Relief Prevention by the Joint Relief Partnership (JRP)
(Supported by the ACT and CARITAS Internationalis Networks)

Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC)
Ethiopian Catholic Church (ECC)
Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Lutheran World Federation (LWF)

Introduction

This is the 3rd of the bi-monthly situation reports. The first and the second reports were sent out on June 12 and June 30,2000 respectively. Although items mentioned in this report are a follow-up on those of the 1st and 2nd reports - hence should have been shorter - this report is nevertheless long due to the lengthy time that has passed between the last Sitrep and this one.

1.1 The JRP

• The five JRP members have finalised and approved the revised "Memorandum of Understanding" (MoU) between JRP and ACT International. The JRP Forum represents an extension of formal partnership to ACT members, and potentially other members, not represented in the JRP. The JRP Forum is intended to strengthen church related partnerships and improve their emergency response mechanisms. The JRP and JRP Forum will therefore be representative of various church bodies and related agencies involved in the emergency response - this is considered to be one of the most successful ecumenical partnerships responding to humanitarian emergency.
• The JRP has recruited an Information Office, Ms. Emrakeb Assefa. The officer is expected to ensure the timely and accurate preparation of the Sitreps and other required information. In addition ACT's coordination office in Geneva has assisted by finding Ms. Susan Fallon for a short-term assignment to assist the setting up of the JRP Information Desk and give orientation to the local counterpart beginning August 11, 2000. Christian Aid seconded the expatriate information officer.
• The JRP revised appeal has yet to be finalised due to revised figures recently available from the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee (DPPC) – see below for details.

1.2 Food aid update

At the beginning of August the DPPC released a revised estimate of the number of people requiring food aid. In addition to the original 8.1 million people identified [Footnote: 7.5 million due to drought caused food shortages; 0.6 million ISP's] in the January appeal, there would be over 3 million additional needy people mainly due to failure of this year's Belg rains [Footnote: Short rains which normally occur form mid-February to mid-April. The Belg crop accounts for 5-10% of the total national food production.]. The additional relief beneficiaries due to this year's belg failure are 3,060,325 and the total number of relief beneficiaries (due to drought induced crop failures) as of July until the end of the year is 10,529,962.

The additional food assistance now required is about 495,307 MT. However part of this requirement maybe made available from the food pledged as a result of the January appeal - if all pledges are delivered (total of 808,515 MT). This is because distribution rations in the last few months were reduced in some areas from 15 kg of grain to 12.5 kg per person per month [Footnote: Due to continually delays with food pledges and therefore concerns of shortages, grain rations have been cut in some areas. This ration cut has not been consistent in all areas]. The additional food that now needs to be appealed for is estimated to be in the range of 350,000 - 400,000 MT.

Regional Breakdown of people Needing food assistance (July-December 2000)

1.3 Weather patterns

Field reports from the regions and data from National Meteorological Survey Authority indicate all but the western part of the country had mixed rainfall patterns during May and June 2000. The distribution and intensity of the rains were uneven, resulting in some areas recording above normal rainfall, others recording below normal rainfall, and some areas with little or no rainfall.

May to June rainfall patterns (excluding the western region):

- Early May, normal rainfall for most parts.

- Mid May to the end of May normal rainfall continued in the regions of Gambella, Benshangul Gumuz, western parts of Oromiya, Amhara and Tigray, but deteriorated to below average elsewhere.

- Early June, rainfall deteriorated in Benshangul Gumuz, western parts of Oromiya and Amhara Regions.

- By mid June dry weather dominated in almost all parts.

EU/USAID field reports however, indicated improved rainfall condition as of the end of June, with the exception of southern Tigray, Afar, eastern Amhara, northeastern SNNPR and most parts of eastern Oromiya. It is hoped that a general weakness in the Indian Ocean system will improve the rainfall situation in these eastern parts of the country.

1.4 Planting patterns

This year due to the extensive preparation of land in late April and early May, planting has been maximized. Long cycle crops of maize and sorghum were planted, as normal, by the end of May (with some lowland areas continuing planting these crops into June). Over most parts of the country, planting wheat and barley began in June as normal. June also saw the regular land preparation for planting teff.

Irregular rainfall in the first half of June in the eastern lowlands of South Tigray, North Wello, South Wello, North Shewa and Oromiya Zones caused severe moisture stress on the young maize and sorghum plants. Further planting of these crops was therefore disrupted. However, it is anticipated that many of the crops will have survived and planting will have resumed in late June.

1.5 Food pledges country wide (relief only)

As of August 10, total pledges stand at 697,118 MT of cereals, 2,748 MT of Veg. Oil and 37,886 MT of supp. food. The grand total is 737,752 MT, out of which the actual delivery stands only at 376,742 MT or 47% as of second week of August.

1.6 Logistics

Distribution capacity of DPPC’s national transport committee from the port of Djibouti to the eight primary distribution points is running efficiently, fluctuating between 4,000 to 1,500 MT per day. WFP is making available additional 210 trucks, out of which some 150 trucks have already started operating.

2.1 Status of pledges

2.1.1 Food items
In addition to the confirmed pledges of 83,175 MT reported in Sitrep no. 2, the 6,953 EU allocations to the JRP have been confirmed, bringing the pledges to 89,852 MT.

In the JRP appeal for 2000 (prior to the DPPC's revised figures), it is proposed to provide emergency relief to 765,195 vulnerable people, covering about 10% of the total need in Ethiopia.

JRP's total appeal for the year 2000 based on the non-revised DPPC appeal is for 102,707 MT of assorted food (Grain 90,623, Veg. Oil 3,022 & supp. food 9,062). The shortfall as of July 28 is 12,965 MT of assorted food (Grain 9,358, Veg. Oil 1,285 & supp. food 2,322).

2.1.2 Financial contributions
Christian Aid made a grant of GBP 5,000 (US$ 8,000) to EECMY, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Dutch Interchurch Aid for a nutritional survey in the Kuraz and Hamer Bena woredas of South Omo Zone in the Southern (SNNPR) Region, which was completed in May. This was one of a number of surveys completed in an area that lacked up to date nutritional data.

GBP 50,000 from Christian Aid for 139.5 MT seed purchase for Ginir woreda (Bale zone) to be distributed by EECMY.

2.2 Progress on implementation

NCA/EECMY distributed the last of their grain stocks in June. There are no new stocks expected in the coming months.

Danchurch Aid - 780 MT maize and 78 MT famix was distributed by EECMY/LWF in May in Bale and Borena zones of Oromia region. [Footnote: Ethiopia is split into regions, then zones, and then woredas - JRP information office can provide distribution details by woreda if required.]

ACT shipment - 5,000 MT wheat – 3,333.4 MT has already been distributed in Bale and Borena by EECMY/LWF; distribution of remainder continues till the end of August.

EU allocation – 7,025 MT grain and 340 MT supplementary foods for Amhara and Oromia regions. Distribution was delayed in June because of inability to get a loan from the Ethiopian Food Security Reserve Administration (EFSRA) due to stock shortage. An initial loan of 2,269 MT was secured in time to start distribution in Wag Hamra zone on 1 August by EECMY/LWF. This distribution will continue until October.

A second loan of 2,031 MT from EFSRA has now been secured and distribution will start this month by EECMY/LWF in N.Shewa, E.Hararghe and Borena, continuing for 3 months.

The remaining balance of 2,725 MT will be made available by the EFSRA once the total of the second loan has been transported from the primary stores to secondary distribution points by EECMY/LWF. Distribution will be in E.Hararghe and Borena.

EU allocation – a further EU allocation of 6,953 has been pledged. EECMY/LWF have a tentative plan in place for its distribution, which is planned for November and December 2000.

The Mennonite Mission in Ethiopia received 2,831 MT grain from the Canadian Food Grain Bank at the end of June. This grain was given to JRP and is being distributed in August by EECMY/NCA/MME.

Finnchurch Aid - 100 MT BP-5 high-energy biscuits. Arrived Addis last week of July. 50% has been reserved by the JRP for emergencies. 40% allocated to EECMY/LWF supplementary feeding centres in Borena, Afder and South Omo. 10% allocated to ECS/CRS supplementary feeding centre in South Tigray.

Finnchurch Aid – Local purchase of 1,100 MT Famix. 800 MT is allocated for areas with malnourished children for distribution. 300 MT is reserved for future allocation as per needed.

800 MT distributions as follows:

330 MT – South Tigray by Adigrat Catholic Secretariat (ADCS)/Mekele.
240 MT – EECMY/NCA supplementary feeding centers - Borena, Afder, Bale & S.Omo
88 MT – Borena and Bale by EECMY/LWF
142 MT – Afder by EECMY.

USAID/EOC - EOC received 3,174 MT out of the USAID's 1st Allocation of 14,000 MT of assorted food (2,536.85 MT wheat, 153.23 MT Veg. oil and 484.72 MT supp. food) through CRS/JRP for three months ration up to September. The food was distributed in the weredas of Janamora and Debark of North Gondor to 64,183 beneficiaries.

However, due to the bad road condition in Chenek wereda, transportation was hampered with only 9,778 beneficiaries receiving supp. food while 17,809 beneficiaries receiving Veg. oil, bringing the total MT of assorted food ration distributed to the people to only 2,546 MT instead.

USAID has given CRS 9,149 MT for the JRP appeal. This is a second allocation from USAID to the JRP appeal for distribution in August. This is already in place for the same sites covered from July.

USAID’s third allocation to JRP through CRS of 38,535 MT is to be distributed September – December.

38,535 MT Distributions as follows:

5,651 MT - South Tigray by ADCS/Mekele
15,624 MT - North Wollo by EECMY/LWF
2,680 MT - South Wollo by EOC
8,746 MT - North Gondor by EOC
5,834 MT - E. Hararghe by Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS)

Vatican/Caritas Network - 6,600 MT of wheat is being purchased in Europe and a vessel is due to arrive end of August to be distributed as of September by ADCS/Mekele.

Christian Aid/ACT has obtained a grant of GBP 892,448 from the British Government (Department for International Development – DFID) to supply 2,760 MT of maize and 96 MT of famix through EECMY in Meda Welabu woreda in Bale Zone of Oromiya Region. Purchase has been made locally and distribution by EECMY will last for up to 5 months (August to December 2000). In conjunction with the distribution a household food economy survey will be carried out in August 2000 and January 2001.

Christian Aid/ACT - 450 MT maize purchased locally for Rayitu woreda, Bale zone, distribution started 15 August by EECMY/LWF.

CRS conducted monitoring and on-the-job training at 15 emergency centers of LWF/EECMY in North Wollo, ADCS in South Tigray and EOC in North Gondor in July.

The JRP provides emergency humanitarian relief in Ethiopia through a partnership of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Ethiopian Catholic Church, Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Catholic Relief Services and Lutheran World Federation. The JRP partnership is extended through the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International and Caritas Internationalis networks.