Cluster Leads Meeting Minutes
09 July 2014
OCHA Conference Room
Participants: NFI/Shelter (IOM), Food/TSF (WFP), OCHA; WASH (UNICEF); Education
(UNICEF); UNICEF Emergency; Agriculture (FAO); ENCU;
Agenda Items:
1. Review of matters arising from the last meeting;
2. Preliminary 2014 belg findings and HRD revision;
- Arsi and West Arsi;
- Somali Region;
3. Nutrition update;
4. Relief food and TSF update;
5. Refugee update: Influx from South Sudan;
6. A.O.B
- 2014 CERF UFE allocation
________________________________________________________________________
1) Review of matters arising from the last meeting: minutes from the previous meeting were
reviewed and endorsed. Follow up from the action points from the last meeting related to the
need for developing a gap analysis for the South Sudanese refugee response, UNHCR noted that
the accountability matrix has been further expanded to indicate gaps and incorporate a
monitoring component. The comprehensive gap analysis has been finalized to be shared with
partners. The need to further strengthen WASH coordination was stressed, considering increased
number of sector partners. UNICEF noted that WASH and Nutrition officers are deployed to
support on-ground coordination. As to the action point related to enhanced support to the
Gambella host community to minimize the impact of the refugee influx, UNICEF developed a
six-month plan (July-December), including provision of water through the construction deep
well, strengthening the health and nutrition services in the host community, and establishing
child-friendly spaces in community schools. Related to the need to closely monitor the impact of
poor seasonal rains in other neighbouring including Eretria and Djibouti, OCHA noted that it is
in touch with the respective country offices to obtain information in order to scale up
preparedness for a likely drought induced influx.
2. Preliminary 2014 belg findings and HRD revision: OCHA provided a briefing on the
preliminary finding of the 2014 belg/gu assessments.
Afar: the onset of the 2014 sugum rains was late, with insufficient amount and erratic
distribution in all parts of the region and an overall below normal performance in Zone 1 and 2.
Critical water shortage is also reported in chronically water insecure areas, which has affected
some 35,200 people. Poor consecutive seasonal rainfall performance in Zone 1 and 2 has further
exacerbated the level of food insecurity.
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Amhara: overall, the 2014 belg rain was rated as normal, suitable for both crop and livestock
production in most belg producing areas of North Shoa, South Wollo, Oromia and North Wollo
zones. Of the total expected 2014 belg crop production (4,402,139 qtl.), the yield estimated is
less by 31 per cent as compared to the plan and higher by 49 per cent as compared to the
reference year. Also, the contribution of livestock and livestock products for household income
is good due to good physical condition of livestock in most areas. However, the prospect of belg
crops is not favourable due to farmers’ loss of confidence on the belg season and weather
adversities such as moisture deficit, hailstorms and frost in most areas of North Wollo, some
areas of South Wollo and North Shoa zones. The assessment team observed some areas that are
affected by critical food insecurities in Meket, North Wollo zone.
SNNPR: the overall performance of belg rains was normal in most places and crops were at
maturing and harvesting stage during the assessment period. Yet, delayed onset, erratic and
below normal rains has resulted in an extended lean season and an overall poor condition in
pastoral and agro-pastoral areas of South Omo and lowland areas of Segen, Sidama, Gamo Gofa
and Wolayta zones. The overall food security situations in most parts of the region is near
normal, while pocket areas in Aleta Wendo, Boricha, Dale, Loka Abaya and Shebedino woredas
(Sidama zone), in nine woredas in Gamo Gofa and six woredas in Wolayta zones and pastoral
and agro-pastoral areas of Dasenech and parts of Bena Tsemay, Gnangatom, Hamer and Male
woredas in South Omo zone is much below normal.
Tigray: The performance of 2014 belg rainfall was rated as poor. Although the onset was normal
in almost all woredas, the overall performance of the rains were reported to be much below
average. Acute water shortage remains to be a concern in most belg receiving areas. A total of
47,338 people are seriously affected and some 22,172 are at risk of water supply problem mainly
due to drought. The most affected woredas are Raya Azebo and Hintalo Wajirat.
Somali: the performance of the 2014 gu rains was poor in most seven gu receiving southern
zones. In most zones considerable number of kebeles did not receive rains. Acute water
shortages are visible in most areas especially in birkad dependent woredas. Water trucking
operations have already started in some kebeles by woreda administrators. Pasture availability is
becoming a serious challenge in all the zones even in areas which received some rains due to
large concentration of livestock, following large scale abnormal migration, resulting in rapid
depletion of available pasture. Currently livestock movement is abnormal within the woredas and
to neighboring areas in Kenya and Oromia region. According to the community elders and
woreda administrations, the migration is likely to trigger potential sporadic resource based
conflict.
Oromia: Although the 2014 belg rain in most part of the visited zones commenced early or on
time, the amount is rated very minimal with very erratic distribution both spatially and
temporally. The situation is worse in six woredas of Arsi, four woredas of West Arsi, four
woredas of Bale, ten woredas of Borena, three woredas of Guji, four woredas of East Hararghe,
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two woredas of North showa and six woredas of West Haraghe. The cessation of the rain is
reported early by two to one month from the normal time. The poor performance of the season
affected crop and livestock production. In almost all the visited woredas the planted area is much
below the plan, particularly in most woredas in Arsi, four woredas of Bale and four woredas of
West Arsi, where no harvest is expected. The poor rain performance also affected the availability
of pasture and water for livestock as a result there is significant livestock death reported from
Arsi and West Arsi while there is unusual livestock migration reported from Borena, East
Haraghe, West Haraghe and Bale to perennial rivers.
Following reports of deteriorating food security situation in Arsi, with reports of massive
livestock death, two emergency coordination meeting were convened by DRMFSS to mobilize
an immediate response. A one month ration has been dispatched to 70,000 beneficiaries in Arsi,
identified by the DRMFSS rapid assessment team. The figure will be further revised based on the
2014 belg verification assessment findings. UNICEF in collaboration with the Oromia Regional
Water Bureau (RWB) has deployed two trucks. Additionally, ETB1.5 million has been
transferred to the RWB with which four more tracks could be deployed. UNICEF is also
coordinating other WASH sector partners to engage in response to address gaps. DRMFSS in the
last coordination meeting urged the need to scale up emergency livestock interventions through
provision of feed and commercial de-stocking interventions. FAO reported that a DRMATF
meeting is scheduled in the afternoon to discuss commercial de-stocking interventions. FAO is
also closely working with the zone to activate a zonal taskforce in Arsi, to coordinate on-ground
response.
2014 HRD revision: the 2014 HRD identified 2.7 million relief food beneficiaries and a total of
USD 403 million for multi-sector humanitarian requirements. The projection at the beginning of
the year was developed based on the assumption that the 2014 April to June pastoral rains will be
normal. The actual performance of the rains was, however, poor in most pastoral areas. The
requirements are, therefore, to be adjusted based on the 2014 multi-agency belg verification
assessment. The methodology subgroup has developed a time frame for the HRD preparation
indicated as follows: 1) Sector taskforces to collect assessment reports from DRMFSS - 10-14
July 2014; 2) Sectors taskforces to submit HRD revision inputs – 21 July 2014; and DRMFSS
and OCHA compile and prepare the final document - 28 July 2014.
Action point: 1) OCHA to share the 2014 belg/gu verification assessment reports with
Cluster leads
Action point: 2) Cluster leads to closely work with the sector-line ministries to prepare
the sector inputs and submit on the agreed deadline;
3.
Nutrition update: concerning level of malnutrition are reported amongst the host
community in Gambella (Lare – GAM 18.2 per cent and SAM 4.3 per cent; Jikaw – GAM 19.2
per cent and 3.3 per cent). In Amhara, the TFP admission is in the overall stable. High TFP
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admission is reported in some areas in Oromia including in Arsi, West Arsi and Bale. GOAL
has conducted an emergency nutrition survey in Arsi and the results are being finalized.
Similarly, increased admission is reported in Somali Region. Furthermore, the nutrition situation
is deteriorating in Zone 1 and 2 in Afar and some areas in Southern Tigray.
4. Relief food and TSF update: Relief food: as of July 2014 the 2nd round dispatch stands at
98 per cent and distribution at 68 per cent. The dispatch of the 3rd round has reached 68 per cent,
with 3 per cent distribution. RFM resources were utilized for the 3rd round assistance. WFP
reported, the 4th round will be fully covered with available relief resources (RFM will not be
utilized). It was noted that a meeting scheduled for today – 9 July 2014 at 11:00a.m to clarify of
the utilization of RFM to cover HRD needs from 2015 onwards. Meanwhile, TSF resources have
been dispatched in Afar and SNNPR. In Oromia, the distribution has been partly done.
5. Refugee update: Influx from South Sudan: as of 8 July, Gambella received 166,889 new
asylum seekers who arrived since mid-December 2013. Two of the newly established camps
Lietchuor and Kule 1, already reached full capacity and Kule 2 will be full soon. New land is
difficult to identify as most areas are flood-prone and not suitable for refugee camps. UNICEF is
to undertake a geological survey in Kule 2, where major water problem is reported.
6. A.O.B
- 2014 CERF UFE allocation: OCHA informed cluster leads that $12 million has been allocated
to Ethiopia through the 2014 CERF UFE. OCHA will convene a follow up meeting to
discuss the funding allocation process.
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