Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ADDISABABA144
2009-01-20 11:21:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Addis Ababa
Cable title:
FOOD SHORTAGES IN TIGRAY REGION DUE TO POOR 2008 RAINS
how-toO 201121Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3449 INFO AMEMBASSY ASMARA AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI AMEMBASSY NAIROBI USEU BRUSSELS USMISSION GENEVA AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY ROME USMISSION USUN NEW YORK DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL DIA WASHDC CJTF HOA NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000144
STATE DEPARTMENT AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, AND PRM/AFR
USAID for AFR EGAST, CTHOMPSON
DCHA/AA MHESS,
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN
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
ROME FOR USMISSION UN ROME
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
USEU FOR PBROWN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA
NSC FOR PMARCHAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
SUBJECT: FOOD SHORTAGES IN TIGRAY REGION DUE TO POOR 2008 RAINS
-------
Summary
-------
UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000144
STATE DEPARTMENT AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, AND PRM/AFR
USAID for AFR EGAST, CTHOMPSON
DCHA/AA MHESS,
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN
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
ROME FOR USMISSION UN ROME
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
USEU FOR PBROWN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA
NSC FOR PMARCHAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
SUBJECT: FOOD SHORTAGES IN TIGRAY REGION DUE TO POOR 2008 RAINS
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. Local and regional officials, relief organizations, and affected
communities report deterioration of food security in southern and
eastern areas of Tigray Region. Failed belg rains and uneven meher
rains in 2008 resulted in poor crop production, insufficient feed
and pasture for livestock, and lack of water for human and animal
consumption, threatening populations' livelihoods and coping
mechanisms. Due to poor crop production and late and insufficient
relief response, Tigray Region health officials report increased
malnutrition rates among children under five years of age and
pregnant and lactating mothers.
2. Shortages of water and food for human and animal consumption,
malnutrition, and poor crop performance continue to constitute
significant challenges for individuals in Tigray that require
further attention. According to the October 2008 Government of the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE) Revised Humanitarian
Requirements Document, more than 601,000 people outside the
Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) require at least three months
of assistance in affected areas of Tigray. USAID and humanitarian
organizations continue to closely monitor the situation and respond
to needs. End summary.
--------------
Introduction
--------------
3. From December 14 to 20, a USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) program monitor traveled to Tigray to assess
the impact of drought on food security, as well as the nutrition
status of children and pregnant and lactating mothers. The program
monitor met with regional and woreda officials, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs),and residents of eight drought-affected
woredas, including Atsbi Womberta, Sasei Tsada Emba, and Kilte
Awlalo in east Tigray and Hintalo-wajirat, Raya Azebo, Endamehoni,
Alaje, and Enderta in south Tigray.
--------------
Crop Production and Impact on Emergency Food Aid
--------------
4. Late, uneven, and poor 2008 rains resulted in inadequate overall
performance of long-cycle crops, such as maize, sorghum, and finger
millet, compared to the previous five years. According to the NGO
the Relief Society of Tigray (REST),long dry spells and late
planting resulted in cultivation of only 28 percent of usual planned
long-cycle crops.
5. During normal seasons, six woredas benefit from February to
March belg rains, constituting 20 percent of annual production.
However, planned crop production collapsed in 2008 due to belg rain
failure. According to REST, farmers in Ofla Woreda only produced
10.8 percent of planned crops, and production completely failed in
the five remaining belg-dependent woredas. Three of the
woredas--Raya Azebo, Hintalo-wajirat, and Alamata---are among the
ten Tigray Regional Early Warning, Response, and Food Security
Bureau-designated malnutrition "hot spot" woredas. Similarly, the
onset of the July to September kiremt rains in most affected woredas
was late compared to previous years, and moisture-related stress
resulting from poor amount and distribution of rainfall affected
short-cycle crops, such as barley, wheat, teff, and pulses.
6. On October 14, 2008, the GFDRE revised the number of people
requiring emergency assistance in Ethiopia from 4.6 million to 6.4
million people, including more than 601,000 individuals in Tigray
outside of the PSNP. In addition to supporting three months of food
rations, the Revised Humanitarian Requirements Document recommended
establishing nutrition centers, distributing animal feed, destocking
animals, and providing potable water through water tankering in
affected woredas. Subsequent meher seasonal assessments, which have
not yet been released, indicate that approximately the same number
of people will require assistance through March 2009.
7. From October to December 2008, Early Warning and Response
Department (EWRD) provided one to three months of food assistance to
individuals in Tigray. Through the November to December allocation,
REST is currently providing two months of food aid to approximately
145,000 people through the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP).
However, the authorized relief rations only includes 10 kg of cereal
instead of a full 17.5 kg ration of cereal, oil, and pulses due to
limited grain reserve stocks. Although JEOP provided REST with the
full food basket for relief, the EWRD instructed REST to distribute
a 10 kg ration. Without the official release of meher assessment
results and EWRD emergency relief supplies allocations, vulnerable
individuals in Tigray will not receive assistance after
organizations exhaust December food allocations.
--------------
Livestock Production Concerns
--------------
8. In Tigray, livestock represent one of the main sources of
livelihood and income generation, constituting a significant portion
of a household's food and income and providing resiliency to
drought. For instance, in more prosperous households of Irob
Woreda, families earn 80 percent of income from livestock sales.
However, due to successive poor or failed rains, lowland areas of
Tigray are experiencing pronounced animal feed and water shortages,
causing weakened animals to walk long distances in search of water.
REST does not foresee potential feed source replenishment until belg
and azmera rains commence in February and April 2009, expected to
improve pasture and water availability in affected woredas until the
main July to September kiremt rains begin.
9. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and REST are providing
grass and concentrate to 12,900 out of an estimated 40,573
vulnerable animals in the three most-affected woredas of Raya Azebo,
Hintalo-wajirat, and Atsbi Womberta. According to REST and woreda
officials, households are unable to commercially destock livestock
in the local market due to lack of demand for animals in poor
visible condition.
--------------
Increasing Malnutrition Rates
--------------
10. Tigray woreda officials expressed concern regarding increased
malnutrition rates among children under five years of age and
pregnant and lactating mothers. Results from the October 2008
Regional Health Bureau (RHB) nutrition assessment indicated an
overall 9.6 percent increase in the global acute malnutrition (GAM)
rate and 1 percent increase in the severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
rate from the regional Enhanced Outreach Survey average in June
2008, increasing the GAM rate for children under five years of age
to 18 percent and SAM rate to nearly 2 percent. The assessment
included nearly 210,000 children aged 6 to 59 months and more than
37,000 pregnant and lactating mothers in 20 emergency nutrition hot
spots.
11. In addition, Atsbi Womberta Woreda health officials report an
increase in malnutrition rates from June to September 2008.
According to woreda health officials, the GAM rate increased from 8
percent to 19.9 percent, the SAM rate from less than 1 percent to
3.3 percent, and edema from zero to nearly 1 percent during this
time period. In response to malnutrition concerns in Tigray, RHB
and the Regional Early Warning and Food Security Bureau stressed the
need for the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) to conduct
a standard nutritional survey.
--------------
Water for Humans and Animals
--------------
12. The USAID/OFDA program monitor noted that ground water levels
had decreased considerably in several woredas, including Raya Azebo,
Atsbi Womberta, and Endeta. According to woreda officials, ponds
and springs are also dry, necessitating construction of new ponds
and springs and/or rehabilitation of existing water sources,
particularly in lowland communities bordering Afar Region. In
addition, REST noted the need for emergency boreholes in Raya Azebo
Woreda.
--------------
Future Concerns and Actions to Date
--------------
13. While regional government, NGO, and donor relief efforts have
helped stabilize the humanitarian situation in Tigray, continued
efforts are necessary to sustain food insecure individuals in the
coming months. Shortages of water and food for human and animal
consumption, malnutrition, and poor crop performance constitute
significant challenges for individuals in Tigray that require
further attention.
14. High prices and limited availability of animal feed may exhaust
coping mechanisms during the December to late June dry season in
Tigray. Farmers face an increasingly precarious situation, as
animals weaken from walking long distances in search of water and
individuals consume seeds stocks intended for cultivation. Combined
with anticipated food price increases during the dry season, this
situation threatens to erode coping mechanisms and endanger crop
cultivation during the subsequent rainy season.
15. In response to food security concerns, the UN World Food
Program is implementing emergency food aid, PSNP, and targeted
supplementary feeding programs in Tigray. In addition, the NGO
Concern is treating moderate and severe acute malnutrition in
federal and regional ENCU-designated priority woredas in Tigray
through a USAID/OFDA grant. USAID/OFDA will continue to monitor the
situation in Tigray and report on humanitarian conditions. In
addition, the U.S. Ambassador and USAID Mission Director plan to
travel to Tigray next month to further assess the situation and
demonstrate support for emergency feeding programs.
YAMAMOTO
STATE DEPARTMENT AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, AND PRM/AFR
USAID for AFR EGAST, CTHOMPSON
DCHA/AA MHESS,
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN
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
ROME FOR USMISSION UN ROME
NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO
USEU FOR PBROWN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA
NSC FOR PMARCHAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
SUBJECT: FOOD SHORTAGES IN TIGRAY REGION DUE TO POOR 2008 RAINS
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. Local and regional officials, relief organizations, and affected
communities report deterioration of food security in southern and
eastern areas of Tigray Region. Failed belg rains and uneven meher
rains in 2008 resulted in poor crop production, insufficient feed
and pasture for livestock, and lack of water for human and animal
consumption, threatening populations' livelihoods and coping
mechanisms. Due to poor crop production and late and insufficient
relief response, Tigray Region health officials report increased
malnutrition rates among children under five years of age and
pregnant and lactating mothers.
2. Shortages of water and food for human and animal consumption,
malnutrition, and poor crop performance continue to constitute
significant challenges for individuals in Tigray that require
further attention. According to the October 2008 Government of the
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE) Revised Humanitarian
Requirements Document, more than 601,000 people outside the
Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) require at least three months
of assistance in affected areas of Tigray. USAID and humanitarian
organizations continue to closely monitor the situation and respond
to needs. End summary.
--------------
Introduction
--------------
3. From December 14 to 20, a USAID Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster
Assistance (USAID/OFDA) program monitor traveled to Tigray to assess
the impact of drought on food security, as well as the nutrition
status of children and pregnant and lactating mothers. The program
monitor met with regional and woreda officials, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs),and residents of eight drought-affected
woredas, including Atsbi Womberta, Sasei Tsada Emba, and Kilte
Awlalo in east Tigray and Hintalo-wajirat, Raya Azebo, Endamehoni,
Alaje, and Enderta in south Tigray.
--------------
Crop Production and Impact on Emergency Food Aid
--------------
4. Late, uneven, and poor 2008 rains resulted in inadequate overall
performance of long-cycle crops, such as maize, sorghum, and finger
millet, compared to the previous five years. According to the NGO
the Relief Society of Tigray (REST),long dry spells and late
planting resulted in cultivation of only 28 percent of usual planned
long-cycle crops.
5. During normal seasons, six woredas benefit from February to
March belg rains, constituting 20 percent of annual production.
However, planned crop production collapsed in 2008 due to belg rain
failure. According to REST, farmers in Ofla Woreda only produced
10.8 percent of planned crops, and production completely failed in
the five remaining belg-dependent woredas. Three of the
woredas--Raya Azebo, Hintalo-wajirat, and Alamata---are among the
ten Tigray Regional Early Warning, Response, and Food Security
Bureau-designated malnutrition "hot spot" woredas. Similarly, the
onset of the July to September kiremt rains in most affected woredas
was late compared to previous years, and moisture-related stress
resulting from poor amount and distribution of rainfall affected
short-cycle crops, such as barley, wheat, teff, and pulses.
6. On October 14, 2008, the GFDRE revised the number of people
requiring emergency assistance in Ethiopia from 4.6 million to 6.4
million people, including more than 601,000 individuals in Tigray
outside of the PSNP. In addition to supporting three months of food
rations, the Revised Humanitarian Requirements Document recommended
establishing nutrition centers, distributing animal feed, destocking
animals, and providing potable water through water tankering in
affected woredas. Subsequent meher seasonal assessments, which have
not yet been released, indicate that approximately the same number
of people will require assistance through March 2009.
7. From October to December 2008, Early Warning and Response
Department (EWRD) provided one to three months of food assistance to
individuals in Tigray. Through the November to December allocation,
REST is currently providing two months of food aid to approximately
145,000 people through the Joint Emergency Operation (JEOP).
However, the authorized relief rations only includes 10 kg of cereal
instead of a full 17.5 kg ration of cereal, oil, and pulses due to
limited grain reserve stocks. Although JEOP provided REST with the
full food basket for relief, the EWRD instructed REST to distribute
a 10 kg ration. Without the official release of meher assessment
results and EWRD emergency relief supplies allocations, vulnerable
individuals in Tigray will not receive assistance after
organizations exhaust December food allocations.
--------------
Livestock Production Concerns
--------------
8. In Tigray, livestock represent one of the main sources of
livelihood and income generation, constituting a significant portion
of a household's food and income and providing resiliency to
drought. For instance, in more prosperous households of Irob
Woreda, families earn 80 percent of income from livestock sales.
However, due to successive poor or failed rains, lowland areas of
Tigray are experiencing pronounced animal feed and water shortages,
causing weakened animals to walk long distances in search of water.
REST does not foresee potential feed source replenishment until belg
and azmera rains commence in February and April 2009, expected to
improve pasture and water availability in affected woredas until the
main July to September kiremt rains begin.
9. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and REST are providing
grass and concentrate to 12,900 out of an estimated 40,573
vulnerable animals in the three most-affected woredas of Raya Azebo,
Hintalo-wajirat, and Atsbi Womberta. According to REST and woreda
officials, households are unable to commercially destock livestock
in the local market due to lack of demand for animals in poor
visible condition.
--------------
Increasing Malnutrition Rates
--------------
10. Tigray woreda officials expressed concern regarding increased
malnutrition rates among children under five years of age and
pregnant and lactating mothers. Results from the October 2008
Regional Health Bureau (RHB) nutrition assessment indicated an
overall 9.6 percent increase in the global acute malnutrition (GAM)
rate and 1 percent increase in the severe acute malnutrition (SAM)
rate from the regional Enhanced Outreach Survey average in June
2008, increasing the GAM rate for children under five years of age
to 18 percent and SAM rate to nearly 2 percent. The assessment
included nearly 210,000 children aged 6 to 59 months and more than
37,000 pregnant and lactating mothers in 20 emergency nutrition hot
spots.
11. In addition, Atsbi Womberta Woreda health officials report an
increase in malnutrition rates from June to September 2008.
According to woreda health officials, the GAM rate increased from 8
percent to 19.9 percent, the SAM rate from less than 1 percent to
3.3 percent, and edema from zero to nearly 1 percent during this
time period. In response to malnutrition concerns in Tigray, RHB
and the Regional Early Warning and Food Security Bureau stressed the
need for the Emergency Nutrition Coordination Unit (ENCU) to conduct
a standard nutritional survey.
--------------
Water for Humans and Animals
--------------
12. The USAID/OFDA program monitor noted that ground water levels
had decreased considerably in several woredas, including Raya Azebo,
Atsbi Womberta, and Endeta. According to woreda officials, ponds
and springs are also dry, necessitating construction of new ponds
and springs and/or rehabilitation of existing water sources,
particularly in lowland communities bordering Afar Region. In
addition, REST noted the need for emergency boreholes in Raya Azebo
Woreda.
--------------
Future Concerns and Actions to Date
--------------
13. While regional government, NGO, and donor relief efforts have
helped stabilize the humanitarian situation in Tigray, continued
efforts are necessary to sustain food insecure individuals in the
coming months. Shortages of water and food for human and animal
consumption, malnutrition, and poor crop performance constitute
significant challenges for individuals in Tigray that require
further attention.
14. High prices and limited availability of animal feed may exhaust
coping mechanisms during the December to late June dry season in
Tigray. Farmers face an increasingly precarious situation, as
animals weaken from walking long distances in search of water and
individuals consume seeds stocks intended for cultivation. Combined
with anticipated food price increases during the dry season, this
situation threatens to erode coping mechanisms and endanger crop
cultivation during the subsequent rainy season.
15. In response to food security concerns, the UN World Food
Program is implementing emergency food aid, PSNP, and targeted
supplementary feeding programs in Tigray. In addition, the NGO
Concern is treating moderate and severe acute malnutrition in
federal and regional ENCU-designated priority woredas in Tigray
through a USAID/OFDA grant. USAID/OFDA will continue to monitor the
situation in Tigray and report on humanitarian conditions. In
addition, the U.S. Ambassador and USAID Mission Director plan to
travel to Tigray next month to further assess the situation and
demonstrate support for emergency feeding programs.
YAMAMOTO