WFP & 6,000 tonnes NGOs); November 18,000 tonnes (12,000 tonnes DPPC/WFP & 6,000 tonnes NGOs); and December 18,000 tonnes (DPPC/WFP 12,000 tonnes & NGOs 6,000 tonnes). 89 percent was cereals and 11 percent was fortified blended food. The middle-case scenario for 2004 means that there is no immediate crisis in terms of food supply for the region. WFP report that sufficient food is potentially available for January distributions at the national level.
Need for Harmonization of Ration Scale
There is concern about the appropriateness of the rations being provided to beneficiaries in the region. The consultative meeting recommended that urgent action be taken by the Federal DPPC, the regional government and major partners to ensure that allocations and distributions are at the current full ration rate, i.e. 15 kg of cereals, 1.5 kg pulses and 0.45 kg oil per person per month. Most districts have only been receiving cereals so far. In addition, supplementary food should be provided to districts where malnutrition rates are high.
(pdf* format - 297 KB)