(UNDP) The situation in Borena zone (western Ethiopia) with regard to animal health, food security and water for human and animal consumption is deteriorating on a daily basis. The extended dry season follows insufficient rainfall during the hagaya rain (October-December) and conditions have been exacerbated by overstocking of livestock and encroachment of land by farms and bush trees. Coping mechanisms are stretched to breaking point and pastoralist communities, children, the elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS are particularly vulnerable to livelihood and health risks.
While conditions in Borena do not currently fall under classification of a full scale drought there is a risk that poor performance of the upcoming ganna rains will have a serious impact upon human health, animal welfare and livelihoods in the region. Prompt and coordinated intervention by government and humanitarian partners could limit the impact upon human life, health and livelihoods in the region. Priority needs are water for human and livestock consumption, animal feed provision to mother cows and calves and animal health services. Specific programmaticinterventions include; water tankering, water rationing, refilling reservoirs and cisterns serving communities and schools and de-worming. Emerging priority action areas include; contingency planning for the anticipated poorly performing ganna rains, assessment of health risks associated with extended dry season and support to address health related issues with particular focus on vulnerable groups and improved coordination and information sharing between federal, regional and zonal authorities, UN agencies and humanitarian partners.
Assessment missions by UN agencies and humanitarian partners have begun to document the early signs and direct consequences of the extended dry season for water availability, animal health and food security in the region. According to woreda officials in Arero, limited availability of water for animal consumption is contributing to poor health of livestock and reported cases of livestock diseases including; Anthrax, black leg, bloody diarrhea and FMD. The number of reported livestock death is increasing on a daily basis. The Sub-Regional office WFP has registered 4,660 livestock deaths since mid-February. Access to food supplies from local markets is becoming increasingly difficult due to increased prices. Recent reports from the zone indicate that the price of maize has trebled from 100 to 300 Birr per quintal.
Death and poor health conditions of livestock, dwindling water supplies and ongoing human disease outbreaks are having a negative impact upon health, nutrition and wellbeing in the region. Poor animal health is affecting child nutrition levels due to zero milk production in some woredas. Health officials from the Regional Health Bureau, UNICEF and WHO are responding to outbreak of measles in some woredas of Guji zone including Dimtu Hamballa, Qarca and Oddo Shakkiso and in Abaya, Bule Hora, Dugda Dawa and Gelana woredas in Borena zone. WHO have recorded an increased incidence of malaria compared to recorded cases last season in
Abaya, Bule Hora, Dugda Dawa and Gelena woredas. Government, UN agencies and humanitarian partners are preparing for disease outbreaks associated with extended dry season periods and early onset of drought including; increase in water-borne diseases and pulmonary diseases. Children, the elderly and people living with HIV/AIDS are particularly vulnerable to infection and impact of livestock death on nutrition. Pastoralist communities are migrating to the west towards the border with the SNNPR and south-east in the direction of Welenso (Weliso) in search of water and grazing land for livestock. Schools are closing because of low, in some cases empty, water supplies and attendance rates have fallen by as much as 14 percent in Dire, Dhas, Dillo and Miyo.
Areas affected by the current crisis include; the lowland woredas of Borena zone (Arero, Dhas, Dillo, Miyo, Moyale, and parts of Teltele and Yabelo). Early reports from UN agencies and humanitarian partners suggest that conditions and vulnerability levels are similar in neighbouring areas as follows; Liben woreda of Guji zone, lowland woredas of Bale zone (Dawwe Sarari, Dawwe Qaccan, Laga Hidha/Beltu, Raytu, Meda Welabu) and some woredas of East Haraghe zone (Gola Oda, Mayyu, Midhaga, Chinaksen, Gursum-Borale, Babile-Darere Arba).
Fidele Sarasso, Humanitarian Coordinator fidele.sarassoro@undp.org Tel.: 251-11-5444483
Vincent Lelei Head of Office, OCHA lelei@un.org Tel.: 251-11-5444248
Gregory Beals Senior Information Officer, OCHA beals@un.org Tel.: 251-11-5444162
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