Severe floods displace at least 32 000 people in Ethiopia

At least 32 000 have been displaced by severe flooding that has caused extensive damage in Ethiopia, since late July 2020. This included almost 20 000 residents in Afar that had to relocate in the first week of August due to the overflow of Awash River.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 30 000 have been displaced since late July.

Aside from Afar, other regions that have been affected are Gambella, Oromia, and SNNP.

In Afar, the disaster prevention and food security coordinating committee said flooding was severe in the districts of Asayita, Afambo, Dubti, and Mile.

17 450 of the displaced lived in the five localities of Asayita. The government has been providing assistance to more than 1 100 people in two localities of the same district.

The Awash River overflowed last week, displacing 20 000 people. No human fatalities were reported, but thousands of cattle have perished.

In the Kefa zone of SNNP, flooding and landslides prompted 1 740 people to flee their homes.

In Amhara, the overflowing Rib River caused inundations in the South Gonder zone, affecting roads and around 1 000 people.

Around 1 125 people were relocated in the Oromia region due to the overflow of Lake Abaya in the West Guji zone.

Landslides triggered by heavy downpour have also displaced more than 140 residents in East Wollega zone.

UN OCHA added that all major rivers in Gambella are at full capacity.

In Nuer, around 9 000 have been displaced. Extensive damage has been reported, particularly on wide swaths of crops.

Early Warning and Emergency Response Director Aydahis Yasin warned that some 63 000 more people are vulnerable to flood, while 44 000 are at risk of displacement in the lower and middle Awash area.

Featured image credit: Kontie Moussa