Cluster Leads Meeting Minutes
26 November 2014
OCHA Conference Room
Participants: UNICEF Emergency Unit; Agriculture (FAO); Nutrition (ENCU); NFI (IOM);
Health (WHO), Relief Food/TSF (WFP), Protection/Refugee (UNHCR), OCHA.
Agenda items:
1. Review of matters arising from the last meeting;
2. 2014 meher assessment;
3. Refugee update;
4. Relief food and TSF response;
5. Health and nutrition update;
6. A.O.B
Outcome of the ASG’s visit
1. Review of matters arising from the last meeting: minutes from the previous meeting
were reviewed and endorsed. Follow up on the action point related to relief food
operation was further discussed under agenda item 4 below.
2. 2014 meher assessment: the methodology and logistics subgroup focal persons provided
an update on assessment preparatory works. The methodology subgroup is developing
the most likely scenario for the 2015 food security outlook on the basis of which
humanitarian requirement projections will be made. Considering the high dependability
of the food security situation on weather performance, NMA prepared a five-years (2010
to 2014) weather trend analysis to be input for the food security analysis. Three out of the
last five belg seasons performed poorly in the north eastern (southern Tigray, eastern
Amhara and Afar) belg receiving areas. Preliminary NMA weather outlook for 2015
belg/gu indicates that, with the current strengthening of Sea Surface Temperature (SST),
a likelihood of the development of an El Nino situation during 2015 February – March –
May. Considering the five years trends analysis and the analogue year, the 2015 belg
season is expected to be near normal in the southeastern, central and eastern parts apart of
north eastern, which is expected to be below normal. The five years trends analysis,
however, indicate that even in a normal year the north eastern belg receiving areas
receive below normal rains. The best analogue year identified for 2014 bega season is
2006, which is expected to continue to be the analogue year for belg 2015.NMA
underscored that this is a preliminary outlook to support the projection and the more
accurate official forecast is to be released in January 2015. Considering the shortened
timeframe for the preparation of the sector inputs, the respective sectors have started the
development of the projection for the second half of 2015 to finalize it before the
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assessment is completed. OCHA reminded the cluster leads the timeframe for submitting
final inputs for the HRD is 05 January 2015.
The logistics sub-group reported that adequate resources have been mobilized both in
terms of human resource, vehicle and funding for the 2014 meher assessment. So far
USD 35,000 has been contributed by WFP, UNICEF and UNFPA. DRMFSS is to
finalize the detailed assessment schedule to be shared with the assessment teams. An
assessment briefing session is scheduled to be held on Friday, 28 November 2014. The
logistics subgroup raised concern over limited participation from WASH (UNICEF),
WHO and IOM in the assessment. The need to ensure stronger engagement of regional
and zonal senior Government officials was underscored. Two team leaders for the food
sector and non-food sector have been assigned per each team.
Action point: 1) The logistics sub-group to work with UNICEF and WHO to
ensure more representation of WASH and Health sectors in the 2014 meher
assessment;
3. Refugee update: high level discussion continue in South Sudan to seek political
settlement including on ways to implement peace building agreements. In the absence of
a political settlement in the foreseeable future, the refugee preparedness and response
plan for 2015 foresees a continued influx in 2015. The latest working figure for the new
arrivals as of September 2014 stands at 230,000; as of November 2014, 191,359 refugees
were received.
4. Relief food and TSF response: as of 19 November 2014, the dispatch of the 4th round
stands at 99 per cent with 98 per cent distribution. During the reporting period, the
dispatch for the 5th round reached 67 per cent and the distribution stands at 36 per cent.
The agency breakdown is JEOP 92 per cent (dispatch) and 42 per cent (distribution);
DRMFSS under RFP 41 per cent (dispatch) and 40 per cent (distribution). WFP reported
that in the overall there is a significant delay on the 5th round dispatch and distribution
due to delay in the RFM local purchase of maize and beans. So far only 3,782MT maize
and 950MT beans has been purchased and the procurement for the remaining 13,218 MT
of maize and 3,550MT beans is underway. In the Hubs and Spokes operation, 5th round
was covered with loan from JEOP (273 MT pulses) and DRMFSS (40 MT oil) to
complete the relief food basket ration amounting to a total of 15,256MT to address
900,037 beneficiaries including 116,896 beneficiaries in PSNP woredas covered through
RFM and an additional 25,092 flood affected people.
As to the allocation for the 6th round, in the Prioritization Committee meeting held on 21
November 2014 it was noted that adequate resource is not available to plan the round
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particularly for non-PSNP woredas. DRMFSS relief programme has a critical shortfall
and there is no committed contribution to be used as a collateral to arrange a loan from
EFSRA. The prioritization committee developed two scenarios for response planning
considering the 2.6 million November beneficiaries and 2.2 million December estimated
beneficiaries. With both scenarios, there will be resource shortfall for Hubs and Spokes
and DRMFSS relief woredas operation. Concerns were raised over the little clarity in the
relief food operation including causes for the delayed response.
Action point 2) WFP to share hard copies of relief food update on response
and pipeline status in Cluster Leads meetings;
Action point 3) Follow up from the action point from the last meeting, OCHA
to contact CRS to represent JEOP in the Cluster Leads meeting;
TSF: TSF distribution has been completed in 14 priority 1 woredas in Somali Region. In
Amhara, the distribution is underway while the distribution has been completed in
Tigray. WFP reported that the ECHO funding for TSF is still pending.
Action point 4) WFP to follow up on the status of ECHO TSF contribution
and update OCHA;
5. Nutrition update: the overall national level TFP admission is stable in most parts of the
country. An increasing trend in admission is, however, observed in East Hararghe and
ENCU is closely monitoring the situation to identify factors contributing to the spike. In
Afar Region, increase in TFP admission has been reported in flood affected areas and
ENCU is following up with AMREF to ensure am immediate commencement of the HRF
funded nutrition project. Results of nutrition surveys undertaken in Gode and East
Hrarghe were shared by ENCU.
Action point 5) ENCU to follow up with HRF on the status of AMREF
nutrition project for Afar;
Action point 6) ENCU to share with Cluster Leads the factors that
contributed to a spike in TFP admission in SNNPR during September 2014;
6. Agriculture Update: FAO reported that the Agriculture Taskforce has prepared maps
that compare 2014 kiremt rains with short and long term averages and between 2013 and
2014. The analysis indicate the gradual drying of the seasonal rains in the higlands; while
the intensity of the rains has been increasing in the north western parts.
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Action point 7) FAO to share the maps that compare 2014 kiremt rains with
short and long term averages and between 2013 and 2014
7. Outcome of the ASG’s visit: Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and
Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Kyung-wha Kang visited Ethiopia during 21 to
25 November. The aim of the mission is to discuss strategic priorities for humanitarian
assistance in Ethiopia and the region, including challenges faced in addressing the
growing number of refugees in the country. To this end, Ms. Kang travelled to Gambella
region to appreciate the Government of Ethiopia and humanitarian partners’ response to
the South Sudanese refugees in the region. ASG Kang also met with the Ethiopia
Humanitarian Country Team and NGO representatives to discuss key humanitarian
priorities including on the plight of Eritrean refugees and the recent spike in number of
refugee arrivals in Ethiopia.
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