UNITED NATIONS
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1. Food distribution
A general food distribution took place in Gode between 8-9 August, 1994. Gode town and the camps with the dispesee population and returnees were included in the distribution process. So far, this operation has been handled by the Region 5 Relief and Rehabilitation Bureau (RRB).
The total number of beneficiaries was estimated at 64,831 people including 6,478 heads of families. The registration process was conducted over a period of two days, carried out by 120 personeel supervised by the RRB. In order to avoid any contradiction, the paperwork was handed over to the EPRDF as soon as the registration was completed. (MSF Belgium latest census of April 1994 indicates a total of 24,504 people in both camps as well as 11,919 new arrivals who have re-settled in Gode town. The total dispersee population is an estimated 36,423.
742 tons of wheat grain were allocated to Gode and its 5 zones. However, only 731 tons have been received. Due to the high number of beneficiaries, the ration for distributions was 5kgs/person/month instead of 15 kgs/person/month.
The estimated breakdown of food aid allocation in the area is:
2. Dismissal of the Region 5 officials in Gode
On Monday, 15 August, all the heads of departments and their deputies
from the 24 various governmental bureaux were officially suspended from
their positions. This action also applies to the RRB officials. According
to some unofficial discussions and different sources, the people of Gode
expect new nominations for all the vacated posts within the next week.
3. Security in Gode
Since the murder of the mayor of the town, Mr. Muktar Aden Gedden on the 26 July, no other major incidents (i.e throwing of hand grenades in public areas), have been reported or witnessed. Regarding this assassination, it is still not clear who is responsible as no individual or groups have been indicated.
Following reports from the elders of the Digeno Ber village regarding
unknown gunmen in this locality, the road between Gode and Kalafo was closed
for 4 days from Tuesday, 9 August, to Friday, 12 August to enable the EPRDF
to monitor and clear the area.
4. Refugees and returnees in Kalafo
As a consequence of the fighting in Belet Wein/Somalia, from mid-July 1994 an influx of people started to arrive daily at Kalafo until 28 July. The majority of these people belong to the Hawadle family who fled the Habre Gedir clan (SNA) and now control the town. This group, on their way to Kalafo, had to avoid the Mustahil town which is also dominated by the Habre Ghedir clan. Therefore, they are using a transit point, for one or two nights, situated at 40 kms before Kalafo. This transit point is a small village called Shibo and is located in a remote area far from the main road and is currently not accessible due to the overflow of the Wabi Shebelle river.
Due to the number of the new arrivals and the precipitation of their movement, it is difficult to assess the number of returnees and refugees among them. For the time being, they are settled in the proximity of Kalafo town and at a distance of approximately 500 metres from the Wabi Shebelle river. As of 15 August, the population occupied an area of around 6,000 square metres and were building small Somali huts that are large enough to accomodate three people. The approximate number of people in this group varies according to different sources.
The EPRDF in Kalafo have so far registered 1,400 new families and estimate
that the total population does not exceed 5,000 people. The Kalafo administration
supported by 10 individuals from within the camp are daily recording the
newcomers and have provided the following breakdown:
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It should be noted that according to the EPRDF, almost the same amount of people are in Shibo and are on their way to Kalafo.
For the moment, the nutritional status of the refugees and returnees
seems to be satisfactory. If the existing situation should last longer,
a proper nutritional survey and evaluation of the conditions of children
under 5 should be conducted. It has been observed that the majority of
the new arrivals are women and children.
5. Kalafo Health Unit
In Kalafo town, there is a health centre which was built three years ago, with funding and equipment provided by the Austrian Government. This centre covers the zones of Kalafo, Mustahil and Ferfer and is equipped with one 4x4 vehicle.
This centre offers the following services:
The cost of a visit for each patient at the OPD is Birr 1 by registration card, including drug prescription. However, if the patient shows a letter from the administration ensuring that his income is less than Birr 50 per month, the visit and the treatment will be conducted free of charge.Birr 1,50/person/day for the INP.
Water is delivered from the town, and is stored in a watertank supplied by an electric pump.
Disclaimer
The designations employed
and the presentation of material in this document do not imply the expression
of any opinion whatsoever of the UN concerning the legal status of any
country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the
delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
UN-EUE | Tel.: (251) (1) 51-10-28/29 |
PO Box : 5580 | Fax: (251) (1) 51-12-92 |
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Email: undp-eue@telecom.net.et |