INTRODUCTION
A DRMFSS-led Multi-Agency Emergency Needs Assessment was conducted between November and December 2011 in nine regions and one administrative council of the country. The assessment was organized into 22 teams and involved 138 staff from Government (DRMFSS, MoWE, NMA, DPFSCB, RWB, MoWE,), donors (USAID), UN agencies (WFP, OCHA, FAO, WHO, UNICEF,UNFP) and Non-Governmental Organizations (SC-UK, MSF-Holland, Plan International, CARE, IMC, COOPI, MSF-Belgium, WV, IRC, Merey Corps), besides FEWS Net and FHI/E.
The objective of the assessment was to evaluate the outcome of the 2011 meher/deyr season and its impact on livelihood security in cropping and pastoral areas, as well as, to determine the areas and size of population (if any) that are likely to require emergency assistance in 2012.
The report provides information on overall food security situation by region, emphasizing on areas of concern; where and why emergency food is needed, type of assistance required and population in need. The emergency food needs estimates contained in this report will be updated following the 2012 belg/gu season assessment.
The emergency food requirement in this report is estimated at a monthly ration rate of 15 kilograms of cereals/person/month, supplementary rations of blended food at 4.5 kilograms/person/month, vegetable oil at 0.45 kilograms /person/month and pulses at 1.5 kilograms person/month.
The methodology used to conduct the assessment in the regions is the Household Economy Approach (HEA) for food and checklists for non-food components (WASH Health, Education and Agriculture). The table below briefly presents the HEA as used in the seasonal assessment.