VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDS #0239/01 0310908
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 310908Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9370
INFO RUEHAE/AMEMBASSY ASMARA 2103
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 8895
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3350
RUEHBS/AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 3074
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4152
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 3008
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 6365
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 7227
RUEHC/DEPT OF INTERIOR WASHDC
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ2/CCJ5/CCJS//
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CJTF HOA
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 000239 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE DEPARTMENT FOR A/S FRAZER, DAS AF JSWAN, AF/E, AF/PDPA, OES, 
A/S PRM SAUERBREY, AND PRM/AFR 
AFR/AA KALMQUIST, WWARREN, JBORNS, KNELSON, CTHOMPSON 
DCHA/AA MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, CCHAN, PMORRIS, KCHANNELL 
DCHA/FFP JDWORKEN, PMOHAN, SANTHONY, PBERTOLIN 
LONDON, PARIS, ROME FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
CJTF-HOA AND USCENTCOM FOR POLAD 
USDA/FAS FOR U/S PENN, RTILSWORTH, AND LPANASUK 
NAIROBI FOR OFDA/ECARO JMYER, GPLATT, RFFPO NCOX, USAID/EA 
ROME FOR AMBASSADOR, OHA, HSPANOS 
BRUSSELS FOR USEU PBROWN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA 
USUN FOR TMALY 
NSC FOR PMARCHAN 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID PHUM SENV EAGR PGOV ET
REF:  A) ADDIS 0027 B) ADDIS 0053 
SUBJECT: USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TEAM: DEGEHABUR ZONE FIELD 
VISIT #1 
 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (U) Summary:   Between December 27 and 30, the U.S. Government 
(USG) Humanitarian Assistance Team (HAT) in Ethiopia program 
officer, health and nutrition specialist, and safety and security 
officer traveled to Jijiga and Degehabur zones in Somali Region as 
part of an initial field visit to assess humanitarian conditions. 
The purpose of the field visit was to raise the visibility of USG 
presence, gather sectoral information with an emphasis on health and 
nutrition (REF: ADDIS 0053), examine security and access issues 
(REF: ADDIS 0027), and lay the groundwork for future USG HAT travel 
in the region through meetings with regional, zonal, and local 
officials.  USG HAT staff also examined livelihood, food security, 
and water and sanitation conditions.  The poor performance of gu and 
deyr rains in 2007 has negatively affected water and pasture 
availability in parts of Somali Region, including Degehabur Zone. 
In addition, local residents report that reduced commercial activity 
and GFDRE restrictions on livestock and population movement are 
further undermining livelihoods and food security.  End summary. 
 
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Livelihoods 
----------- 
 
-- Commercial Food Trade -- 
 
¶2. (U) Delays in required military escorts in Degehabur Zone 
continue to hinder commercial traffic.  Military escorts are not 
required from Jijiga to Degehabur towns, according to 
non-governmental organizations and Ethiopia National Defense Forces 
(ENDF) stationed in the area.  However, commercial trucks are 
currently delayed for weeks awaiting military escort for onward 
travel from Degehabur town, according to U.N. staff and local 
residents.  The USG HAT did not observe any commercial traffic on 
the road from Jijiga to Degehabur or along the 35 kilometers (km) 
southeast of Degehabur that the team traveled.  Local traders also 
noted a decrease in overall commercial activity in the area. 
However, villagers along the main road reported seeing a limited 
number of commercial trucks in recent weeks. 
 
¶3. (U) USG HAT staff report significant variation in commodity 
prices within Degehabur and Fik zones.  On December 28, USG HAT 
staff interviewed a local merchant in Degehabur town.  Based on 
transactions with Fik traders, the local merchant reported that 
commodity prices in Fik Zone are up to two and half times more 
expensive, specifically in Garbo and Buhun districts.  Reported 
prices include 220 Ethiopian birr (ETB) for sugar in town, compared 
to 700 ETB in the Fik districts; 280 ETB for rice, compared to 500 
ETB; and 115 ETB for spaghetti packets, compared to 250 ETB. 
 
-- Commercial Livestock Trade -- 
 
¶4. (U) General insecurity, border restrictions, and the increased 
presence of the ENDF in the conflict-affected areas of Somali Region 
have resulted in a significant reduction of commercial livestock 
trade, according to local traders.  Traders report that camel sales 
have declined from an average of 500 camels per week, pre-conflict 
 
escalation, to approximately 7 to 10 camels per week.  Currently, 
the primary market for camels in the area is for local slaughter due 
to the absence of cross-border traders, representing the export 
market.  Local camel brokers emphasized that the decline in camel 
sales is not due to supply, but to reduced demand from cross-border 
traders reluctant to operate in the conflict-affected areas. 
 
-- Livestock Movement -- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) USG HAT staff received reports from local villages of 
Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia (GFRDE) restrictions 
on population and livestock movement in Degehabur Zone.  In Sandihle 
village, located 25 km south of Degehabur town, villagers reported 
that the GFDRE had restricted livestock movement to prescribed areas 
around the village.  In addition, local residents stated that the 
GFDRE required the local population to remain in fixed locations and 
that only men, unaccompanied by women or children, were permitted to 
move with livestock within the prescribed areas.  In the context of 
failed rains and reduced pasture, the restrictions are of 
significant concern as it prevents populations from moving herds 
greater distances to access available water and pasture.  In Obale 
village, located 123 km south of Jijiga town on the main road 
leading to Degehabur, villagers also reported livestock movement 
restrictions. 
 
--------------- 
Food Assistance 
--------------- 
 
¶6. (U) USG HAT staff report that dispersed and reduced food 
distribution points (FDPs) are undermining local access to food 
assistance in Degehabur Zone.  In Obale village, residents reported 
that Obale now serves as the consolidated FDP for six previous FDPs, 
resulting in roundtrip distances between 30 and 66 km for former FDP 
village food assistance beneficiaries.  USG HAT staff note that food 
distributions are primarily collected by women and children.  Local 
residents reported that men are reluctant to collect food assistance 
due to security concerns regarding pervasive ENDF presence. 
 
¶7. (U) USG HAT staff received similar accounts from local residents 
in villages located southeast Degehabur town.  In Sandihle village, 
residents reported traveling 30 km roundtrip to the nearest FDP.  In 
Garowe village, one woman stated that she had not collected her food 
aid allotment due to the six-hour roundtrip travel required. 
 
-------------------- 
Water and Sanitation 
-------------------- 
 
¶8. (U) The poor performance of gu and dyer rains in 2007 has 
negatively impacted water availability in parts of Somali Region, 
including Jijiga and Degehabur zones.  Local communities along the 
main road between Jijiga and Degehabur towns and points further 
south reported reduced water access and availability.  Villagers 
stated that hand-dug water reservoir levels were at one-half to 
two-third 2006 levels and reported a lack of transport to distant 
water points. 
 
¶9. (SBU) In Obale village, local residents reported reduced water 
 
levels and, in one instance, military confiscation of a private 
water reservoir.  (Note:  According to Obale residents, the ENDF has 
been utilizing the local primary school as a military base for 
approximately ten months, preventing children from attending 
classes.  The USG HAT observed the continued presence of military 
personnel and vehicles at the school.  End note.) 
 
¶10. (U) In Sandihle village, residents reported limited water 
availability.  One woman estimated her family water usage at four 
liters per person per day-less than a third of the Sphere standard 
recommended 15 liters per person per day.  Sandihle residents 
indicated that a lack of transport to distant water points is a 
significant obstacle to water access, due to a lack of pack animals. 
 USG HAT staff speculate that the lack of pack animals may be 
related to reduced purchasing power, resulting from reduced 
cross-border livestock trade, as well as the impact of restrictions 
on internal movement within Somali Region on local trade activities. 
 
 
---------- 
CONCLUSION 
---------- 
 
¶11. (U) The collective impact of the poor performance of the gu and 
deyr rains in 2007, reduced commercial trade, and GFDRE restrictions 
on cross-border, population and livestock movement in the 
conflict-affected areas of Somali Region are negatively affecting 
livelihoods and food security in Degehabur Zone.  In addition, 
dispersed and reduced FDPs in the region are undermining beneficiary 
access to food assistance. 
 
 
YAMAMOTO