FAO/WFP CROP AND FOOD SUPPLY ASSESSMENT

The results of the FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission of 5 November to 6 December 2003 have been released in a Special Report on 14 January. Despite a good harvest, 7.2 million people (5-6 million chronically food insecure) still require assistance to meet minimum food requirements in 2004. Last year, 13.2 million Ethiopians needed food assistance. Well-distributed seasonal rains that began on time and continued until late September / October in the main production areas resulted in an upsurge of grain production in the 2003 meher season. Seed support programs helped ensure access to seeds in most regions and increased use of improved seed and fertilizer also contributed to the marked improvement in yields over last year. National cereal and pulse production in the meher season is forecast at 13.05 million tons, about 46 percent above 2002/03 and 11 percent above the last five years average. Overall agricultural performance in 2003 was much better than last year, primarily due to favourable weather conditions. Much better rainfall in the central highlands and in the north-eastern pastoral areas and improved livestock condition reduced livestock mortality rates and removed the need for early migration of herds and flocks in the pastoral areas. Despite these overall improvements, the report estimates that Ethiopia will still need 980,000 tons of food relief or cash equivalent for 2004, compared with 1.8 million tons in 2003. Total grain import requirements in 2004 are estimated at 210,000 tons of which 50,000 tons are expected to be imported commercially.

 

Livestock situation in SNNPR

A FAO, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and Bureau of Agriculture (BoA) mission visited 8 zones and 12 woredas of SNNPR affected by drought and erratic rains during 2003. According to the findings a total of 1.2 million Tropical Livestock Units (850,000 head of cattle, 900,000 shoats, 100,000 equines and 350,000 poultry) belonging to more than 150,000 rural households are at risk. In general livestock are yet to fully recover from previous (2002) drought. During large part of 2003, livestock have been under intense stress for lack of grazing and watering.  Livestock are now concentrated in the lowlands and along rivers and lakes (Awassa, Abaya, Chamo, etc.) as well as in or around swampy areas thus increasing risks of widespread contagious diseases such as Blackleg, Anthrax, CCPP, CBPP, LSD, FMD, AHS, NCD, trypanosomosis as well as infestation of external and internal parasites.  Morbidity and mortality rates are increasing as the result of abnormal weather conditions. Due to limited resources the public veterinary service is usually inefficient and its coverage is below what would be necessary, especially during emergency crises.  Livestock mortality can surge at any time threatening people’s livelihood not only for this year but for the years to come since reconstitution of herds and flocks take many years.

 

Arrival of Anuaks refugees from Gambella to Pochallo

Several reports have been received from Pochallo, Southern Sudan, concerning the arrival of Anuak refugees from the Gambella Region in Western Ethiopia. A UNHCR/WFP mission to Pochallo from Lokichokkio in Kenya is attempting to establish the numbers involved. UN agencies and NGOs working in South Sudan are preparing themselves for delivering humanitarian aid as required once the situation has been assessed. The movement of refugees into Sudan is reportedly a consequence of the violent clashes between "highlanders" (Ethiopians originating from outside Gambella) and Anuak that erupted in Gambella town and surroundings after the killing of eight Ethiopian Government refugee camp officials on December 13 last year. Since then, most of the UN and NGO staff were temporarily relocated out of Gambella. Refugee leaders from the Fugnido camp in Ethiopia have recently confirmed that Anuak families have been leaving Fugnido but it is not clear whether they crossed the border into Sudan or remained in the bush in Ethiopia. The few UN staff remaining in the town are not allowed to visit the refugee camps to confirm numbers and information. Before the clashes, there were approximately 9,400 Anuak refugees (8,100 in Fugnido and 1,300 in Dimma) out of a total of over 85,000 Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.

 

HIV/AIDS RAPID ASSESSMENT- KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES

A cross-sectional, Rapid Impact Assessment of Community Dialogue Interventions on Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of HIV/AIDS among food beneficiaries was conducted by UNICEF with HAPCO in Sidama and Wolayta Zones. A sample size of 395 food beneficiaries, 177 in Bodice Woreda of Wolayta Zone and 218 in Dale and Shebedino Woredas of Sidama Zone participated. The summary of key results indicating the positive impact of community dialogue include: 64.8% of interviewees described HIV/AIDS as a threat to humanity and a killer disease with no cure; 86.5 % of participants knew  two or more ways of HIV/AIDS is transmitted; a significant number of participants indicated knowledge of ways HIV is not transmitted such as hand shaking (49.5%), clothes (35.7%), sharing cups and utensils (40.1%), body contacts (46.7%), breathing (42.9); 93.3% of participants said they practiced faithful partnership; 8.0% of participants said they practiced condom use; 5.4 % of participants said they practiced abstinence, with more women than men following abstinence; 55.3% said a main source of information of HIV/AIDS was through community dialogue interventions at food distribution sites; 51.8% said local radio (Sidama and Wolayta); 30.5% said village socialization. More men than women had access to radio; asked their attitude to infected and affected, 67 % of participants said “provide care, love and support”, followed by 16 % who said “provide care cautiously”, 11 % said that they “feel sad”, 6 % said they were “frightened to care” and 66.6% of participants said they had had HIV/AIDS discussions with family members.

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