Floods in Amhara and Gambella

Heavy torrential rains in Ethiopia have caused severe flooding in the Amhara and Gambella Regional States  affecting more than 60,000 people and destroying farmland, roads and homes. The intensity of the rainfall and the magnitude of the floods is reported to be worse than the 2006 rainy season in which approximately 98,000 people were affected in the various areas of the region.

Amhara Regional State

In Amhara, the heavy rains began in June 2007 overflowing the catchments of the Blue Nile river and Lake Tana. Severe flooding is reported in four zones, nine districts and 15 villages within the region. The regional office of ACT member, Ethiopian Orthodox Church-Development Inter Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC) reports that 13,710 people are affected by the floods in the North Shoa, North Wollo, and the North and South Gondar zones including close to 5,000 displaced persons who were forced to abandon their homes. The floods have washed away a total of 1,107 quintals of grains and 5,576 hectares of farmland. Destroyed crops included barley, rice, pepper, Niger seed, maize, sorghum and finger millet. Six hand dug wells were also completely destroyed. Threats of water induced and water borne diseases such as malaria, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and others are a concern.

Most of the flood victims are currently sheltered in individual houses and schools. Some displaced persons have received limited shelter assistance from the local government, but many communities still remain without any external assistance. The regional government is currently compiling an assessment report and is evaluating its remaining emergency supplies. The government also plans to request assistance in filling its supply gap for it to launch an emergency response. While the government report has not yet been released, the preliminary assessments by field offices have indicated that displaced people are in immediate need of shelter materials and household utensils. The provision of seed, farm tools and animals could be considered in the form of rehabilitation assistance.

Rainfall measurements as high as 85.6mm (3.37 inches) were recorded in just one day in Amhara. The rains in most parts of the region have continued and the National Meteorological Agency (NMA) forecast indicates serious risk of flooding in the catchments and that by the end of September 2007, the floods could affect an even larger area and further intensify the situation.

Gambella Regional State

In Gambella, torrential rains fell upstream and across the highlands, and have tremendously increased the water levels of the tributaries of the Baro and Gilo Rivers. The rivers are now close to bursting their banks. The East and West Gambella Bethel Synods DASSC of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) reported that the heavy rains since the second half of August 2007 have caused widespread damage to field crops, houses, properties and roads in the districts of Gambella, Jikawo, Wanthua, Itang, Dima, Jor, Gog, Godere, Akobo and Lare. The resulting emergency from the floods is ongoing.

The ACT forum recently reports that the floods have affected 46,667 people, and more than 8,670 people are reported to have been displaced. It is estimated that more than 37,997 people have lost their crops and food sources in the fields in East Gambella alone. In Gambella town, many of the displaced people have found shelter in the high school and three other elementary schools.

>Most of the flood-affected areas are inaccessible by road, and unless immediate measures are taken, the situation could deteriorate even further. Forecasts predict more rains in many parts of Gambella over the coming days putting the area in danger of additional severe flooding.

The affected communities of both East and West Gambella have not yet received any external assistance except for those displaced persons in Gambella town where the regional Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Food Security Bureau (DPPFSB) distributed some food to four areas within the town, however needs still remain and reports indicate that government supplies are depleted.

The ACT Ethiopia Forum includes ACT members: Christian Aid (CA), Dan Church Aid (DCA), Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC/DICAC), Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and Swiss Interchurch Aid (HEKS).

The forum is monitoring the situation closely and plans to submit an RRF request soon. 

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).