The Gu rain started in the middle of April in all the zones in the region and most of the zones received three to five days of heavy down pours in the third dekad of April. Gode, Afder and Liban zones experienced good rains in the last week of April. The rain has improved the water situation in the region, except parts of Boh and Danot woredas of Warder zone.

However, in the last 10 days, most of the zones experienced another dry period, which is unusual at this time of the year. Food security situation in the region may further deteriorate if there is early cessation of Gu rain, IN ALL ZONES OF SNRS.

Jijiga zone: No rain was received since 23 April 2003, which is not normal at this time of the year. Farmers are now busy ploughing their farming lands, but they cannot plant unless more rains are received.

Afder zone: Good rains were reported in all over Afdheer Zone. PCAE mini meteorology station in Cherati town recorded the highest record so far of 84.7mm in a single day. This caused communication problems in which roads between Hargelle-Chereti and Hargelle-Bare were cut off for some days.

Shinile zone: No significant rain was reported in the whole zone in the last 10 days, except small showers in localized areas.

Korahe zone: Doboweyn woreda received good rain so far. However, rains were poor in most of Shegosh woreda, while rain performance in Kebridehar and Shilabo woredas was very poor. The last two woreda have experienced severe shortage of pasture and water in the jiilaal season and poor rain fall in the Gu season would mean serious food security situation for the pastoralist households in the this year. Fafan valley has flooded due to good rain in the highlands, which will help agropastoralist in the area.

Degahbour zone: Most of the zone did nor receive any rain since the third dekad of April and there is a fear of early cessation of the Gu rain among the local population.

Liban: The Gu rain was very good in Moyale and Filtu so far filling up all ponds and water points.

Warder zone: The rain started in Warder zone on 15th April and the rain was very poor in quantity and distribution compared to the normal. Bokh and Danot woredas are the worst affected areas with small showers so far.  Other woredas received few days of rain only. Potential grassing areas and heavy populated berkad dependent areas in the Hawd did not receive any rain at all.  In general, the Gu rain did not bring any improvement to the water and pasture availability in the zone and there is worry among the local population on the long-term food security situation in the zone.

Gode zone: Gode, E.Imi, Denan and parts of Adadle woredas experienced three to four good raining days with good quantity and distribution. However, parts of Adadle, Mustahil and Ferfer woredas received small rain with poor distribution and quantity so far. Nevertheless, the rain has improved the water and pasture availability in most of the zone giving relief to pastoralists and IDPs in water chronic areas.

Fik zone: Most of Fik zone received good rains in the middle of April 2003 which has improved the water

Early Warning Team
Due to heavy rains in Bale and Hararghe and other Webi Shablee basins have resulted over flooding of Wabi Shabelle River in Kelafo and Mustahil woredas in Gode zone.

UNICEF has assisted the regional authorities to organize an emergency team to carry out rapid assessment in the affected areas and as a result, a team led by the President of the Somali Regional state and accompanied by Federal Minister of Mines and other regional officials including DPPB Head, Pastoral coordination Office Head, one doctor from RHB made quick assessment mission to Mustahil, Kelafo and East & West Imi on 4-5 May 2003. In addition of emergency committee including OWDA office in Gode.

Mission findings include:

1. Mustahil

• 21 villages and the town flooded
• 210 houses destroyed completely
• No death in Mustahil woreda so far as a result of the floods
• All people in the flooded areas were displaced and are now concentrated on the foothills with no proper shelter, food and water.
• EW system established in the woreda recently was helpful by alerting the people the water level of the river on regular bases and people in most of the flooded villages managed to safe their important assets such as pumps, generators, and food. However, people in 10 villages lost all their assets.
• Likewise, population living in 5 villages could not manage to escape and are still stranded by floods and need emergency evacuation.
• One clinic and one school in the town destroyed
• About 120 ha of farming land flooded and all crops destroyed.
• The mission delivered one UNICEF emergency drug kit to Mustahil woreda by helicopter.
• Similar flooding experienced 5 years ago but the situation is more serious this time.

2. Kelafo

• 65 villages flooded and about 6000HH displaced by the floods.
• 10 death so far (5 children and 5 adults) two of the dead were eaten by crocodiles and 2 wounded
• 1 schools and 4 clinics were damaged by the floods and took away four water pumps
• About 74 ha of farming land planted with maize, sesame and onion flooded
• The same flooding happened five years ago but situation is more serious this time

Immediate Recommendations

• Urgent supply of shelter materials (plastic sheets, blankets, cooking utensils) to all the affected population.

• Provision of sufficient health drugs to the affected population

• Provision of high energy biscuits (BP5) to the most vulnerable groups focusing on children and women

• Helicopter must be made available to deliver emergency supplies that are stranded

• on the main Degahbour-Kebridehar road and any other supplies in the near future.

• The helicopter will be also used to evacuate women and children who are stranded in some villages in Mustahil woreda.

• Seeds for the farmers after the flood is recede.

Long-term recommendations

• Rehabilitation of all damaged schools and clinics in Mustahil and Kelafo
• Refurnishing of the affected schools and clinics
• Restocking with drugs in all the clinics
• Provision of emergency education support to the school children in the affected areas.
• Advocacy to resettle the local populations in safer areas in the future, away from the flooding areas.