OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Ethiopia  - Floods
19 April 2002


This report summarises preliminary information received from the UN
Emergency Unit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Situation:

1.  Torrential rains in the eastern mountains of Ethiopia since Tuesday 16
April 2002 have caused flooding in several areas of eastern regions of
Afar, Oromiya and Somali. Media reported loss of life, four thousand
displaced persons and significant material damage, though local
authorities have not yet confirmed the figures.

2.  Dubti district (Afar region) was flooded when dikes constructed, to
make the Awash river follow its normal course, broke. More than 4,000
inhabitants lost their shelter, household possessions, grazing lands and
farm fields. Access to the area is very difficult.

3.  The Warder district (Somali region) was also affected, particularly
cities of Warder and Danot, where village ponds burst and roads were cut
off. Many houses have been destroyed.

4.  Other districts of the Somali region were adversely affected by high
levels of main rivers, notably the Shabele river and its tributaries. The
muddy water levels registered in the Gode district were of 3.67 metres on
Wednesday and 6.69 metres on Thursday. The access to the affected district
of Korahe is still difficult, due to mud. In Kelafo (Gore district), heavy
rains caused significant livestock death. No precise figures were
provided.


National response

5.  The Ethiopian government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness
Commission (DPPC) is carrying out an assessment in the Afar region.
Reports from the Somali region are also expected. In order to respond to
the emergency, the DPPC authorities are planning to mobilise the Emergency
Non-food Contingency Stocks, provided that replenishment are made
available.

6.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by
item.

7.  OCHA is in close contact with the United Nations Emergency Unit in
Ethiopia and will revert with further information, as it becomes
available.

8.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Max Bonnel direct Tel. +41 22 917 1457
  Ms. Cecilia Lonnerfors direct Tel. +41-22-917 1311

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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