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WFP Ethiopia Drought Emergency Situation Report #14, 1-30 November 2016

Countries
Ethiopia
Sources
WFP
Publication date

In Numbers

9.7 million people in need of food assistance.

7.1 million people targeted in the 2016 joint WFP -Government of Ethiopia response.

US$ 46 million is required for emergency relief, nutrition and PSNP for the December 2016 to May 2017 period.

Highlights

  • The Food Cluster has estimated that 4.9 million people in southern Somali, southern parts of Oromia, and SNNPR affected by the new emerging drought, and those in the highland not fully recovered from the El Niño drought will be in need of food assistance in 2017.

  • To cover the gap between Round 9 and the bridging round in January 2017 in the Somali region, WFP is implementing an extra round of relief assistance to 1 million people affected by the new emerging drought in priority woredas

Situation Update

  • The annual Meher assessement started in mid November and is ongoing. The findings will feed into the 2017 Humanitarian Requirements Documents (HRD), identifying the humanitarian requirements and response in 2017. The HRD is scheduled to be launched at the beginning of next year.

  • To prepare the humanitarian community and inform donors in advance of the 2017 HRD, the clusters - coordinated by OCHA - have estimated next year’s humanitarian needs based on available secondary information. The results of this exercise will be used to implement emergency response activities as of January 2017.

  • The Food Cluster has estimated that 4.9 million people will be in need of food assistance next year. This figure include people affected by the new emerging drought in the southern belt of Ethiopia - particularly affecting southern Somali, southern parts of Oromia and SNNPR - and people in the highland not fully recovered from the El Niño drought.

  • The October to December pastoral rainfall in southern pastoral areas in Oromia, SNNPR and dyer receiving zones in the Somali regions has failed to regenerate pasture and replenish water.
    After four weeks of delay, only scanty showers were received in a few areas. In addition to unusual livestock migration, there have been reports of livestock deaths in Oromia and Somali regions. As a result, food security has started to deteriorate and is expected to worsen in the upcoming dry period between January and March. Water for human and livestock is a pressing need, particularly in birka and well dependent areas.

  • The 2016 Meher season, the June to September rains, performed well in most parts of the country. The overall production outlook is favorable, while production will be below average in areas that experienced drier than normal conditions between July and midSeptember.
    These areas include lowlands of central Oromia, and some woredas in SNNPR.
    The current unseasonal frost and rain is harmful for crops in the field. The Meher harvests have already started across the country, and will bring down food insecurity levels in crop producing areas. The harvest is also contributing to seasonal price declines for some key cereals.

  • Sitti zone in Somali region and most of Afar, specially the southern part will continue to face serious food shortages due to the reduced livestock herd size in the 2015/2016 droughts and because they are in the dry season now.