JRP Information Desk, Addis Ababa

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

1. General Situation

As per the revised Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) appeal, total requirements for the year 2000 (Jan-Dec) amount to 1,219,070mt of grain and 118,625mt of non-grain (supp. food and vegetable oil). DPPC/WFP say that against this revised appeal, there are still remaining shortfalls of 261,510mt of grain and 45,497mt of non-grain.

Concerning grain in the country, there are sufficient stocks on hand to meet needs until the end of the year. However, this is only possible because delays in food availability during the first quarter have meant that requirements were not met. As it is not possible to feed people retroactively, this has provided a small cushion of resources to feed people now.

Nevertheless, there will be very limited stocks available for carry-over into next year. It is therefore crucial that donors commit to meeting the outstanding shortfalls under DPPC's revised appeal in order to ensure that there are sufficient stocks available to meet needs in the first quarter of next year.

Weather prospect for October to December is one of hope. It is now the end of the main growing season in Ethiopia. The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) gradually retreats from the northeast to southwest, until it moves beyond Ethiopia's borders in late November. In October and November, the ITCZ is normally positioned over the southern lowlands of the country where it produces rains. These rains are extremely important to the replenishment of pasture and water in the pastoral areas of South Omo Zone, SNNPR, Borena Zone, Oromiya Region, and most of the southern Somali Region.

This year the withdrawal of rainfall from the north has been delayed over one month. This is extremely beneficial, as the season started late in the north and east of the country delaying planting. The crops required rainfall through September to reach maturity. But the rains should stop to prevail beyond the 10th October; otherwise crop yields would drop, as fragile cereal grains, especially teff, would be destroyed. However, reports from the fields indicate there are some isolated cases of rain in these areas.

In southern and southeastern pastoral areas of South Omo Zone, widespread seasonable rains were observed in the middle of September and until late October. If current rains are adequate in the crop dependent areas of South Omo Zone, and the special weredas of Konso, Derashe and Burji, people will plant short cycle crops, such as teff, sweet potato and beans, the harvest of which would improve the food security situation there in 2001.

Present areas needing continued food assistance are found a.o. in Somali region, in Fik and Afder/Liben zones as well as East and West Harerghe .

Overall logistics continue to be greatly improved. 1,100 trucks are currently operating under the WFP FATS (Food Aid Transport System). This increase is necessary in order to handle the expected high volume of incoming shipments for WFP and other donors.

The status of the confirmed food pledges to the JRP is now 93,048Mt of assorted food. The newest pledge is from the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) of 700Mt of maize. Actual distribution in JRP areas of operation for the months of May to August was 24,711Mt of assorted food. However, this figure does not indicate the total distribution operation of JRP, as it is not inclusive of the distributions made since August (Sept.-Oct.).

JRP members are also discussing on how to surmount problems encountered with the increasing instances of earmarked assistance (direct assistance to areas selected by donors themselves) over the last few years. The members have noted that such assistance bypasses the existing arrangements and are against the principles of the JRP. It is also causing great concern as it might weaken the partnership that took so much effort to build and consolidate. The JRP is therefore recommending that such earmarked assistance be discontinued and is encouraging that assistance be channelled through the JRP " food pool" .

JRP partners and ACT members and associates present in Ethiopia held a meeting of the JRP Forum on Oct. 27, 2000. During the meeting, they agreed to finalise the Terms of Reference that will guide their meetings. They also discussed matters relating to JRP's FY2000 food operations and the outlook for the year 2001.

JRP programmers are discussing ways and means of standardising the reporting formats for 2001FY. This way, the members will have a uniform reporting system.

Amhara
In the four zones of the Amhara Region (N. Wollo and N. Gondor, Wag Hamera and N. Shewa) JRP partners have distributed a total of 13,217Mt assorted food over a period of 4 months (May-August). EOC and EECMY/LWF handled the distribution.

EOC has requested CRS, the consignee of USAID food, for the possible reallocation of food from possible carry-over stocks. EOC is intending to assist 81,345 people in South Gondar in the 2 centers of Kemkem and Fogera for 3 months (Oct.–Dec 2000). However, since the allocation is not yet made, the distribution will then be for two months (Nov.-Dec.)

EOC has appealed for an additional five rub halls for its three distribution centers in N. Gondor and the two new centers in South Gondor.

The 1.2 million Birr EOC has received from ACT international will locally purchase fertilizer, selected seeds and tools for the two weredas of Debark and Janamora beneficiaries in North Gondar. As the fund was received in October when the planting meher season had already passed, EOC will request ACT for agreement to postpone the distribution up to February 2001 for the belg-planting season.

Oromiya
During the period of May-August, JRP partners have distributed 6,414Mt of assorted food in Bale, Borena and East Hararghe zones. Beneficiaries in Bale and Borena did not receive any vegetable oil ration for the said period.

Hararghe Catholic Secretariat (HCS) is distributing food rations from the USAID allocation to 71,578 beneficiaries in Fedis, Meta, Gorogotu Kombolcha and Jarso weredas. The food in Jarso is from EU/LWF allocation. The distributions will continue to the end of December.

The EU food of 684Mt grain and 37Mt of supplementary food allocated to Meta woreda for 13,000 beneficiaries are yet to be distributed by HCS. Accordingly, LWF (the food consignee) is following on it with the concerned bodies.

Tigray
ADCS/ECS/JRP have distributed 5,080Mt of assorted food during the period May-August. Although distribution report is not yet received, distribution in the S. Tigray is underway with the USAID/Caritas/Germany government food in the months of September and October for 335,152 people. (150,900 beneficiaries in Samre Sahrti, Enderta and Hintalowajrat weredas and 184,252 beneficiaries in Alamata, Raya Azebo and Korem weredas).

Other Relief activities by partners

Amhara
EECMY/LWF has purchased and transported 5,570 farm tools to Basona Warena wereda in North Shewa. Beneficiaries in Gubalafto, Habru and Kobo weredas in North Wollo also received 16,750 farm tools. For the two weredas of Dahana and Sekota of Wag Hamera zone, EECMY/LWF has purchased and transported 4,600 farm tools. The distributions, made possible due to funds acquired from ACT International, is part of a rehabilitation programme to assist beneficiaries receiving the EU monthly food ration.

Oromiya
The transportation of the 2,760Mt of grain and 96MT of supplementary food allocated for distribution in Meda Wolabu wereda of Bale zone by EECMY/ Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) from Christian Aid funds have been completed. EECMY/NCA has begun distribution in September and it will last till January 2001. The beneficiaries in Meda Welabu will also be distributed 7,650 farm tools to undertake rehabilitation programs. Transportation of the said tools has already been completed. The source of this fund is EECMY/Evangelical Lutheran Mission (ELM).

The purchase of 9,005 farm tools has been completed by EECMY/LWF to be distributed to beneficiaries in Hagre Mariam wereda of Borena zone. EECMY/LWF also plans to distribute 8,820 farm tools in Ginnir and Raytu weredas of Bale zone.

Gambella
EECMY has purchased from ELM funds 450 farm tools to accompany the food distribution made by the regional DPPB to needy people in Abobo, Itang and Gilo weredas.

Somali
The local purchase of 600Mt of grain to be distributed to 24,000 beneficiaries in Elkare and Chereti weredas of Afder zone by EECMY has been completed. The grain purchase and the beneficiaries are more than the planned, which were 400Mt and 10,666 people respectively. This was due to cheaper market prices of maize in the country. The NCA made a grant of 4.7 million birr for the purchase. The distribution is for November to December. October maize ration for the 10,666 needy people have been distributed by EECMY from Canadian Food Grain Bank (CFGB)/Mennonite Mission in Ethiopia (MME) food.

Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region (SNNPR)

EECMY/NCA have also completed the local purchase of 470Mt of grain for distribution to 18,800 beneficiaries in Gisma locality of Hamer Bena wereda of S.Omo zone for Nov.-Dec. Due to the cheaper price of maize in the local market, an increased number of beneficiaries will be assisted. The original plan was to distribute 300Mt of grain to 8,000 beneficiaries.

In Sidama zone in Dale wereda, EECMY/NCA will distribute 490M of maize for 19,600 beneficiaries in Nov.-Dec.

EECMY has also purchased from ELM fund 7,400 farm tools to be distributed to beneficiaries in Kuraz and Hamerbena weredas in S. Omo. The tools will accompany the food distribution.

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 supported by Caritas Internationalis networks and the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International.

ACT International is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human needs through coordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordination Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.

Caritas Internationalis (C.I.) is based in Rome, Italy and has 156 member organizations active in 194 countries and territories. All Caritas efforts are meant to improve the quality of life, striving for a more just and fraternal world.

ACT members and associates present in Ethiopia

Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)
Dutch Inter Church Aid (DIA)
Danchurch Aid (DCA)
Bread for the World (BfW)
Christian Aid
Canadian Food Grain Bank (CFGB)
Mennonite Mission Ethiopia (MME)

JRP Information desk
PO Box 2383
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: + 251 1 531919
Fax: + 251 1 534148
Temporary Email: eecmy.co@telecom.net.et