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The Ethiopian Government, the United Nations and humanitarian partners appealed, on 10 December, for 841,910 tonnes of food and US$ 85 million of non-food assistance to meet humanitarian needs in 2004.
The number of beneficiaries is estimated to be 7.2 million people, about 10.5% of the total population, a 45% reduction from the 13.2 million assisted in 2003. Needs for 2004 are reduced from those of 2003 as the result of satisfactory performance of the meher - main rainy season- in most parts of the country. However, the situation in many low land crop growing and pastoral areas has not been so favourable. Despite the overall better rains and harvest prospects, however, Ethiopia faces substantial challenges in 2004.
To avert a humanitarian crisis, in addition to food aid assistance, non food interventions should be given equal importance. This is particularly true for the water and sanitation sector which requires US$ 24.8 million for interventions during the year. In the agricultural sector, appealing for US$ 13.1 million, seed shortages remain critical. Health and nutrition needs are exacerbated by the current widespread malaria outbreak and requires US$ 17.9 million for 2004. HIV/AIDS, combined with child protection needs, will require US$ 2.6 million. The epidemic has the potential to become a key cause of food insecurity, by depleting assets.
Basic education assistance requires US$10 million to prevent school drop outs and improve educational opportunities in critical areas. US$ 14 million is necessary to provide the means for improving the Government of Ethiopia’s disaster response capacity. Requirements for enhancing coordination and information flows are valued at US$ 1.3 million.
Food assistance will be necessary for 7.2 million people while 2.2 million will require close monitoring in order to provide minimum life-sustaining nutrition levels for the food insecure population. Relief food requirements due to chronic and emergency causes are estimated to be 841,910 tonnes. Paul Hebert, Head of the UN OCHA Office in Ethiopia, noted "donor response to this appeal early in 2004 will be critical for both food or cash for food and for non-food assistance to avert potential further crisis in the coming year"
Pastoral areas of the country remain comparatively more vulnerable in general, with some areas pointing toward crisis. Water and fodder requirements remain significant in pastoral areas where successive seasons of drought have eroded pastoralists’ assets.
The major challenge to be faced by the humanitarian efforts in 2004 will be to link medium and longer-term initiatives that address food and livelihood insecurity. Initiatives under the New Coalition for Food Security to improve availability and access to food, to promote preventative and curative health services and to provide safety nets for about 5 million persons, will begin implementation in 2004 and will be scaled up in subsequent years.
Full document is downloadable: 2004 Humanitarian Appeal for Ethiopia
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