EMERGENCIES UNIT FOR ETHIOPIA

Field Trip Report

Wolayita and North Omo

by Ralph Klingele and Admassu H/Yesus

UN-EUE Field Officers, 15 August 1994

Summary

The purpose of the field trip was to participate in the zonal coordination meeting of the agencies working in Wolayita area and North Omo zone of the Southern Ethiopian People's Administration, in order to observe the actual food situation and to monitor ongoing relief efforts. Due to the cancellation of the scheduled meeting, information regarding the current operations in the area had to be obtained from different NGO offices in Addis Ababa.

With the incoming, and generally promising Belg harvest, the food situation in Wolayita is improving. Also, with the arrival of the RRC July allocations, food distributions are ongoing. The Kindo Koisha wereda had received half of the allocated rations for July distributions by 5 August, whereas distribution in Bolosso Sori wereda has been relatively extensive, to the benefit of the needy population in this wereda.

Transportation problems still exist within the area, due to bad road conditions and lack of an adequate number of 4x4 short haul trucks. Also, the previous agreement between the RRC and OXFAM/SCF whereby the RRC used two Joint Transport Operation (JTO) trucks, ended on 5 August, but it is hoped that the RRC's request for an extension of the much needed contract will be met.

The RRC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) is currently conducting a crop assessment in the area. The outcome of this survey will determine future interventions, such as continued food distributions in persistent problem areas and, together with the participation of different line Ministries, Food-for-Work programmes in improved areas. It is hoped that the conceptual and technical planning of the foreseen FFW programmes is underway and that the necessary technical staff will be available.

The late and insufficient Belg rains which resulted in a delayed Belg harvest, have also affected land preparation for the Meher season and certain areas may face food deficiency at the beginning of 1995. In order to prevent a future emergency, the RRC is planning to set up a 5,000 tons food stock in Sodo.

Establishing food reserves in the area and introducing intensive labour programmes would certainly help prevent emergencies in a mid-term prospect, whereas basic structural problems, characterised by high population density, would need a careful, long tern development approach, including economic diversification, development of human resources and creation of alternative long term employment.

ANNEX

- RRC Food Distributions in North Omo, June 1994

- RRC Food Allocation and Distribution in North Omo, July 1994

- NGO Food Distribution in North Omo, June 1994

- NGO Food Distribution in North Omo, July 1994

- NGO Food Distribution in North Omo, August 1994 (estimated figures)

- Complementary Information about NGO activities in North Omo

COMPLEMENTARY INFORMATION ON NGO ACTIVITIES IN NORTH OMO

KINDO KOISHA

SOS SAHEL: Cash-for-Work programme (road construction) with an estimated 1,000 workers in June and 1,200 workers in July. Distribution of 4.291 pieces of farm tools to an equal number of households in June. Distribution of 724 quintals of haricot bean seeds for 12,067 beneficiaries in July.

INTERAIDE FRANCE: A therapeutic feeding centre in Bele, with June figures provided by SOS SAHEL of: 75 new admissions, 17 deaths and 345 discharged (July figures not available).

GOAL: A therapeutic feeding centre opened on 16 July in Zamina Nare, admitting 41 patients in the first week.

BOLOSSO SORI

CONCERN: A therapeutic feeding centre in Dubo with 189 patients in July and an estimated 200 for August.

REDD BARNA: A therapeutic feeding centre opened in Dolla at the end of July; admission figures not available.

DAMOT WEYDE

CONCERN: A therapeutic feeding centre with 242 patients in June, 103 in July and an expected 103 in August.

Back to document index