Trade restrictions, locusts compound food insecurity in Somali Region

Figure 1. Estimated current food security conditions (October to December 2007) FULL-SIZE IMAGE Graphics by FEWS NET, November, 2007

Pastoralists and agro pastoralists in parts of Somali Region (Korahe, Degehabur, Warder, Fik, and Gode zones) are extremely food insecure (Figure 1), due to restrictions on trade and movement that started in mid-June. Because these populations depend on the sale of livestock and livestock products to buy cereals and imported foods, such restrictions have made food access exceedingly difficult. As a result, affected populations are relying on milk and meat from their own livestock and the consumption of wild foods. While the Government of Ethiopia (GoE) and UN agencies have agreed to implement a joint response plan, delays in food distributions could lead to further deterioration of the situation. Full resumption of commercial activities remains critical to improving food security in this region.

Despite generally good animal conditions, thanks to an excellent and abnormally long 2006 deyr (October and November) season, livestock prices in restricted areas have decreased dramatically while cereal prices have increased sharply since the ban on movement and trade began. Because pastoralists cannot access markets to exchange their livestock for cereals, income sources in restricted areas are significantly reduced. Reduced income has caused a decrease in food access, caloric intake and dietary diversity, contributing to high levels of malnutrition in these areas. A nutrition survey conducted by Save the Children United Kingdom (SC UK) from October 6 to 18 in Fik and Hamero woredas indicated critical global acute malnutrition rates (using z-scores) of 20.8 percent and severe acute malnutrition rates of 1.4 percent. These are critical levels, according to the nutritional standards of both the GoE and the World Health Organization. The SC UK survey also indicated crude mortality rates of 0.56/10,000/day and an under-five mortality rate of 1.5/10,000/day.

While 2007 deyr season rains started on time in Somali region, the volume and distribution of rainfall was below average in most areas in October. Rains have improved in November in much of the region, increasing water availability and pasture regeneration. However, locust infestations threaten pasture and browse in Warder and Korahe districts, as well as in some parts of Dagahbur, Kebridahar, Dobowein and Sheygosh districts of Korahe Zone. Unless controlled, these infestations could seriously exacerbate food insecurity for pastoral and agro pastoral populations.

A UN mission to restricted areas in September recommended the resumption of livestock exports, the re-establishment of legal cross border trade with Somalia and/or increased internal trade to allow for the flow of commercial food. The mission also recommended food aid distributions for 600,000 people for three months, beginning October, and the resumption of food aid monitoring for both dispatches and distributions. Following these recommendations, GoE ministries and UN agencies have prepared joint response plans, and food aid dispatches using these revised figures have begun, though delays and logistical constraints have so far limited actual food aid distributions.