U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)
ETHIOPIA – Complex Health/Food Insecurity Emergency
Situation Report #5, Fiscal Year (FY) 2005
July 27, 2005
Note: This report updates situation report #4 dated June 9, 2005.
BACKGROUND
In 2002, failed belg, or secondary rains from March through May, combined with delayed and sporadic meher, or main rains
from July through September, led to severe drought conditions and widespread food insecurity in Ethiopia, affecting more
than 13.2 million people during 2003. Humanitarian conditions improved in 2004, but the destitution that accompanied the
crisis of the previous year complicated recovery efforts. Although relatively good meher rains improved harvest prospects in
western parts of Ethiopia, most of the eastern lowlands experienced a poor meher harvest due to below average and erratic
rainfall. Further, the situation in some belg-producing areas remained precarious due to poor rains and failed crops. In
September 2004, USAID’s Famine Early Warning System Network (FEWS NET) reported signs of growing distress in
pastoral lowland areas due to drought conditions and shortages of water, pasture, and food in affected areas. The arrival of
the deyr rains in October mitigated a widespread disaster in Somali Region; however, overall humanitarian conditions in the
region remain concerning. Similarly, inadequate Karan/Karma (July-September) rains have not improved the situation in
Afar Region, where conditions continue to deteriorate. Since early 2005, Ethiopia has experienced worsening food
insecurity, rapidly increasing malnutrition rates, distress migration, and erratic climatic conditions. Field assessments
confirm widespread food shortages and the likelihood that 12 million people will be vulnerable. Initiatives aimed at tackling
chronic food insecurity have been hobbled by delayed implementation, underestimation