UNITED NATIONS  DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia

Tigray,  Northern Shewa,  Welo,  Oromiya
 

Summary

A short field trip to the belg dependant areas of Northern Ethiopia was conducted between the 16 and 25 April 1997 to monitor the current development of the 1997 belg season and to update the figures of affected people according to the latest conditions

Information was gathered from the zonal disaster prevention and preparedness departments of North Shewa, Oromiya, South Wollo, North Wollo and South Tigray.
 

Actual Situation of the Belg Season

In all visited zones, the onset of the belg rains has been late by one to one and a half months. Also, the amount of rain and its distribution has not been satisfactory. During the time of the mission, a dry spell of one to two weeks was reported all over the area, with rains resuming again at the beginning of the third dekad of April.

Farmers of some areas in Wollo and North Shewa took advantage of the early January rains to plant some belg crops, which have survived the dry period until the late start of rains in March.

While the late onset, uneven distribution and unsatisfactory amount of the belg rains is of some concern, it is still too early to predict the possible outcome of the 1997 belg season. Much will depend on the future development of rains, which is equally crucial for the planting of long cycle meher crops.
 

Number of People in Need of Relief

Post-harvest assessments have been conducted in all visited zones except North Shewa, resulting in some changes of beneficiary numbers as compared to the DPPC 1997 Appeal. South Tigray has reduced its beneficiary numbers from 20% to 13% of the total population, whereas South Wollo has increased its beneficiary numbers from 8% to 11% as per the post-harvest assessment, and finally to 13% after a special assessment was conducted in three disaster stricken weredas. The other zones kept similar beneficiary numbers as per the DPPC 1997 appeal, with some changes for certain wereda figures in North Wollo.

In South Wollo, alarming early warning data from three weredas (Sayint, Tenta & Mekdela) have led the Zonal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee to organise a special assessment in early April, which confirmed the deteriorating food security situation in the respective areas. The zone sent a special report to the region to justify additional beneficiary numbers and to emphasise the need for immediate relief interventions for the affected weredas.

North Shewa Zone

Belg rains have started with a delay of around one and a half months. Actually, the plantation for belg crops has been completed, but due to the late onset of rains, only about 70% of the prepared land has been planted. The future development of the belg season is now mainly important for the long cycle meher crops.

Gera Midir/Keya Gebriel, Gishe Rabel and Mama Midir/Lalo are the only three weredas requiring relief assistance in North Shewa. These weredas have faced regular food shortages since the last big drought of 1984/85. Due to the actual problems, farmers are selling animals in large quantities and migrating to neighbouring weredas in search of employment. Relief assistance, planned to commence in April, has not yet started for lack of food supply.

Based on figures received from the three weredas, the zonal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Department reported that the beneficiary number has risen from 39,000 people (DPPC 1997 Appeal) to 45,510. The zonal Early Warning Committee is organising an assessment to study the prevailing situation and to determine the number of affected people and the relief period.
 
 
 

Oromiya Zone

The belg rains have started with one month delay, beginning March. The rains have been sufficient to restore pasture, but too scarce for crop production. Farmers are expected to switch to the long cycle meher crops. Accordingly, the Zonal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Department expects no belg production and fears a negative impact on the overall crop production of this year.

The eastern part of the zone, bordering the Afar National Regional State, is mainly inhabited by semi-nomadic agropastoralists. Due to the late onset of rains, they had to move their livestock west into the swampy areas of Chefe valley during the month of February. With the pasture restored, they moved back eastwards again.

The results of the post-harvest assessment have been approved at regional and central levels. The relief period for Chefe/Gola/Dewerehimedo wereda covers the months of May up to July; for Bati wereda the months of April up to September; and for Artuma Jile wereda the months of June up to August.
 
 
 

South Wollo Zone

The belg rains started the 10 of March. Amount and distribution of rains are uneven and part of the newly planted crops are wilting. The fields planted in January have survived and show good performance. All prepared land for belg has been planted. If the remaining season performs well, a satisfactory result is expected.

After the post-harvest assessment, the situation in the weredas of Sayint, Tenta and Mekdela has deteriorated. A team sent by the Zonal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee observed the following situation:

• significant decrease in school attendance
• increased cases of kwashiorkor & marasmus
• migration of family heads
• high amount of animals sold in the market, sharp drop of prices
• significant increase in cereal prices

The relief period for Tenta, Mekdela and Sayint weredas covers the months of May to September. In addition, relief interventions for Kutaber, Dessie Zuria and Legambo weredas (which were not originally included in the 1996 Appeal) should also start immediately. Relief activities for the remaining weredas cover the period of July to September. Local authorities are concerned that no relief food has yet reached the weredas, as all but the eastern weredas will become either inaccessible or or hardly accessible to trucks during the rainy season.

The post-harvest figures of affected people are considered to be low, but if the total amount of food is made available, people should be able to cover the remaining gap by their own coping strategies.
 
 

North Wollo Zone

After some showers by the end of the year, the belg rains started only at the end of February, with a two weeks dry spell in April. Rains until now are considered to be insufficient in the highlands, the main belg producing areas. But with a good performance for the remaining season, no major problems are expected for the belg crops and the planting of long cycle meher crops.

The relief period in North Wollo is considered from April up to December. Distributions have started with carry-over stocks from 1996, and new food supplies are now arriving in the weredas. Actual stocks were considered to be sufficient for April distribution. Timely distributions have halted starting migration and people now remain in their areas.

The results of the belg assessment, which should be available by end of June, should determine to what extent additional relief assistance might be needed for belg dependant areas.
 
 
 

South Tigray Zone

Belg rains started late, during the first dekad of March, with a two weeks dry spell in April. The belg situation in general is considered to be unsatisfactory, especially in the lowlands. Belg in relevant areas contributes up to 40% of total production in good years.

Last year’s meher season was good as compared to the 1995 production, with the exception of Inderta and Hintalo/Wajirat weredas, where kremt rains stopped early, in August. These weredas face a serious situation. Beneficiary numbers could still be reduced considerably, however, as alternative employment is offered for the construction of a dam and the new airport in Mekele.

The relief period is considered from April up to September. Some distributions have started with last year’s carry-over stocks, but new food supplies are eagerly awaited.
 
 

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