resettlement working group to undertake
initial rapid assessment
The UN/Donor/World Bank resettlement working group, which
is facilitated by OCHA, has developed a joint monitoring framework for the
resettlement program in conformance with the Government of Ethiopia’s Concept
Note on a Monitoring and Evaluation System for the Food Security Program. The
group has agreed to undertake an initial rapid assessment of the resettlement
situation to test the framework and to ascertain the current situation of the
resettlement process. The initial
assessment would also help to inform on best practices that can be applied in
next phases of the process and avenues for constructive engagement with the
Government by donors, UN agencies and the World Bank concerning the
resettlement process. The working group will be undertaking the assessment
mission in four resettlement regions (SNNPR, Amhara, Oromiya and Tigray)
starting 15 March.
PASTORALISTS ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS
FINALIZED:
FOOD AID NEEDS ADJUSTED DOWNWARDS
Results of the pastoral areas assessment have been
finalized for Afar and Somali regions, as well as lowland parts of Oromiya and
Southern Nations Nationalities and People's regions. Weather conditions have
been generally better than were forecast in late-2003. Thus the
2004 relief food requirements have been revised
downwards in these
areas, and overall requirements are now under 900,000 tonnes. This
comprises 695,000 tonnes of cereals,
85,000 tonnes of
micronutrient-fortified blended
food, 69,000 tonnes of pulses,
23,000 tonnes of
vegetable oil and 1,300 tonnes
of iodized salt (this
includes 14,000 tonnes of commodities for emergency school
feeding). Carryover stocks, 2003 carryover contributions and 2004 confirmed
contributions currently total 486,000 tonnes; these can cover relief food
requirements through to early June. The un-resourced food requirement for 2004
stands at 387,000 tonnes. With outstanding 2004 cereal and blended food
requirements of over 350,000 tonnes, there is scope for local purchases to
cover part of the shortfall. The recently-issued joint "Cereal
Availability Study" estimated the amount of maize, wheat and sorghum
available for local purchase for humanitarian operations in 2004 between
300,000 - 350,000 tonnes.
UNICEF EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN SOMALI REGION
UNICEF’s response to the emergency situation in
Somali Region over the last two months has been on several fronts. Mobile
emergency clinics have been organized with the Health Bureau to reach remote
vulnerable communities in Warder, Korahe, Degahbour, Fik and Gode zones. In
Warder zone, supplies and funds have been provided to Mother and Child
Development Organization (MCDO), a local NGO, to support targeted supplementary
feeding for 3,000 moderately malnourished children. The regional Government
recently allocated 1.5 million Birr for emergency water tankering for
internally displaced persons in Fafan and Hartsheik. UNICEF will provide
supplies for the extension of the pipeline in Fafan and will continue to tanker
a minimum of 4,000 litres of clean water per week to the children admitted in
the Hartsheik Therapeutic Feeding Center, which has been technically and
financially supported by UNICEF for the last two years. In the Education
sector, 50 MT of BP5 biscuits have been delivered by UNICEF to 55 schools to
help retain about 18,000 students in formal education, 1,600 full uniform sets
for girls are being locally tailored by the Education Bureau with UNICEF
funding as part of the activities to increase girls’ enrolment & retention
and the construction of separate latrines for boys and girls have been funded
in nine schools in Jijiga and Shinile zones. In the water sector, funds have
been released to the Water Bureau for the purchase of emergency fuel for water
pumping in seven zones, while ARAN Welfare and Development Society and Ogaden
Women’s Development Association (OWDA) received financial support for hand dug
wells in Korahe and Gode zones. UNICEF has also delivered therapeutic &
supplementary food, non-food and shelter items, water pumps, generators and
other emergency water supplies to different partners in the region as a
preparedness measure.
UNICEF EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY TO HARAR
TOWN
Responding to the acute water shortage in Harar town
and the request for assistance from the Harari Regional President, the Harari
Regional Water Bureau and UNICEF have reprogrammed water and sanitation
financial assistance to provide emergency water to the town. Five water tankers
began intense emergency water tankering operations on 23 February, transporting
water to the town dwellers from distant available sources. This operation will
continue for four months, which is the anticipated period of critical need.
UNICEF will also supply five de-watering pumps and 33 Roto-tanks of different
capacity for emergency water storage in Harar schools and town kebeles.