Ministry of Foreign Affairs of FDRE www.mfa.gov.et Page 1
June 13, 2008
Four and a half million need emergency food aid
The Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) has now issued a revised
figure of 4.6 million people needing emergency food assistance.
The Early Warning Working Group, chaired by the DPPA and made up of major donors, UN Agencies, USAID and other NGOs, launched a revised appeal on Thursday for this level of aid.
The previous estimates were that 3.4 million people were in need of assistance.
Six Month Requirements?
Latest figures are that total food requirements stand at 391,651 MT for the next six months (June to November), at a cost of 325 million dollars for both food and non-food requirements.
Food, Health and Water! Any connection?
The non-food sectors, including health and water will require 38 million
dollars. The total food requirement for estimated beneficiaries now stands at 510,000
MT, and of this 118,000 MT are available or have been pledged. The figures and
requirements will be updated as the impact of the coming belg and gu seasons are
assessed.
Oromiya: The Crisis Center!
The most seriously affected regions are in Oromiya, where serious food
security, health and livestock problems have been identified in nine woredas, the
SNNPR region, where a number of particular hotspots have been identified following a
DPPA mission, and the Somali Regional State.
Afar, Amhara and Tigrai need emergency food:
There is also need of emergency food assistance in Amhara, Tigray and Afar regional states following poor belg rains, though the effects of the late onset of belg rains has been minimized in many areas by the efforts of government and partners including FAO, CARE and Save the Children US.
Children with severe malnutrition!
Of particular concern has been the numbers of children suffering from severe
malnutrition. After UNICEF suggested up to six million children under 5 years of age
might need preventive health and nutrition intervention, there were exaggerated
suggestions in the international media that all of these were suffering from acute
malnutrition.
How do we estimate accurate figures?
While there is still some uncertainty about numbers of severely
malnourished children, the current estimates are around 75,000. Mr. John Holmes,
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief
Coordinator, has noted that “a rapid scaling up of resources especially food and
nutritional supplies is needed to make increased life-saving aid a reality.
Rising Global costs for fuel and food
In addition as elsewhere, the rising global costs of fuel and basic staples are posing hardship for Ethiopia’s people, especially the poorest.” A number of governments have pledged extra assistance in response to the situation.
UK, US and Norway lead the pledge roster!
In addition to £5 million pounds announced earlier, the UK pledged another £10 million; USAID pledged 70 million dollars for emergency food assistance, and the Government of Norway donated 20 million birr for drought affected regions. UN Agencies have also been active in Ministry of Foreign Affairs of FDRE www.mfa.gov.et
assistance. Between January and May this year, the World Food Program distributed
65,000 MT of food aid to over 2 million people.
Logistics Crisis Committee? Transporation, Fuel and Preparedness!
The Government-led Logistic Crisis Committee is being reactivated to serve as a forum
to facilitate quick and timely delivery of humanitarian responses by all parties. The
Government has also made it clear it is giving priority to trucks transporting emergency relief commodities from Djibouti and will facilitate secondary transport arrangements.
Accurate estimation of the Crisis! (Health/Water/Information Minsters)
Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, Minister of Health is now heading the Government team to provide an accurate assessment of the situation in the drought affected regions. The ministries of Health, Water Resources, Information and the Federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency are represented, and they are beginning their work in the SNNP Region.
Awasa- The Crisis Management Center!
A UN team is also leaving for Awassa in the SNNPR. Following suggestions by
UNOCHA, and international NGOs, the Government is looking into holding weekly
government media briefings to provide updated and reliable information on the
humanitarian situation in various parts of the country.
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