Humanitarian Bulletin - Weekly Humanitarian Highlights in Ethiopia, 9 May 2011

Drought Update

The latest FEWS NET Weather Hazard Impact Assessment reports an increase in rain in southern and south-eastern parts of the country over the past week. Moderate rainfall was reported in western and northern regions and heavy rainfall across parts of southern Ethiopia. While the rains have improved livestock and pasture conditions, the report cautions that the effects of the late onset of the belg/sugum and gu rains, including continuing poor cropping and pasture conditions in the south and south-eastern parts of the country prevail. However, increase in moisture associated with the rains is expected to help sustain pastoral areas in the coming months. Moderate to heavy rains are predicted to continue in the southern and central parts of the country over the coming week, which, apart from increasing moisture, also heightens the risk of flash floods. Following reportedly good gu rains in some zones of Somali Region, including Fik, Degehabur, and parts of Jijiga, the regional Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau (DPPB) is currently revising the regional operational plan for water trucking to reflect remaining needs. Requirements for water-trucking are expected to be reduced, but not ceased. Other emerging priorities include hygiene surveillance and promotion activities to mitigate the risk of outbreaks of water borne diseases and acute watery diarrhea (AWD), distribution of water purification chemicals, and monitoring of the health and nutrition situation of the population. In anticipation of above average kiremt rainfall in the northern highlands as the La Niña withdraws, the DRM Technical Working Group has reactivated the Flood Task Force last April 27. The Agricultural Task Force will soon organize an Agriculture Sector Flood Discussion Forum to further prepare the sector for the possibility of serious flooding. For more information, contact: info@fews.net & dorelyn.jose@fao.org