UNITED NATIONS  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia

1. Aim

The aim was to participate in the local coordination meeting of the agencies working in the area and to verify conflicting reports on the extent and seriousness of the current emergency, especially in the food aid sector. Two trips during the period between 15 and 24 June were therefore undertaken to this area.
 

2. Situation

The famine situation in N/Omo region is still serious and at its peak (refer to contemporary UNICEF reports from the area). While in the West (Gofa), the food situation is expected to improve significantly with prospects of a good maize harvest nearing maturity towards mid-July, harvest in Wolaita is expected later, towards end of July/beginning August, and may not be as good as needed for satisfactory recovery. Especially the weredas Bolosso Sori, Damot Gale and Kindo Koisha, where food aid came late and was sometimes erratic, and where four successive severe hail storms had damaged crops considerably, prospects for recovery remain bleak.

Other problems observed in the area are an unusually high incidence of malaria and some armyworm infestation. While the armyworm infestation seems to be controlled now by MoA and the NGOs, and do not pose a threat to maturing crops, high death rates are reported by a rampant malaria-epidemic, a fact that many relate to the general weakness and low nutritional status. Malaria prophylaxis and treatment have been supplied by the MoH and UNICEF, but the issue of free emergency drugs versus charges for regular drugs remain.

The nutritional status of the population has stabilized in areas where food aid was supplied regularly and well targeted. Concern reports a global mean of 88.4% WFL in February and 88.9% WFL in May 1994 in Damot Weyde wereda. World Vision reports similar figures and trends in Humbo wereda. Most of the other areas, however, were only served once and perhaps not very efficiently and targeted, and therefore remain nutritionally unstable.

High food and low animal market prices indicate a general food deficit. Price surveys show this trend, but have not reached the excessive disproportions observed in other regions during famine. Also animal prices, especially for oxen, have risen in the last month, indicating a demand for (draught) animals for land preparation for the next planting season in August:

Market Prices Survey in Humbo, Wolaita: In Ethiopian Birr, per quintal (100 kg) Source: World Vision, Damota#1

Crops Jan Feb Mar Apr May

Maize 130 130 133 150 155 Sorghum 120 110 133 140 145 Beans 146 150 176 225 230 Tef 170 180 195 220 250

Animals

Ox (medium) 637 620 600 650 650 Sheep 113 97 91 90 95 Goat 105 85 83 80 85
 

3. Coordination

The first meeting on 20 June in Soddo was postponed and the second meeting on 22 June was held in the RRC Coordination Office in Soddo. It was attended by almost all NGOs working in the region and a representative of Ministry of Health, and was chaired by RRC. Issues discussed focused on the current situation, the manner of distribution and the outlook for the coming months.

It was found that targeting of the beneficiaries was the key issue, and that the crisis committees, established at wereda levels, were crucial in establishing the beneficiary lists. It was agreed that RRC would take the first step immediately and advise the zonal administration that the criteria for eligibility should be better adhered to. In future meetings, the zonal administration will be invited to attend, along with representatives of other relevant line ministries (MoA, etc.).

The relationship between RRC and the NGOs seemed relaxed, and on many occasions, helping each other out was the order of the day: E.g. Concern was able to mobilize 1,700 MT of cereals for RRC to distribute; RRC, on the other hand, was lending trucks to GOAL to transport food and materials to start-up their feeding programme. The fact that since late March 1994, the RRC had established a temporary coordination office in Soddo, through which most of the food aid for the northern part of N/Omo region is channelled (see map attached), speaks for an adequate set-up, and certainly helps to facilitate the operation.

The immediate outlook seems satisfactory in terms of food and other relief supplies that are arriving daily. Storage and warehouses are not a constraint, and secondary transport has improved with 6 6WD trucks supplied be Ministry of Defense and a number of other small 4WD trucks made available from RRC and the NGOs for the operation. During the time of visit, rains had ceased and all feeder roads were passable.
 

Food stocks and expected arrivals in the area on 24 June 1994:

Stocks: Expected arrivals June/July 94

RRC 1,213.5 MT 6,300 MT assorted food NGOs 3,451.7 MT 5,609 MT assorted food

Totals 4,665.2 MT 11,909 MT assorted food
 

4. Conclusions:

Although reports and early warnings of an impending food shortage in Wolaita and N/Omo were issued in time (since late November 93) by RRC and the NGOs, not much action was taken until March 94, when the first victims were claimed. Knowing of the fragile situation and narrow food reserve margins in the area even in normal times (land-holding 1/4 ha per family in the highlands), the famine situation could have been avoided with a preventive, limited and well targeted action in favor of the 10-15% poorest and most vulnerable people (est. 300-500,000 beneficiaries for 3 months = 13,500 - 22,500 MT food). It seems likely that a similar situation will occur in the years to come - with the same early warning signs, but ever more people in need.

At the moment, the emergency operation is in full swing. Constraints are mainly of a managerial and manpower nature now, as the operation is clearly a race against time. Simultaneous distributions are envisaged: Food Beneficiaries

- Monthly food needs 15 Weredas (RRC) 12,116.9 MT 807,792 - Food distributed March - June 94 19,253.8 MT 557,427 - Food expected to arrive June/July 94 plus current food stocks 16,574.1 MT 552,470 (for two months)

RRC is planning to switch from free distribution to FFW as much as possible by the end of July. This may well be a good intention, but entails a concerted effort by the administration, the line ministries and NGOs that goes well beyond the relief action. It also requires additional manpower and funds that are not yet secured.

For the areas and beneficiaries most affected, a prolonged relief effort will still be needed: For Damota Gale, Kindo Koisha and Bolosso Sori weredas, relief distribution and supplementary feeding are likely to be needed until the end of 1994. In other areas, protracted and well supervised (dry) supplementary feeding for recovery of the malnourished will have to be continued for at least 2-3 months to come, despite good crop prospects.

Finally, attention must be given to the planting and growing season to come (August-October), in order to maximise local food production.

Annexes (available from UN-EUE):

- Map of Wolaita and Gofa - Distributions in 15 weredas of N/Omo in 1994 - Population and beneficiary figures N/Omo
 
 
 

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.

28 June 1994