Water shortage worsen in Ethiopia - WFP

  1. Posted on Tuesday 8 December 2009 - 10:40
    Yohanes
    Image of Yohanes
    Andualem Sisay, AfricaNews reporter in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    Critical water shortages continue to be reported in chronic water-insecure areas of Ethiopia, while food security situation in the central and northern parts improved, reports the latest World Food Program (WFP).
    women
    The weekly humanitarian report released Tuesday, indicated that critical water shortages continue to be reported in chronic water-insecure areas of Afar, Somali, Oromia, including Borena, East and West Hararghe zones and Tigray.

    A United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) assessment mission between 23 and 28 November in Afar reports that the food security situation requires close monitoring.

    The poor performance of the last two consecutive rainy seasons (belg and meher 2009) affected pasture and water availability, noting that they will not sustain livestock until the next rainy season in February/March. According to the report, although the condition of livestock is poor, there is no mass livestock death in the region.

    The report indicated that critical water shortages continue to be reported in chronic water-insecure areas of Afar, Somali, Oromia, including Borena, East and West Hararghe zones and Tigray.

    In Somali Region, MSF Holland reports that the situation in Warder and Geladi woredas (Warder) requires urgent intervention as some communities have started to move towards the northern direction in search of water and pasture. The organization is providing water trucking for 26,000 people in different villages; however the needs on the ground are much greater.

    Fedis and Medigatola woredas (Oromia) also require urgent response as there is no potable water in the area. The water truck deployed in the woredas by the zonal water bureau has discontinued service due to technical problems.

    In Kafta Humera woreda (Tigray) the water supply system has failed, affecting 10,000 residents and additional thousands of daily laborers. UNICEF provided emergency water treatment kits to the woreda to ensure safe water supply and is also working on hygiene and sanitation promotion activities. Meanwhile, the report indicated that the Tigray Regional Water Bureau deployed water trucks in all the above mentioned woredas that are facing water shortages.

Latest News

  1. AFCON: 46 hurt in Zambia victory celebrations09/02Over 40 casualty cases were recorded Wednesday night at Zambia's University Teaching Hospital (UTH) after post-match celebrations turned violent …
  2. African Peer Review Mechanism making progress08/02In 2003 the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), the continental development plan, initiated the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM…
  3. Combating HIV infections among African women08/02With a lack of knowledge and power, African women continue to bear the brunt of HIV infections.
  4. Legume cultivation booms in Western Kenya07/02Small Holder Farmers (SHFs) who traditionally relied on seed companies for all their seeds are now bulking their own legume seeds for their farms.
  5. Malawi vendors chase out Chinese07/02Vendors in Kalonga, the Northern district of Malawi, on Wednesday petitioned the District Commissioner to flash out all Chinese nationals who are doin…
  6. Zim: Informal sector urged to join HIV battle05/02While the Harare City council is busy engaging in running battles with city vendors, Health Minister has called for authorities to devise ways to form…
  7. Elections: Wole Soyinka warns Mugabe, Wade03/02The Nigerian Nobel Prize winner for literature said heads of states who are trying to cling to power suffer the same fate as the dictators who were sw…
  8. AU elections rescheduled for June in Malawi01/02Following a deadlock during Monday's African Union elections, with a tie between former wife to South African president Jacob Zuma, Home Affairs …
  9. Senegal in turmoil as protest intensifies01/02Hundreds of anti-government protesters Tuesday gathered in the central Dakar, Senegal to show their dissatisfaction over the incumbent president Abdou…
  10. Zimbabwe’s inflation still favourable -…01/02Zimbabwe's annual headline inflation still compared favourably with economies in the region, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono said o…
  11. AFCON 2012: Sudan qualifies after four decades31/01The Sudanese national team has sealed a historic win over the Stallions of Burkina Faso.
  12. Senegalese opposition to intensify protests31/01Opposition and civil society groups in Senegal have vowed to increase their fight against incumbent President Abdoulaye Wade's presidential bid.
  13. Malawi: Rights coalition condemn stripping of…30/01The 39 members of the Solidarity for African Women's Rights Coalition based in 18 African countries have vehemently condemned the stripping of wo…
  14. Kenya to deworm five million children annually30/01Kenya launched the second phase of its national deworming programme at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012, aiming to treat 5 million childre…
  15. Benin’s Yayi Boni is AU’s new…30/01President Yayi Boni of Benin Republic has been elected chairperson of the African Union in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa
News archive