Ethiopia: Support for flood victims on progress, albeit inadequate

09/19/2020 Ethiopia, Health



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– The overflow of the Awash River has damaged 240,000 citizens

BY MESERET BEHAILU / TSEGAYE TILAHUN

Afar State’s Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Coordination Office revealed that it has used two boats and a military helicopter to rescue citizens, who are surrounded by water and provide them with food and other necessary support.

Head of State for Disaster Prevention and Food Security Coordination Mohammed Hussien told the Addis Zemen Daily Amharic newspaper that more than 240,000 citizens have been affected by the overflow of the Awash, Qoqa and Tendaho river dams. Of the total number of injured, 144,000 of them are displaced from their residence, more than 21,000 animals died, but no human lives were claimed.

In particular, in places of great investment activity and watershed development such as the middle and lower parts, more than 41,000 hectares of crops are damaged. Serious damage was also recorded in the drainage channels, 106 schools and 41 health institutions.

In the aftermath of the flood accident, the region and the federal government have worked together in collaboration with the community to provide the victims with food, shelter and medicine, although this is not what is demanded. Children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers need more nutrition and special care. Diseases like malaria and coronavirus can spread in this regard. Therefore, the situation calls for an over-supply of drugs. Since the damage that the accident imposed on the community is beyond its capacity even after the convocation of the National Commission for Disaster Risk Management, the necessary materials are being transported to the injured to meet the growing demand for food and medicines.

Although the budget allocated by the federal government contains the impacts of the floods, it has been difficult to address the problem well, as this year’s flooding was hard and difficult. Mohammed called on the federal government, the health, agriculture, and water sectors to give due emphasis to the issue and to continue their support seriously.

He indicated that it is better to finalize the projects of the long plan and begin to implement them, since the measure has an important role in disaster reduction. River management works must also be well implemented along this line.

The office is carrying out maintenance aided by national metrology information in order to avoid the impacts of the flood and maintain normal river water flow.

Mohammed stressed that the media has not adequately covered the issue and should focus on constantly reporting on the issue.

Similarly, a variety of phenomena causing a multitude of damage and deaths have been observed in the Borena, Moyale, Dawa, Fafan districts of Oromia and the Somali regions in Ethiopia have experienced the indirect violence of recent years that has caused the death of many people. and left thousands uprooted from their homes. Many have recently returned home after the violence began to subside nearly nine months ago, but the challenges remain difficult.

The International Organization for Migration (10M) has provided support to more than 8,000 households in the Oromia and Somali regions with shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

Affected families also received in-kind cash support, as well as basic household items consisting of kitchen utensils, blankets, plastic sheeting and other non-food items.

Adi, 80, is among those who received cash for housing assistance. Two years ago, her husband was killed when intercommon violence broke out in the Oromia region. She then decided to flee to Kenya. Five months ago, she returned home to find it demolished.

“I returned to my hometown when the situation calmed down. Not having a house to live in meant living in a small tent made of cardboard and plastic sheeting. Fortunately, 10M started providing me with cash, so I could repair my shelter. Now My house has been rebuilt, “explains Adi.