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Information NoteFrom the Department for International DevelopmentDFID Information Note on the Humanitarian Situation in Ethiopia - January 2004 1. Since mid-2002 the worsening food security1 situation in Ethiopia has been a cause for considerable concern both within the country and the wider international community. This note outlines the current situation, the action DFID has taken since the beginning of 2002, and what should be done to respond to humanitarian needs in 2004. 2. Signs of crisis appeared as early as June/July 2002 in the predominantly pastoralist areas of Afar region and its neighbours, where water and pasture shortages caused livestock to die. 3. The 2003 Government of Ethiopia/UN Preliminary Appeal, launched on 7 December 2002, subsequently identified 11.3 million people (out of a total population of about 70m) as needing 1.4 million metric tonnes (mts) of food aid immediately and a further 2.2 million whose position required close monitoring. By April, those needing immediate emergency assistance had risen to 12.6 million; and, following publication of the August needs assessments, to 13.2 million - amounting to 1.8 million mts of food aid required. 4. In response to the appeal, some 93 per cent of the estimated food requirements for 2003 were met. For the year ending 2003, the total shortfall was 21,000 mts for pulses and 160 mts for oil. 5. Despite this considerable effort, pockets of extreme hardship persisted due to problems with targeting of food aid especially in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Regional State (SNNPRS). A large proportion of the estimated 450,000 people estimated to be suffering from Global Acute Malnutrition and Severe Acute Malnutrition in 2003 were from SNNPRS. As a consequence, UNICEF with the support of DFID are making special efforts in the region to improve targeting of food aid. 6. In October 2003, it became apparent that a malaria epidemic was developing. Over 150,000 people were treated for malaria between September and December 2003. In addition, an increase in tuberculosis (TB) was noted with the onset of the rains. Ethiopian Food Security Reserve 7. The response in 2002-03 showed that lessons from the past had been learned. It demonstrated the effectiveness of the emergency infrastructure in place in Ethiopia such as the Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSR). This reserve, which can hold up to 407,000 mts reduces the lead time between the announcement of food donations and distribution. In 2003, the EFSR functioned effectively throughout the crisis by permitting distribution at times of greatest need. The EFSR, with the support of the EC, DFID and other key donors, will be reviewed during 2004 to improve its effectiveness further. Humanitarian Outlook - 2004 8. Given the magnitude of the problem in 2003 and the destitution that accompanied it, Ethiopia continues to face substantial challenges in 2004 even though needs have almost halved as a result of better rains and improved agricultural and livestock production. This is because a large proportion of the population lacks access to food whether there is drought or not. Even in years when national harvests are good, at least five million people are so poor and produce so little that they need food aid. 9. 7.2 million people are expected to need food aid in 2004. This translates into a food requirement of 964,690 mts. While most highland cropping areas are faring better than in 2002-03, some pastoral areas of the country remain vulnerable. While livestock are generally in good condition because of improved water and fodder sources, both animal reproduction and milk production remain below average. 10. The Government of Ethiopia has recently introduced the "Coalition for Food Security" to improve availability and access to food, to promote health services and provide safety nets for about 5 million people. The Government vision is to move away from providing food aid to helping poor people maintain access to food even during the most difficult times. This can be done through providing predictable direct resource transfers to poor households - linked to public works programmes, school feeding or other productive activities. This will protect people against long-term destitution - something which emergency aid cannot do. 2004 will be a year of transition during which the Government will work out the details of a programme with its partners. What has been done by the UK: i) Longer term 11. Since the end of the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict of 2000, DFID has built up a development partnership based on Ethiopia's own programme for reducing poverty. DFID contributed an initial £10m to the Government's budget in early 2003, with the aim of establishing a multi-year programme of budget support along with some technical cooperation. Elements in DFID's programme include support on Education, HIV/AIDS, and roads - more information is available in our Country Assistance Plan. During a visit to Addis Ababa in January 2003, the former Secretary of State, Clare Short, signed a 10 year Memorandum of Understanding which sets out the framework for the UK/Ethiopia development partnership. 12. One of the main goals of the DFID programme is to tackle food insecurity. For example, we support efforts to increase people's access to markets and basic services through improvements in rural transport infrastructure. We will also help to reduce the vulnerability of the poor to drought by helping to provide "safety nets" for the chronically food insecure. In contrast to the emergency relief system, this requires that support be given before a household begins to shed its assets (such as livestock). Protecting a productive level of assets supports poverty reduction by maintaining family's incomes and their ability to buy essential goods. Pastoralists are one of the most vulnerable groups and are therefore an important target group for our work. ii) Short term 13. DFID has been monitoring the effects of drought in Ethiopia and playing our part in the relief effort. Throughout, we have aimed to be flexible, so as to be able to respond to needs as and when they arise. Since the beginning of 2002 we have provided £50.6 million in humanitarian assistance. This has included the provision of cereal, supplementary and therapeutic food aid, as well as support for emergency health programmes. Details are in the table attached to this note. 14. In contrast to the situation in 1984/85, government, donors and non-governmental organisations now routinely work together to co-ordinate relief efforts and to improve the response. No one anticipates a repeat of the suffering experienced in 1984. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has made clear that the lessons have been learned. In 1984, the famine was also aggravated by the civil war in Ethiopia, impeding the international communities' ability to direct available resources to relief. 15. We are continuing to keep a close eye on the situation, using the reports and assessments made by the Ethiopian Government and the international agencies involved. We remain in close and regular contact with the Ethiopian Government, other donors and non-governmental organisations. Eastern Africa Department DFID DFID's response to humanitarian needs in Ethiopia (2002-3)
1Food security is when all people , at all times, have access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy life. DFIDs approach to food security is described in the ' Eliminating Hunger' Target Strategy Paper Back to Top
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