Cablegate: Dppa Somali Region Deyr Assessment

VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #3610/01 3601323
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261323Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8938
INFO RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 2027

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 003610

SIPDIS

AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI
AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
USMISSION GENEVA
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY ROME
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/CCJ5/CCJS//
DIA WASHDC
CJTF HOA
NSC WASHDC

STATE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS AF JSWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES,
A/S PRM SAUERBREY, AND PRM/AFR
AFR/AA KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON
DCHA/AA MHESS, GGOTTLIEB
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK
NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO JMYER, GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA
ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS
BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA
USUN FOR TMALY
NSC FOR PMARCHAN

AIDAC
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
SUBJECT: DPPA SOMALI REGION DEYR ASSESSMENT

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SUMMARY
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1. On December 21, members of the United States Government (USG)
Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) in Ethiopia attended the
Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (GFDRE)
Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) Deyr/Karan
Assessment briefing for Somali Region. According to assessment
findings, more than 1.6 million people are confronting survival and
livelihood protection deficits, including more than 730,000 people
in immediate need of food assistance. To meet the needs of affected
populations, the DPPA recommends increased food assistance and
multi-sectoral interventions, in addition to targeted nutrition
surveys in the most-affected areas. End summary.

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FOOD INSECURITY
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2. From November 24 to December 14, a DPPA-led multi-agency
assessment team visited Somali Region as part of a bi-annual
national needs assessment. According to assessment findings, the
poor performance of the 2007 gu and deyr rains have resulted in
significant crop failure and reduced livestock production in parts
of all seven Somali Region zones, disrupting livelihoods and
contributing to increased food security concerns. Food prices in
the region have increased from 60 to 130 percent above reference
year levels and are expected to continue to increase through the
January to April jilaal dry season.

3. The DPPA assessment identified more than 1.6 million people
facing survival and livelihood protection deficits, including an
estimated 730,000 people in need of immediate food assistance,
representing 19 percent of the total Somali Region population. The
most-affected zones include Fik, Gode, and Degehabur. Despite
utilizing coping strategies, populations confronting survival
deficits are unable to meet the 2,100 kilocalorie per day
requirement, while populations confronting livelihood protection
deficits are able to meet the daily caloric requirement, but at the
cost of selling assets and undermining future livelihood security.
To meet the needs of affected populations in Somali Region, the DPPA
projects that emergency food and relief commodities will be required
for the next three to six months.

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ACUTE WATERY DIARRHEA
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4. The DPPA assessment noted the presence of acute watery diarrhea
(AWD) in Degehamedo District, Degehabur Zone, and Segeg and Fik
districts, Fik Zone. Since November, community level reports
indicate that AWD is spreading into rural areas. However, exact
numbers of AWD cases are unavailable as a result of the inability of
the Regional Health Bureau to access affected areas.

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DPPA RECCOMENDATIONS
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5. To address the needs of affected populations in Somali Region,
the DPPA assessment recommends increased food, water, livestock, and
health interventions, in addition to identifying the need for
targeted nutritional surveys in the most affected areas. The DPPA
highlighted the need for an immediate increase in the delivery and
distribution of food assistance to the region. According to the
DPPA, the lack of food availability in the region represents the
most pressing need. For this reason, the DPPA recommends an
increase in food assistance, in place of cash-for-work
interventions.

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CONCLUSION AND COMMENTS
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6. The DPPA Deyr/Karan Assessment results for Somali Region
provides a significant overview of population vulnerability in the
region, including the identification of more than 1.6 million people
confronting survival and livelihood deficits. However, the
assessment provided limited details regarding specific
recommendations and locations of non-food interventions. In
addition, the DPPA assessment results do not address the nutritional
status of affected populations or regional security and access
restrictions. In an effort to verify the magnitude and severity of
the current food security crisis outlined in the DPPA assessment,
the USG HAT is preparing assessment visits to Somali Region in the
coming weeks. End comment.

YAMAMOTO

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