Humanitarian Requirements Document Update
The Humanitarian Requirements Document covering the second half of 2013 was officially launched on 14 August.
The document identifies food and non-foods requirements based on the findings of the multi-agency and multi-sector national needs assessment. The assessment, conducted from 15 June to 30 June, covered areas that receive short belg (mid-February to May) rains, as well as agro-pastoralist areas in the eastern and southern lowlands that receive gu/ganna/sugum (March to June) rains.
The document identifies an estimated 2.7 million people that will require relief food assistance in Oromia (897,332 people), Somali (691,970), Amhara (548,060), Tigray (321,470), Afar (152,620), Dire Dawa (65,510), SNNP (17,320) and Harari (8,030). For more information, contact ocha-eth@un.org
Relief Food Update
As of 14 August, the first round of relief food distribution reached 97 per cent, the second round distribution stood at 86 per cent and the third round at 51 per cent. The fourth round distribution has started in Amhara (63 per cent), Oromia (2 per cent) and Tigray (26 per cent) regions, while dispatch continues with 30 per cent of the fourth round allocation dispatched as of the same date. Unlike the second and third rounds, the fourth round allocation includes a full food basket and food ration. Dispatch of the fifth round relief food is expected to start in the first week of September.
Meanwhile, the dispatch of the Productive Safety Net Programme (PSNP) food allocation for May stood at 84 per cent and that of June at 69 per cent. For more information, contract wfp.addisababa@wfp.org
WASH Update
National water trucking needs further decreased to 22 trucks this week, down from 23 trucks last week and 29 trucks the week before. The decrease was registered in Tigray region. At present, the Government and WASH partners are supporting the operation of 20 trucks in Afar (all 12 trucks requested) region benefiting some 22,922 people, and Tigray (eight of the 10 trucks requested) region benefiting an estimated 37,439 people. The trucking needs in Shire town (two trucks) have yet to be met.
Similarly in Somali region, the water trucking needs in Adadle and Kebridehar woredas identified by the rapid assessment team two weeks ago have yet to be met. The team was deployed to Korahe zone following reports of water shortages. For more information, contact awesterbeek@unicef.org
Refugee Update
Over the past week, some 25 new arrivals were registered in Raad of Dimma woreda in Agnewak zone, Gambella region, bringing the total number of asylum seekers in Raad to 5,025 people. A larger influx is expected from Pibor County of Jonglei State, South Sudan once the rainy season ends and roads become passable. The Government refugee agency, ARRA, and UNHCR are expediting the opening of the newly identified Merkez camp in Okugo, some 5.5km from Dimma town. Upon completion, the camp will accommodate up to 24,000 people. Meanwhile, food and non-food assistance are being provided to the new arrivals. Given the high risk of malaria and diarrhoeal diseases during this kiremt season, UNHCR, in collaboration with MSF-France and community health workers, is improving the hygienic practice amongst the asylum seekers and the sanitation in the settlement. Subsequently, the incidence of malaria and diarrhoeal diseases are decreasing.
Also in Gambella, as of 12 August, 5,483 of the 6,000 refugees planned to be relocated this year were transferred from Wanthowa woreda to Pugnido camp. More than 16,000 people from South Sudan had been living with host communities in Wanthowa woreda of Nuer zone for over a year.
In Somali region, a little over 1,000 Somali refugees were registered in Dollo Ado in July, a stable influx if compared to 955 new arrivals in June. As of 12 August, the total refugee population in the five Dollo Ado camps reached 197,474.
UNHCR and the Refugee Housing Unit are piloting 26 new refugee shelters in Hilaweyn and Kobe camps. The shelters are reportedly better in quality, durability and comfort. For more information, contact: gegziabk@unhcr.org