HUMANITARIAN SITUATION UPDATE
 

The HRD also requests $55 million to address emergency requirements in the health and nutrition, water and sanitation, agriculture and livestock and education sectors. The requested $31 million for health and nutrition interventions targets more than 106,457 children under five years for treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) as well as prevention activities in response to potential outbreaks of malaria, measles and meningitis. Water and sanitation sector seeks a net $9.3 million for key emergency requirements in response to Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and potential flood-related emergencies, as well as development of shallow wells in areas where water shortages have reached critical levels. The needs in agriculture and livestock sector amounts to $10.6 million for seed provision, feed supply and livestock health activities, as well as response in event of any desert locust infestation. The findings of the joint multi-agency meher/deyr assessment, conducted in November/December 2009, provided the basis for the above identified needs. This year has seen a shift in targeting of beneficiaries for various interventions and those beneficiaries classified as ‘survival deficit’ will receive assistance in the form of emergency food aid while the needs of the population categorised as falling within the ‘livelihood protection deficit’ are expected to be addressed via non-food interventions. For more information contact: info@dppc.gov.et & ocha-eth@un.org

The food security situation in most parts of Eastern, Southern, South eastern zones and in some pocket areas of Central and North Western zones of Tigray has deteriorated considerably due to the poor performance of the last belg and meher seasons. Significant losses in seasonal crop production and other sources of income, such as livestock products; honey and labor, have exposed a considerable number of households to food insecurity. In Amhara, generally, the 2009 meher rains performed well in most midland/highland areas of the region. However, the poor performance of the rains affected food security situation in the lowlands of eastern zones including lowlands of North Wollo, Waghamera, North Gonder, North Shoa and pockets of South Wollo, South Gondar and Oromia zones.

 In Gambella, despite the normal onset of the seasonal rains, prolonged dry spells during the crop growing season are reported to have led to a significant reduction in staple food production (maize and sorghum) in most woredas which has further compromised the food security situation in the region. Apart from some low-lying areas of Asosa zone and Mao Komo Special Woreda, where erratic distribution and early cessation of rains affected agriculture and hence the food security situation, the overall prospect for crop production at the regional level is good in Beneshangul-Gumuz. The food security situation in Dire Dawa Administration and Harari Region requires close monitoring as the below normal meher rains affected crop production and availability of water and pasture. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org & info@dppc.gov.et

pulses, oils, and spices, due to the meher harvest, continued market stabilization programme by government and food aid interventions. The report forecasts that the price of food commodities, which reached lowest level in November and December 2009, are likely to remain stable until February 2010 in most urban markets. For more information contact: wfp.addisababa@wfp.org