Several regions are reeling from the impact of floods and landslides that occurred in July and August.
On 11 August, local authorities in the Gambella Region reported the latest flood-induced displacements due to heavy rains in the first week of August. More than 16,000 people were reportedly displaced in Gog, Lare, Jor and Wanthwa woredas of Anywaa and Nuer zones.
Unable to load the textboxThe displaced have been relocated to dry lands within their respective woredas; some are given temporary shelter in schools. Communities in at-risk areas were warned of additional flooding during this rainy season and advised to takemitigation measures. Regional authorities advised against conducting a rapid needs assessment in the flood affected areas,citing lack of response from partners following a recent rapid assessment in conflict-affected Itang Special Woreda. Minimal or no response following rapid assessments – for lack of resources – is likely to lead to increasing grievances with community members and authorities in Gambella and elsewhere in the country. So far, partners’ response to the 2024 floods has been hampered by limited resources - overall, the Ethiopia HRP is 18.2 percent funded. Food for 24,000 people, as well as shelter, NFI, WASH, protection and education are priority needs.
Meanwhile, Gambella Region is still recovering from the impact of last year’s flooding (September 2023) when several thousands were displaced and extensive damage to public service infrastructure was reported. The regional Government received equipment donation from a WaSH partner last week to repair 169 water schemes destroyed by the floods last year, restoring access to clean water for over 70,000 people, including IDPs, in the Anywaa and Nuer zones, as well as the Itang Special Woreda after nearly one year. Last year’s flood destroyed 189 water schemes according to a multi-agency assessment report. The Regional Water and Energy Bureau expressed readiness to repair additional 83 water sources if additional equipment support is availed by partners.
In the Afar Region, a Multi-Agency Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) was conducted on 29-30 July to assess the impact of the flooding in Awash Fantale and Dulecha woredas, Zone 3. The assessment identified 3,411 displaced households (approximately 20,466 individuals) requiring urgent assistance, the majority women, children, pregnant and lactating mothers, and the elderly. Amongst the priority needs are shelter and non-food items (NFIs), including plastic sheeting, mattresses, blankets, kitchen utensils, clothing for adults and children, hygiene items, sanitary kits/dignity kits, and construction materials. The assessment team observed many of the displaced families sharing inadequate shelter and insufficient NFIs with the host community.
Although there is no outbreak reported so far, there is an increased risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera, due to contaminated water sources and a rise in malaria cases due to stagnant flood water and lack of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs). Mental health issues are also reported prevalent due to the trauma and anxiety caused by the sudden flood incident and displacement. There is an urgent need for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) intervention, including the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene materials, such as jerrycans and soap. Livestock losses of the pastoralist communities have impacted the food security of people in the area. Chemical residues from a nearby sugar factory have also polluted grazing lands, leading to livestock mortality and morbidity, and decreasing agricultural productivity. Food availability has drastically declined in the post-flood emergencies period. Affected communities have started to resort to coping mechanisms to survive, including selling remaining assets, borrowing money, selling labor and reducing meal portion sizes.
Heavy rains on 14 August in the Amhara Region led to the overflow of Rib River, inundating riverine communities in Dera, Fogera, and Libo Keme Kem woredas of South Gondar Zone. A rescue team deployed by local authorities used canoes to evacuate the flood-affected people, most of whom had climbed to the roofs of their houses. More than 6,600 people (at least 2,400 female) were affected. The displaced people are currently sheltered in four schools waiting for the flood water to recede before going back to repair their damaged shelters and recuperate their cropland for which they need assistance. A total of 6,205 hectares of farmland, more than 400 livestock, 3,000 poultry, and 1,000 beehives are reportedly damaged. The Amhara authorities have distributed an initial lifesaving response of 80 quintals of wheat flour to the flood-affected families and appealed to humanitarian partners to conduct a rapid needs assessment to determine the scale of needs and mobilize response. Earlier in the month, on 5 August, floods in Kokit Kebele in Fogera Woreda of South Gondar Zone had displaced 200 people (80 female). The displaced people had travelled by boat to the nearby Shaga Kebele where they are being sheltered by host communities. Food, water, medicines, and shelter are amongst the priority needs.
In the Somali Region, assessments conducted on 15 August in flood-affected Afder and Shabelle zones identified more than 112,000 people affected across both zones, of whom 24,000 are displaced in Ferfer, Kelafo and Mustahil woredas of Shabelle Zone. There were no displacements in Afder Zone. The flood incidents occurred when the Shabelle and Weib rivers overflowed following heavy rains. All the affected areas can only be accessed by boat. Urgent food, water purification, and shelter assistance is required. Responses are ongoing, with significant gaps. The Somali Disaster Risk Management Bureau has distributed 600 blankets, 300 plastic mats, 1,600 quintals of maize, 250 quintals of corn soya blend (CSB) and 125 quintals of wheat flour to 3,000 most vulnerable households in the three woredas of Shabelle Zone. The Regional Health Bureau has also dispatched six cartons of Ringer’s lactate solution to the three health facilities these three woredas. Meanwhile, one partner will distribute multi-purpose cash for 440 households in three rounds and WASH NFIs to 400 households in Kelafo Woreda of Shabelle Zone. There are no responses in Afder Zone, nor in Mustahil and Ferfer woredas of Shabelle Zone. Emergency shelter, food, WaSH and fuel for rescue boats are critical needs.
In the Oromia Region, humanitarian partners on the ground confirmed on 1 August flood incidents in Deder, Goro Gutu, Kersa and Melka Belo woredas of East Hararghe Zone and in Shashamane and Nensebo woredas of West Arsi Zone. On 12 August, reports from an assessment team deployed to Melka Belo Woreda of East Hararghe Zone identified more than 7,000 people affected by flooding in the woreda, and some 723 hectares of food and cash crops destroyed. At least 27 houses were also damaged by landslides. Partners’ response has been limited – for lack of resource – with mostly community assistance provided to families whose houses were damaged. Only one partner is operating in the woreda providing nutrition support. The woreda has an estimated 32,000 people in acute food need due to prolonged drought in the lowland areas, according to the woreda Busa Gonofa.
Overall, according to reports received from Oromia Busa Gonofa and partners operational in some of the affected woredas, 32 woredas across the zones in the Oromia Region are so far affected by flooding and landslides during this kiremt season, including in Kelem Wollega, Jima, West Shewa, East Shewa, West Arsi, Arsi, West Guji, South West Showa, West Hararghe and East Hararghe. More than 113,734 people were affected, 40,600 displaced and four dead. At least 6,367 hectares of cropland were damaged, 278 livestock have died, and 873 houses destroyed. Damages to roads has compromised access to affected people. The number of affected communities will likely increase with recent reports of increasing volume of the Awash River. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society provided NFIs for 1,400 households and multi-purpose cash for 1,400 households in West Guji Zone.
In the South Ethiopia Region, the most recent flooding was registered on 19 August in Dasenech Woreda, South Omo Zone. Heavy rains in the upstream highlands in the South and Southwest Ethiopia Regions, mainly Gamo, Goffa, Wolayita, Konso, Dawuro and Keffa zones and the backflow of water from Lake Turkana resulted in the overflow of the Omo River flooding five kebeles in Dasenech Woreda. An estimated 12,000 people are reportedly displaced, while additional flooding is expected in the next days given intensifying rains in upstream woredas, putting several other areas at risk, including the Dasenech Woreda capital, Omorate Town. Partners are supporting Government flood-mitigation and response efforts, including two partners funding dike constructions, and one partner providing food for 54,000 people in the woreda. With a total population of 79,000, South Omo Zone has been recurrently affected by flood due to the overflow of the Omo River and discharge of water from Gilgel Gibe 3 dam.
In addition to floods, several regions have reported landslide incidents caused by heavy rains in mountainous areas. The landslide incident in Geze Gofa Woreda of Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia Region on 21 and 22 July claimed the lives of 243 people – an additional six people are missing(3). The Government has evacuated more than 6,600 people from the two affected kebeles, and 17,400 people were evacuated from the 15 other kebeles identified as being at-risk. Overall, at least 24,000 people at-risk of landslide across 20 of the 29 kebeles in Geze Gofa Woreda are targeted for relocation to safer areas. Two environmental experts were deployed to the affected areas by UN OCHA, with the support of the Swiss International Cooperation, and the embassy of Sweden through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism managed by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). Their deployment provided timely expert support to the Government-led response to the landslide emergencies. It became evident that the high number of deaths was not a direct result of the initial landslide, but of lack of awareness of the people who came out in masses to the landslide area to look for survivors, and unfortunately perished while doing so, following a second landslide. In addition to long-term land management in at-risk areas, the joint observation identified that building awareness of risks is a key element of mitigating the impact of landslides.
More specifically, the experts’ recommendation focused on four key points: 1) build public awareness regarding natural hazards, landslides, floods, etc.; including preparedness and training on those topics, 2) develop early warning systems (EWS) further, to reach the end of the road villages; 3) mapping of natural hazards, specifically on landslides, at a scale usable at the village level; and 4) soil rehabilitation and slope remediation to reduce the risks for local inhabitants. The Government has developed a costed Emergency Response and Recovery Plan for the Geze Gofa incident and requests the support of recovery and development partners.
Also in the South Ethiopia Region, a new landslide incident on 15-16 August in Melokoza and Demba Goffa woredas claimed the life of one person and led to the evacuation of some 3,000 people in Demba Goffa, as well as more than 1000 people in Melokoza, who are currently sheltered in schools, churches, and Farmers' Training Centers (FTCs). A Government and partners’ team is on the ground to determine response needs. Earlier in the month, on 2 August, a landslide incident in Wolayita Zone killed 13 people and displaced more than 12,600 people.
Similar landslide incidents were also reported from Gamo Zone of South Ethiopia Region on 15 August, killing four people and displacing 1000 people, and in Central, Northern and Eastern zones of Sidam Region on 28 July, killing eleven people and displacing 11,000 people.
In the Southwest Ethiopia Peoples Region, landslides on 24-31 July killed five people and displaced 519 people. The Regional Government has allocated some resource (~US$100,00) to mount an initial life-saving response. Additional assistance by partners is required.
