AFAR PASTORALIST DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

QAFAR DACARSITTO DADALIH EGLA

P.O. Box 592 Code 1,110

Addis Ababa

afarpda@yahoo.com, afarpastoral@ethionet.et,www.apdaethiopia.org

(251) 011 5159787 (251) 0911 642575/ 0911 246639

Fax (251) 011 5538820 Field Office, Logya (25133) 5500002

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Update on the Looming Critical Situation In Afar Region

 

April 4th 2008

 

Information for this update is collected from early warning meeting chaired by the DPP & FSB on April 4th as well as from the APDA quarterly meeting held March 31st to April 4th that heard reports from 18 woredas of the region representative of all 5 zones.

 

In summary:

Today the Regional Government met with NGOs and then in a second meeting chaired by the Regional Vice President met with all pertinent Bureau Heads and APDA’s Executive Director to decide on a response plan, the Vice President having visited Eli Daar where thirst and hunger is apparent. The government called on NGOs to assist as far as possible to avert the growing emergency in the Region. Form its side the government has activated an emergency fund for food assistance. The metrological prediction is that the region will only get 25% of the expected rain in this season of short rains (March to April). Affected areas are now almost 7 months without any rain. To date, there have been 2 storms on April 2nd: one in the Awash vicinity in the south of the region and one in Isseylu, Eli Daar. All districts aside from Zone 5 are affected:

-          There is extreme thirst in Eli Daar and Kori Zone 1 with people going up to 24 hours to collect water; northern Awra, parts of Yallo and Burka district in Uwwa Zone 4; Barahale, Dallol, parts of Konnaba in Zone 2 all report thirst that has stopped education, displaced people and is causing daily concern.

-          All districts report acute household food problems: high grain prices, lack of grain in the market, poor animal prices for weak animals being brought to the market and no relief food assistance until this week. (See below)  APDA health workers brought reports of acute malnutrition as detected from MUAC rapid assessment in Eli Daar, Sifra, Assayita, ‘Adda’ar, Kori, Awra, Goolina, Konnaba, Uwwa and Gawwaani. Aside from infant malnutrition, they reported malnutrition in pregnant and lactating mothers.

-          Animal diseases are now extremely widespread affecting all animals including camels. Reports of animals dying from Afdeera, Konnaba, Geega, Eli Daar, Uwwa, Teeru. Disease types are multiple and part of a starvation situation with no pasture and very limited water supply.

-          Whole communities are migrating to the roadsides in search of water and food assistance. Some 78 households from Guluble Af in Kori have come into Logya; 50 households from Maska have gone to Guyah in search of water; people in Konnaba who have not moved in 4 years are now dispersing into the hills adjacent to Tigray in search of water away from Alheena, Feris Dage and Adedagena. 

1.                       Thirst

The government reports an extremely dangerous situation in Eli Daar where three pumps of the 4 wells in Su’ula supplying the north of the woreda have broken. Being near the border, the military and the community share the same supply. They are desperately trying to repair the broken pumps. As of one week, APDA is funding 2 trucks to deliver water to communities on the Eli Daar to Assab roadway and the government is funding one truck taking water to the Kori communities on the road going north to Afdeera.

 

Further need:

-          At least a further truck to assist communities in Eli Daar and two in the Kori district to communities in Musle/ Lubak Daa and Ta’asuli, Guluble Af to bring them out of danger

-          Water trucks in Awra (Finto), Yallo and Barahale

-          Immediate repair of broken water wells and pumps

 

2.                       Human food and medication

The government has just delivered grain to feed 472,209 people and plans to assist a further 671,509 people in the immediate future with grain, oil and pulses.

 

APDA health workers report that whooping cough, pneumonia is currently prevalent in parts of Awra, Teeru, Mille. AWD reportedly killed 2 people in Goolina in mid- March.

 

Further need:

-          APDA health workers require baby food (cerefam) to give to identified acutely malnourished under 2 year olds and lentils for malnourished pregnant and lactating mothers.

-          Human medicines to respond to the community with such poor nutrition.

 

3.                       Animal diseases

The government is appealing for both animal - medicines and animal feed as well as assistance to de-stock the community herd as far as possible.

 

APDA therefore is appealing to any organization that can assist or facilitate assistance and from its part, is eager to collaborate in any way to make this immediately possible.

 

Further information is expected to be available fro the regional government next week after they make a further assessment.