ETHIOPIA (UNDP-EUE)
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Matt Bryden, Specialist Field Officer, Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia - 17 April 1996
INFORMATION NOTE
Emerging Drought Conditions in Somaliland and Ethiopia's Somali Region
The short rainy season ("Gu") rains are late throughout much of Somaliland, following the long Jilaal dry season. Much of eastern Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool regions have received no rains since last year's Deyr season (September/October). Water reservoirs and earth dams are empty and the price of water is reported to have risen to nearly ten times the price in Hargeysa.
The Somaliland government and UNHCR have agreed to collaborate on a water tankering programme to try to relieve the situation in drought -affected areas. UNHCR is contributing fuel while the government has released US$100,000 towards the hire of water tankers. The tankers distribute water to major villages and towns. Although this has provided some respite, the situation will be seriously aggravated if the Gu rains fail altogether. A much broader tankering programme would become necessary.
The situation is reported to be much the same in adjacent parts of Ethiopia's Somali region, from Gaashamo east towards the Somali border. Although, the situation is probably not as dramatic as some unconfirmed reports from the Gaashamo area suggest, relief measures similar to those taken across the border may be called for. SERP has a field officer in the Gaashamo area and is continually monitoring the situation. So far they have not declared the situation an emergency.
Prospects
The delay in the rains has already placed livestock under considerable pressure. A water tankering programme to refill water reservoirs and earth dams would provide temporary relief. Since most reservoirs are private, however, special care would have to be taken in making distribution arrangements.
A late Gu season remains possible and would mitigate the situation. However, if the rains fail completely, a more dramatic response will become necessary. Lack of water will be compounded fairly rapidly by a dramatic reduction in available pasture. Pastoralists will almost certainly migrate in search of better grazing. An influx from Togdheer and Sool regions cannot be ruled out.
All available information has been requested from the UNCU in Nairobi concerning drought conditions across the border.