Field Trip to Region 3 (North Gonder, South Gonder and North Welo Zones)
February 16 - 25, 1995Hans Spiess, Field Officer
1. INTRODUCTION
A field trip was undertaken with the objective to gather information on the general conditions in North Welo and North and South Gonder zones of Region 3 (Amhara), to inquire about the distribution plans of the Relief and Rehabilitation Bureau and Non-Governmental Organisations, and to obtain information on how these distributions would be linked with food for work activities.
Although the overall situation is considered better in comparison to the conditions following the 1993 Meher (main) harvest, there are many weredas which are of concern. Many of these areas have experienced considerable crop loss, caused by excessive rains. The 1994 armyworm infestation combined with other plant pests have had more of a negative impact on the crop yield in Region 3 than in Region 1 (Tigray).
Given the geographical location of these weredas, it can be immediately noted that the prevalent problems are mostly due to the effects of the surrounding environment. These areas are characterized by mountainous terrain, deforestation and soil degradation, and are usually overpopulated. Efforts have been made to tackle some of these problems locally, however they have been hampered due to the limited resources available.
Construction of a new all-weather road from Alem Ketema (North Shewa) across South Welo zone, and along the Chinese road to Lalibela, then through Sekota to Region 1 (Central zone) is well underway and should be completed within two years. This road will greatly improve accessibility to many remote weredas in North and South Welo zones.
2. 1995 PLANS FOR FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS IN REGION 3
After completing post-harvest assessments in all zones of Region 3, the regional RRB has adjusted the figures of the population in need of food assistance. The regional figure has been increased from 1,200,000 (as stated in the 1995 RRC Appeal) by 25 percent to 1,500,000. In the seven zones affected, 53 weredas are identified as food-deficient and are in immediate need of assistance.
Food for work proposals have been submitted from the zones to the regional bureaux (except from Wag Hamra and Oromiya zones). The regional RRB in Bahir Dar is convinced that they can comply with the National Policy directives in achieving 80 percent through food for work and 20 percent through free food distributions, provided these Employment Generating Schemes (EGS), as food for work projects are called, are assisted by the line ministries through the provision of trained staff, a minimum of hand tools and other necessary equipment. The targeted zones and weredas were therefore instructed to implement the food for work projects according to the National Policy. The efficiency of this programme will only be determined once implementation commences and distributions are taking place.
So far, no regular food distributions have taken place in the visited zones. However, some NGOs are already prepositioning food to their areas of operation (ERO, FHI). The RRB in North Welo carried out an emergency distribution of 400 tons of sorghum in January, using part of the 1994 carry-over stock.
The RRB in Bahir Dar is aware that some weredas may actually have higher figures of needy population than accepted by the region, and that a certain degree of compromise can not be avoided due to the limited resources currently available.
Following recent food assessments carried out in the Region, the regional RRB has released the following list of beneficiaries and total food quantities required in the zones of Region 3:
ZONE NO. OF BENEF. FOOD REQ. in MT
WAG HAMRA 121,750 15,012
NORTH WELO 237,875 29,330
SOUTH WELO 449,988 55,484
OROMIYA 117,500 14,486
NORTH SHEWA 79,267 9,773
NORTH GONDER 265,373 32,722
SOUTH GONDER 228,247 28,143
TOTAL 1,500,000** 184,950** 1,200,000 FFW, 300,000 free distributions
The Regional RRB has allocated around 1,000 tons of relief food for immediate distribution in the worst affected areas of North and South Welo zones.
According to the Regional RRB, at the present time there are 89 Relief Food Outlets (RFO) in the region, with an additional 20 under maintenance.3. NORTH GONDER ZONE
The zonal RRB reports that after the latest assessments 13 of the 19 weredas in North Gonder are in need of food assistance in 1995. The reduction in crop production in these weredas has been due to a combination of effects including the early withdrawal of the Kiremt (long) rains, water-logging, pest infestations and frost damage. However, the lowland areas seem to be better off compared to one year ago.
The worst affected weredas are located in the eastern part of the zone, bordering Region 1 in the northeast and Wag Hamra zone in the east. Part of the problem is the inaccessibility of these areas which leads to difficult monitoring as well as to logistical constraints. According to the head of the zonal RRB, the wereda government workers in Janamora and Beyeda weredas are concerned and have indicated they will leave their jobs as they are not able meet their basic food needs with the current low salaries and excessive high prices of food supplies.
Road construction is underway from Debark to Janamora, which is expected to help improve accessibility to this wereda in the future.
No significant stress migration was reported during the field trip.
So far only two NGOs are involved in food distributions in the North Gonder zone. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) will continue to assist Janamora, Beyeda and Debark weredas, whereas the Ethiopian Relief Organization (ERO) will assist Belessa wereda. They will start with their distributions in April for 48,000 beneficiaries (RRB quota). No other NGOs are known to be participating in food distributions in the zone.
The breakdown of the number of beneficiaries in the 13 weredas of North Gonder zone according to the regional RRB is:
WEREDA Total Benef. free distr. FFW
Janamora** 48,991 9,798 39,193
Adi Arkay 7,500 1,500 6,000
Dabat 6,000 1,200 4,800
Wegera 17,400 3,480 13,920
Gond.Zuriya 12,700 2,540 10,160
Alafa Tah. 9,000 1,800 7,200
Lay Armach. 7,600 1,520 6,080
Adis Selam 18,500 3,700 14,800
Debark** 13,500 2,700 10,800
Chilga 15,200 3,040 12,160
Belessa** 48,191 9,638 38,552
Tembia 20,100 4,020 16,080
Beyeda** 40,691 8,138 32,553
Total 265,373 53,074 212,299** EOC will cover 23,000 beneficiaries in Beyeda, 31,300 beneficiaries in Janamora and 13,500 beneficiaries in Debark weredas; ERO will cover all the beneficiaries in Belessa wereda.
The wereda administrators from North Gonder zone have been invited to a meeting in Gonder on February 20 in order to discuss and clarify issues concerning food for work activities in their weredas.
3.1. Visits to Weredas in North Gonder zone
The two weredas of Debark and Belessa were visited in North Gonder. The following in a summary of the observations made during this visit:
DEBARKThe wereda is comprised of 65 percent highland, 15 percent mid-highland and 10 percent lowland areas. Debark town is the gateway to the Simien Mountain National Park. The wereda administration estimates a 50 percent reduction in crop yield in comparison to the previous year's harvest, mostly in the highland areas due to the early withdrawal of the Kiremt rains and frost damage. The lowland areas are comparatively better off than last year.
BELESSAAccording to information obtained from a wereda official, the outcome of the 1994 harvest is comparable with the one of 1993. In some areas rainfall was extensive and led to flooding and water-logging but on the other hand had positive effect on forage for animals. In Belessa, the lowland areas are more affected than the mid-highland and highland areas. So far, according to information provided by the regional RRB, 48,000 people are to be assisted. However, ERO, which is engaged in both relief and development activities, estimates the actual figure of people in need of food assistance to be around 60,000. However, food distributions have been delayed, as FFW schemes had not been finalised by the zone at the time of the visit.4. SOUTH GONDER ZONE
The breakdown of the number of affected people in the weredas of South Gonder zone, as provided by the RRB office, is:
WEREDA No.of benef. free distr. FFW
Ibnat** 50,816 10,163 40,653
Libo Kemkem** 8,300 1,660 6,640
Este 9,400 1,880 7,520
Lay Gayint** 74,216 14,843 59,373
Tach Gayint** 26,300 5,260 21,040
Simada** 59,215 11,845 47,370
Total 228,247 45,651 182,596** EOC will assist 59,000 beneficiaries in Lay Gayint, 8,300 beneficiaries in Libo Kemkem and 35,600 beneficiaries in Ibnat. ERO will assist 54,000 beneficiaries in Ibnat and FHI will assist beneficiaries in Tach Gayint and Simada weredas (figures not yet available).
Due to the absence of the relevant contacts in the zone, no substantial information could be obtained in the zonal capital of Debre Tabor. The regional RRB has registered six weredas in need of food assistance in 1995 in comparison to five weredas registered last year. Lay Gayint wereda has the highest number of affected people, a number that is comparable with the figures of last year, whereas the remaining weredas seem to be slightly less affected this year. The weredas of Simada, Tach and Lay Gayint, which comprise mainly of rough terrain, did not benefit from the good rainfalls during the last Kiremt season.
ERO is already transporting food to the distribution points in Ibnat wereda and FHI is prepositioning food at the satellite distribution points in Simada and Tach Gayint weredas using the Transport Operation for Refugee_s (TOR) short-haul fleet. No information was obtained from FHI regarding the start of food distributions.
5. NORTH WELO ZONE
The regional RRB considers North and South Welo as the most affected zones in Region 3. Delanta has been given the highest priority for immediate food assistance within North Welo zone, followed by Meket, Gidan, Bugna, Wadla and Dawnt. The weredas located in the eastern part of the zone are better off this year. According to the zonal MoA, the overall crop production of 1994 was better than last year. However, heavy rainfall during the maturing state of crops has considerable reduced the yield in the highland areas, whereas the lowland areas to the east have had a good harvest. Kobo wereda, which had over 100,000 beneficiaries during 1994, is not dependent on food aid at the present time.
Following the latest assessments carried out by the RRB and MoA, the number of people in need of food assistance is estimated at 518,000 in the six worst affected weredas of North Welo and at 662,000 in the entire zone. This number excludes the recently established zone of Wag Hamara, which was previously part of North Welo and consists of the four weredas of Abergele, Sequala, Sekota and Dehana. Considering the separation of the Wag Hamra zone from North Welo zone, the percentage of needy people in North Welo has increased in comparison to last year.
Stress migration has been reported from several weredas and some people have started to sell their basic household items in order to buy food.
The RRB has already carried out small distributions from last year's carry over stocks in Delanta, Dawnt and Meket weredas. No detailed information regarding food distributions for North Welo was available from the Joint Relief Partnership (JRP) relief coordination office in Dessie. According to the EOC Relief Coordinator in Addis Ababa, distribution plans for North Welo are to be discussed 6-7 March.
5.1. Visits to Weredas in North Welo zone
BUGNAThe main town of Bugna wereda is the well-known, historical town of Lalibela. The estimated total population is 169,000 persons. The majority of the wereda is mountainous terrain. The Belg season is not normally significant in this wereda.
Too much rain and pest infestations (armyworm, welo bush-crickets and stalk-borers) have reduced the overall crop production by 46 percent from that expected in pre-harvest assessments. The actual crop production of 6,705 tons is sufficient to feed the wereda's population for only two to three months.
Fertilizer is not used extensively as it is very costly for the farmers and there is also a lack of skilled extension agents in the wereda to promote its use.
In Bugna, 98,000 persons were considered drought-affected in 1994. With only a minimal change from last year's conditions, the regional RRB has registered only 37,000 persons as beneficiaries for food assistance.
EOC and RRB were distributing food last year, however, the wereda administration has not been informed yet about this year's distribution plan.
It is important to preposition necessary food quantities before the Kiremt rainy season in Bugna, as the roads to Lalibela (from the turn-off on the Chinese road and also on the road to Kobo) will not accessible for a period of between two to three months during the main rainy season.
GIDANGidan wereda is situated between Bugna and Kobo weredas. The total population is estimated at 213,000 persons, according to the wereda administration.
The majority of farmers in the wereda cultivate on steep mountain slopes where erosion and deforestation has led to severe soil degradation. The eastern part of the wereda is highly Belg dependent.
Crop production has been poor due to the almost complete failure of last year's Belg season and the partial failure of the Meher harvest. Water-logging and pest infestation have also been given as reasons contributing to a decreased crop production.
The wereda administration estimates that 92 percent (196,000 persons) of the wereda population will need food assistance during 1995. The regional RRB has listed 14,400 persons of Gidan wereda as entitled to food assistance, which according to the local officials is not more than a drop in the bucket. In 1994 80,000 beneficiaries received food rations provided by EOC and CONCERN.
DELANTADelanta is considered the most affected wereda in the zone. Its main town of Wegel Tena is only accessible from Dessie; it is locates 96 km northwest of Dessie and is completely isolated during rainy seasons. The local administration estimates the total population at around 147,000, from which 85,000 are in need of food assistance. The prevalent conditions in the wereda are due to extensive and untimely rainfall during the Kiremt season.
The administration reports that during the past three months about 4,000 people have migrated to the towns along the main road Addis Ababa - Dessie - Mekelle in search for daily labour and food. The RRB distributed 400 tons of sorghum in January to try to alleviate the serious situation in this wereda.
Malnutrition is another cause for concern and 33 deaths were reported to the administration in January alone. Skin diseases and diarrhea are also manifesting in high numbers in the wereda.
UN-EUE8 March 1995
P.O. Box 5580Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel.: (251) (1) 51 10 28/29Fax: (251) (1) 51 12 92e-mail: UNEUE@padis.gn.apc.org
Editor: Ali B. Dinar, (aadinar@sas.upenn.edu)