ETHIOPIA: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION DETERIORATING

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 001556 STATE DEPARTMENT AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, AND PRM/AFR USAID for AFR EGAST, CTHOMPSON DCHA/AA SCROMER DCHA/OFDA PMORRIS, 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 USMISSION UN ROME FOR RNEWBERG NEW YORK FOR DMERCADO USEU FOR PBROWN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA NSC FOR CPRATT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: HUMANITARIAN SITUATION DETERIORATING REF: Addis Ababa 1113 Addis Ababa 1348 Addis Ababa 1373 Addis Ababa 1498 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. The humanitarian situation in large parts of Ethiopia is deteriorating due to successive seasons of failed rains evidenced by increased food insecurity and subsequent upward spikes in admissions of children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) to therapeutic feeding centers. The key indicator for a more widespread deterioration will be the performance of the kiremt (summer) rains which account for approximately 90 percent of total crop production. Current analyses indicate that the kiremt rains are projected to be normal to below-normal in the majority of the country negatively affecting many areas already food insecure. ¶2. Although the belg (spring) crop assessment is currently underway and results are not expected for at least a month, informal reports from the field indicate that the rains were poor and sporadic, thus negatively impacting belg crop production as well as planting for the main harvest (meher) in October - January. ¶3. The humanitarian community estimates that a minimum of 6.6 million people are currently in need of relief food aid (Reftel Addis 1498),in contrast to the Government of Ethiopia's (GoE) official figure of 4.9 million. These figures do not include the 7.5 million people currently receiving assistance through the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). Aggravating factors include the projected United Nations World Food Program (WFP) relief food pipeline break in mid-July, infestation of locusts, high incidence of malaria, expected increases in the number of cholera (acute watery diarrhea) cases and the first confirmed cases of H1NI. END SUMMARY. -------------- Belg (Spring) Rainfall Pattern -------------- ¶4. The belg rains were poor or failed over large areas of Ethiopia, according to reports from the GoE National Meteorological Agency (NMA) and the USAID-supported Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET). In the southern Somali Region, the rains failed in almost all of Gode, Afder and Liban Zones, and underperformed significantly in Warder Zone. FEWS NET reports poor belg performance in the northeastern areas of Amhara which are almost completely dependent on the belg crop production. Belg rains were below normal in the lowlands of Oromiya region and southern parts of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR). The spring rains (sugum) in Afar and northern Somali Region were poor and follow three consecutive seasons of similar inadequate rainfall. -------------- The Importance of the Belg Rains -------------- -- On Belg Crop Production -- ¶5. Areas which are almost solely dependent on belg crop production already face food insecurity manifested by increased admissions to Outpatient Therapeutic Feeding Programs (OTPs) of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM). These areas include the northeastern highlands of Amhara; the southern agro-pastoral areas of Somali Region and neighboring lowlands of Oromiya Region; and SNNPR. ¶6. Zones in eastern SNNPR, including Wolayta, Kembata Tembaro, and Hadiya depend on belg rains for the production of green maize harvested in June. FEWS NET reports that due to delayed planting and erratic performance of the belg rains, the hunger months will now extend at least two months to August/September. -- On Meher Crop Production -- ¶7. The meher harvest (October to January) which accounts for over ninety percent of total crop production is highly dependent on the belg rains for preparation of land and planting of long cycle, high-yielding crops such as maize and sorghum that normally account for up to 50 percent of total annual production. Due to the poor/failed belg rains, many farmers resorted to planting lower yielding short-cycle crops. As a result, FEWS NET anticipates reduced meher crop production. Belg rains are also needed for seed setting and flowering of coffee, the main national export commodity. -------------- -- Impact of Failed/Poor Belg Rains On Nutritional Status -------------- -- ¶8. Admission rates to OTPs have already risen dramatically in certain sweet potato-dependent areas of SNNPR (Reftel 1373) and similar scenarios are unfolding in parts of Oromiya, Tigray and Somali Regions. USAID/OFDA partner GOAL has been requested by the Oromiya Regional Health Bureau (RHB) to open OTPs in four West Hararghe woredas. GOAL reports that "woreda officials are saying openly that they will leave the area unless there is an urgent intervention as they are afraid of the people's response if nothing is done." GOAL is also currently fielding requests from the RHB to open OTPs in Amhara Region. ¶9. Unofficial reports from members of the multi-agency nutrition survey conducted in seven livelihood zones of the Somali Region indicate rates of global acute malnutrition (GAM) ranging from 14.5 to 21.9 percent. (Comment: While the emergency GAM threshold is 15 percent, pastoralists in the Somali Region typically exhibit a high GAM baseline. However, it is worrisome that the surveys were conducted at a time when rates should be at their lowest point for the year. End Comment). Rates are expected to spike upwards as much of Somali Region moves through the four-month dry season. -------------- Normal Kiremt (Summer) Rains Are Critical -------------- ¶10. Normal kiremt rains will be essential to prevent broad swaths of Ethiopia from experiencing a food security crisis especially considering that many areas experienced poor kiremt rains in 2008. However recent National Meteorological Agency reports predict normal to below-normal rainfall in eastern and northwestern crop producing areas. If this occurs, this would be the second consecutive season of below normal production in the eastern meher cropping areas. -------------- Aggravating Factors -------------- ¶11. WFP reports that the relief food pipeline will break in mid-July. (Comment: Without food at the household level, children discharged from OTPs will quickly relapse into severe acute malnutrition. End Comment). The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that locust swarms have been confirmed in seven regions, including areas where there is no previous record of infestation. Incidence of malaria is above normal in several locations already this year and there could be a significant malaria spike per the cyclical trend in country. Outbreaks of cholera, according to UN OCHA, have been reported in Somali, SNNP and Oromiya regions and the caseload is expected to increase as the kiremt rains begin. ¶12. The price of white maize, the cereal most widely consumed by the poor, has fallen slightly, but remains 72 percent higher compared to the same time period (May) in 2008. Recent conflict over resources in several areas of the country has led to an estimated 200,000 internally displaced persons. The first cases of H1N1 have been confirmed in the country, and if there is an increase in the severity morbidity rates could quickly increase leading to disruption in many sectors. All of these factors are exacerbated by the GoE reluctance to acknowledge higher numbers than the current figure of 4.9 million people in need of food aid. -------------- USAID/Ethiopia and USAID/OFDA Response -------------- ¶13. USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) has provided more than $38 million in humanitarian assistance in FY 2009 including funding for nutrition programs through NGOs GOAL, IMC and CONCERN. ¶14. USAID/Ethiopia is closely monitoring the humanitarian food situation and USAID's Office of Food For Peace (FFP) provided $165 million in relief food assistance in FY 2009. The majority of these resources has gone to WFP to provide emergency food relief and $60 million has funded a consortium of NGOs providing emergency food assistance. This complements the USAID/FFP contribution of approximately $150 million annually to the GoE's multi-donor supported Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) which provides six months of predictable transfers to highly food insecure populations. USAID/Ethiopia and USAID/OFDA collaborate and leverage each others' resources and play lead roles in various levels of donor, NGO and GoE coordination forums. -------------- CONCLUSION -------------- ¶15. Due to failed/poor belg rains much of Ethiopia will continue to experience deepening food insecurity and rising malnutrition rates over the next few months. Failed/poor rains have not only negatively affected belg crop production but will also negatively impact the yields from the meher harvest in October - December. ¶16. FEWS NET, based on multiple sources, is predicting normal to below-normal kiremt rains. If these primary summer rains are below normal or fail, a much worse food insecurity situation accompanied by a continued and rapid rise in the number of severely malnourished children is certain to occur. USAID/Ethiopia and USAID/OFDA will continue to coordinate and leverage resources; continue to participate in and lead coordination efforts within the humanitarian community; and, continue to review other funding requests for appropriate and effective relief assistance. YAMAMOTO