In 2006, Ethiopia was affected by a range of humanitarian crises, including the Horn of Africa drought, flooding, and acute watery diarrhea (AWD). These problems were exacerbated by the high levels of chronic food insecurity affecting at least 8 million people. The CERF played a central role in providing early response to these emergencies in Ethiopia in 2006, funding $8.7 million activities through the rapid response window and an additional $1 million through the underfunded emergency window. Because Ethiopia does not use a CAP system, these resources were applied towards the 2006 Joint Government and humanitarian agencies humanitarian appeal and subsequent flash appeals.
Click here to download the full 2006 CERF report for Ethiopia.
A regional drought was experienced in the first half of 2006, affecting approximately 2.7 million people in Ethiopia , particularly in the pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of southern Somali region and Borena zone of Oromiya Region. The failure of two successive rainfalls in these areas resulted in severe food insecurity and increased malnutrition rates. Moreover, the drought exacerbated the spread of communicable disease such as measles and increased children's vulnerability.
Malnutrition rates also combined to increase the under-five mortality rate. In response, the Government included requests for emergency drought food and non-food interventions in the 2006 Joint Humanitarian Appeal. During the drought, approximately $3.9 million CERF funding was responsible for critical life-saving interventions in relation to water and sanitation, health and nutrition and logistics support.
On the heels of the drought emergency, unprecedented heavy rains resulted in flash floods and overflow of rivers, affecting approximately 670,000 people across the country from August to October 2006. Eight of the country's eleven regions were affected causing loss of life, displacement, and damage to infrastructure, livelihoods, and private property. The adverse impact of the floods was aggravated by the limited preparedness and response capacity for quick-onset emergencies. Over 700 people were reported to have died and about 240,000 were displaced.
![Villagers wait for food aid after heavy rains [Photo: UNICEF/Heavens]](/Portals/11/Images_country/ETP_UNICEF_villagers_crop.jpg) |
Villagers wait for food aid after heavy rains
[Photo: UNICEF/Heavens] |
The October floods were particularly devastating in the Gode and Mustaphil zones of Somali regional state. Additionally, the floods contributed to an increased incidence of water-borne disease including acute watery diarrhea. At the end of 2006, acute watery diarrhea cases were reported across the country, affecting all regions apart from Dire Dawa, Harari and Beninshangul Gumuz.
In response, the Government, in collaboration with its humanitarian partners, issued two joint Flood Flash Appeals requesting $ 34 million to mobilize resources to meet the emerging relief and rehabilitation requirements in food and non-food sectors.
Humanitarian partners (including the CERF), donors, and the Ethiopian public contributed approximately $ 15 million to meet the emergency requirement and $ 7 million to meet the rehabilitation/recovery needs, which constitute 60 percent of the emergency and 82 percent of the rehabilitation requirements respectively. CERF funding, however, was critical in providing over $ 5 million for life-saving interventions in relation to health, water and sanitation, non-food items, agricultural support and logistics.
[Last Update: 24 August 2007]
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