* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Alert
Ethiopia
Flooding in South Sudanese refugee camp, Leitchour
Geneva, 12th September 2014
1. Brief description of the emergency and impact
Ethiopia is the biggest host country for South Sudanese refugees fleeing the violent conflict in South Sudan since December 2013. Now, catastrophic flooding in August and September 2014, in Western Ethiopia, has compounded the situation for 47,000 South Sudanese refugees in Leitchour camp, mainly children and women, searching for a safe haven in Gambella area. Torrential rains and complicated coordination exacerbated by massive, rapid movement of the refugees make collection of data almost impossible. Yet ACT Alliance members, working in the camp since February, are out among the refugees daily, listening to their stories as they work hard to implement the ongoing ACT appeal ETH141.
2. Why is an ACT response needed?
The number of organisations responding to the immediate needs of the 47,000 refugees in Leitchour camp is inadequate given the dramatically worsening situation of the refugees who are located in a flooded swamp. Basic food security, clean and adequate water supply and other basic necessities are required. Due to the complications of the flooding and governmental policy related to the refugees, a revision of activities for the ongoing ACT appeal ETH 141 is envisaged to respond appropriately to the changing context. ACT appeal ETH141 has a time frame of Jan-Dec 2014 with an appeal target of USD 3.5 M. Currently it is only 32% funded.
3. National and international response
UNHCR, working with Ethiopian Administration for Refugee and Return Affairs (ARRA), is coordinating the humanitarian response and the implementing partners are working with massive, difficult logistical, funding and leadership challenges.
4. ACT Alliance response
To date, the ACT Alliance response to the flooding has been managed within the remit of appeal ETH141. ACT Alliance members (DCA, DICAC, LWF, NCA and IOCC) have organized themselves in a consortium called Partnership for South Sudanese Refugee response, to improve coordination/implementation and fundraising for ACT appeal ETH141. DanChurchAid (DCA) manages the coordinated and effective response of the ACT members. Additional ACT Ethiopia forum members, Ethiopian Evangelical Mekane Yesus Church Development and Social Service Commission (EECMY-DASSC), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH), Christian Aid, Church of Sweden (CoS), and ICCO Cooperation are pro-actively supporting this collaboration and will continue to bring their competencies and financial support into play. However, due to the torrential rain, all planned activities related to infrastructure are on hold. Specifically in response to the flooding, DanChurchAid has purchased, and positioned in Gambella, soap and jerry cans for 20,000 to be distributed immediately. LWF also has more NFIs, financed by Christian Aid, in the pipeline.
5. Planned activities
Given the current flooding, coordination, and logistical challenges among all humanitarian actors under ARRA/UNHCR coordination, the ETH141 activities will be adjusted and a fuller picture of additional ACT member activities will be described in the forthcoming revised appeal.
Key life-saving activities for the period September-December 2014 will most likely include:
• Support to supplemental NFI purchase and distribution costs. Potential for cash/voucher program to be assessed, DCA managed.
• LWF continue (with necessary adjustments) in Watsan activities for refugees and host communities in close collaboration with NCA.
• IOCC/DICAC continue (with some adjustments) their current activities.
• EECMY-DASSC implement activities in support of host communities
6. Constraints
Constraints to an effective response include confusing and changing messages from UNHCR/ARRA, lack of timely funding and leadership capacity on the ground for all organisations.
-----------------------------------
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)
