DPPA SOMALI REGION DEYR ASSESSMENT

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 003610 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI AMEMBASSY NAIROBI AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY ROME USMISSION USUN NEW YORK DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/CCJ5/CCJS// DIA WASHDC CJTF HOA NSC WASHDC STATE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS AF JSWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, A/S PRM SAUERBREY, AND PRM/AFR AFR/AA KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON DCHA/AA MHESS, GGOTTLIEB DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO JMYER, GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA USUN FOR TMALY NSC FOR PMARCHAN AIDAC SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET SUBJECT: DPPA SOMALI REGION DEYR ASSESSMENT -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. On December 21, members of the United States Government (USG) Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) in Ethiopia attended the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE) Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) Deyr/Karan Assessment briefing for Somali Region. According to assessment findings, more than 1.6 million people are confronting survival and livelihood protection deficits, including more than 730,000 people in immediate need of food assistance. To meet the needs of affected populations, the DPPA recommends increased food assistance and multi-sectoral interventions, in addition to targeted nutrition surveys in the most-affected areas. End summary. -------------- FOOD INSECURITY -------------- ¶2. From November 24 to December 14, a DPPA-led multi-agency assessment team visited Somali Region as part of a bi-annual national needs assessment. According to assessment findings, the poor performance of the 2007 gu and deyr rains have resulted in significant crop failure and reduced livestock production in parts of all seven Somali Region zones, disrupting livelihoods and contributing to increased food security concerns. Food prices in the region have increased from 60 to 130 percent above reference year levels and are expected to continue to increase through the January to April jilaal dry season. ¶3. The DPPA assessment identified more than 1.6 million people facing survival and livelihood protection deficits, including an estimated 730,000 people in need of immediate food assistance, representing 19 percent of the total Somali Region population. The most-affected zones include Fik, Gode, and Degehabur. Despite utilizing coping strategies, populations confronting survival deficits are unable to meet the 2,100 kilocalorie per day requirement, while populations confronting livelihood protection deficits are able to meet the daily caloric requirement, but at the cost of selling assets and undermining future livelihood security. To meet the needs of affected populations in Somali Region, the DPPA projects that emergency food and relief commodities will be required for the next three to six months. -------------- ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA -------------- ¶4. The DPPA assessment noted the presence of acute watery diarrhea (AWD) in Degehamedo District, Degehabur Zone, and Segeg and Fik districts, Fik Zone. Since November, community level reports indicate that AWD is spreading into rural areas. However, exact numbers of AWD cases are unavailable as a result of the inability of the Regional Health Bureau to access affected areas. -------------- DPPA RECCOMENDATIONS -------------- ¶5. To address the needs of affected populations in Somali Region, the DPPA assessment recommends increased food, water, livestock, and health interventions, in addition to identifying the need for targeted nutritional surveys in the most affected areas. The DPPA highlighted the need for an immediate increase in the delivery and distribution of food assistance to the region. According to the DPPA, the lack of food availability in the region represents the most pressing need. For this reason, the DPPA recommends an increase in food assistance, in place of cash-for-work interventions. -------------- CONCLUSION AND COMMENTS -------------- ¶6. The DPPA Deyr/Karan Assessment results for Somali Region provides a significant overview of population vulnerability in the region, including the identification of more than 1.6 million people confronting survival and livelihood deficits. However, the assessment provided limited details regarding specific recommendations and locations of non-food interventions. In addition, the DPPA assessment results do not address the nutritional status of affected populations or regional security and access restrictions. In an effort to verify the magnitude and severity of the current food security crisis outlined in the DPPA assessment, the USG HAT is preparing assessment visits to Somali Region in the coming weeks. End comment. YAMAMOTO