OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia: Floods
ACT Rapid Response
5 October 2007


Funds Sent To: Ethiopian Orthodox Church-Development & Inter Church Aid 
Commission (EOC/DICAC) and Development and Social Services Commission, 
the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)

Amount Sent: US$ 50,000 (US$25,000 for each partner)
Date: 5 October 2007
Details of Payment
Emergency: Floods in Amhara and Gambella
Date of Emergency: end September 2007

Implementing partners: Ethiopian Orthodox Church-Development & Inter 
Church Aid Commission (EOC/DICAC) and Development and Social Services 
Commission, the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY)

Details of the Emergency:

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. The rains in most parts of the regions have 
continued with similar intensity, and the National Meteorological Agency 
(NMA) forecast indicates serious risk of flooding in large areas and is 
feared to exacerbate the situation. Threats of water induced and water 
borne diseases such as malaria, acute watery diarrhoea (AWD) and others 
are a concern.

In Amhara where ACT partner Ethiopian Orthodox Church-Development & 
Inter Church Aid Commission (EOC/DICAC) is present, heavy rains have 
overflowed the catchments of the Blue Nile river and Lake Tana, 
affecting nine districts and 15 villages within the region. In Dembiya 
Woreda/district of N.Gondar zone in the Amhara regional state, the worst 
affected area in the region, 8,151 households or 40,755 people are in 
dire need of immediate assistance.

An ACT Ethiopia Forum assessment reported a total of 1,614 ha of cropped 
land and a considerable amount of property loss in Dembiya 
Woreda/district of N.Gondar, 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.

Similarly, several villages in Gambella town - Itang, Gog, Jor, Dimma, 
Jikawo, Lare, Wanthoa - are affected by the floods caused be the 
overflowing of Baro and Gillo rivers. According to ACT partner 
Development and Social Services Commission, the Ethiopian Evangelical 
Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY), a government led emergency assessment team 
had described the situation as desperate. The displaced people are in 
need of food, blankets and shelter materials. In some places the team 
was unable to cross Baro River by boat because of the strong water 
force. In all these areas people who used to live by the riverbanks had 
to quickly flee their homes without taking their belongings. Many of 
them moved to dry upper areas and are admitted in temporary shelters.

In all shelters there is no adequate food and clean water. The rain has 
continued raining day in and day out. In Thatha area crocodiles attacked 
many cattle. The flooding has either damaged farmlands or completely 
washed away the crops. At Abol, the affected communities are sheltering 
in schools and public houses but many more are sheltered under big 
trees. Some children are reportedly affected by malaria and diarrhoea.

The flood-affected population has received no emergency food aid and 
medical support so far. Unless preventive action is taken ahead of time, 
pandemic and starvation could be potential threats in the area.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=CCD02FD39EC39F0F8525736B0053224C&file=Full_Report.pdf

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