United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (New York)
29 June 2009
Preliminary Belg Assessment Findings
Preliminary findings of the belg assessment teams indicate poor harvests in many belg crop-producing areas due to
poor performance of the February to May rains. Major belg crop failure is reported in East and West Hararghe zones,
while serious shortages of water and pasture are reported in the lowland areas of Oromiya Region. In SNNPR, poor
performance of root crops is contributing to worsening food security, particularly in Kembata Tembaro, Sidama and
Wolayita zones. In the six belg-dependent woredas of Southern Zone in Tigray Region, poorly performing rains have
significantly impacted belg harvest. Moreover, near to total failure of the sugum rains in Afar has reportedly resulted
in serious shortages of water and pasture in Zone 2 and Zone 5. Meanwhile, the gu assessment commenced in
Somali Region on 22 June. For more information contact: ocha-eth@un.org & wfp.addisababa@wfp.org
2009 Kiremt Season Outlook
According to the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) kiremt season climate outlook, the rains’ performance is
expected to be normal to above normal in the central?western and southwestern crop-producing parts of the country,
but normal to below normal in northwestern, eastern, and central crop-producing areas, as well as the northeastern
pastoral parts of the country. If the forecast holds, the latest FEWSNET/WFP food security update indicates that the
result would be a second consecutive season of below?normal production in the eastern crop-producing areas.
Consequently, there is a need to closely monitor the performance of the June to September rains in these areas. The
kiremt rains contribute about 90 to 95 per cent of total annual crop production in Ethiopia and are critical for the
regeneration of pasture and water in northern pastoral areas. For more information contact: ethiopia@fews.et
Continued Break in Relief Food Pipeline
WFP reports that breaks in its relief food pipeline continue. The stakeholder food prioritization committee is regularly
meeting to decide on rations for upcoming distributions. According to WFP, only three months’ relief food allocations
were distributed in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, WFP and the NGO Joint Emergency Operation Programme
(JEOP) resources could jointly address the needs of 4.1 million beneficiaries in a fourth round of allocations, while
WFP has planned to reach approximately 3 million people in the fifth round. However, WFP reports that the planned
food allocations will not reach beneficiaries before August unless transport congestion in Djibouti is immediately
resolved. Disaster Risk Management Food Security Sector (DRMFSS) is working continues with partners on the
availability of trucks and facilitation of port operation. Moreover, despite the availability of food in the refugee pipeline,
physical stocks are inadequate to achieve full ration distributions in July and August. WFP is discussing with UNHCR
and the Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA) on the possibility of reducing rations for July to
ensure food for August distributions. A final decision will be announced next week. For more information contact:
wfp.addisababa@wfp.org
Influenza A H1N1 Cases in Ethiopia
The Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) officially confirmed two cases of Influenza A H1N1 in Ethiopia on 19 June
2009. The cases were spotted at the airport where inspection points have been set up for detection and referral to
selected hospitals. FMoH is pre-positioning antiviral drugs in 31 selected hospitals and at the Regional Health
Bureaus. An additional isolation unit has been identified at St Paul’s Hospital in Addis Ababa, with a capacity of close
to 65 beds. Diagnostic laboratories have been strengthened and are now functioning 24 hours a day. Moreover,
additional health staff are being identified. An interim treatment protocol and use of face mask and respirators has
been developed and communicated to the regions. The national technical working group is updating the National
Influenza Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan in view of the current pandemic phase. Meanwhile, daily
coordination meetings chaired by the Minister of Health are being held at the FMoH. For more information contact:
who-wro@et.afro.who.int
AWD Update
According to official reports from the Somali Regional Health Bureau, 95 new cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea
(AWD) and 12 deaths have been reported in Afdem and Miesso woredas (Shinile Zone, Somali Region) in the last
week. In Oromiya Region, five woredas are newly affected in West Arsi zone, two woredas in East Shoa and four in
East Hararghe, while Konso woreda in SNNPR continues to report new cases. In Afar Region, Gawane,
Buremudiaytu, Amebara, Elidaar and Assayita woredas have been affected. WHO and UNICEF continue to provide
technical support to the affected regions through provision of emergency drug kits and technical support. In Afdem
and Miesso, UNICEF is sending two CTC kits and 2,000 jerry cans of 20 litre capacity, in addition to the materials
sent last week. Moreover, UNICEF pre-positioned eight CTC kits in Afar, to be used in the event that the current
outbreak expands. To support the response to the AWD outbreak in Afar and based on the recently developed AWD
preparedness and response plan, UNICEF also dispatched communication materials on AWD prevention and
treatment measures. Meanwhile, with technical assistance from UNICEF and WHO, the Amhara RHB prepared an
AWD preparedness plan. For more information contact: kmcdonald@unicef.org & who-wro@et.afro.who.int
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