OCHA Situation Report
Ethiopia: Floods
5 October 2007


The information in this document is consolidated from reports and field 
information from a variety of sources including UN agencies, NGOs and 
government partners.

Flooding has severely affected parts of Gambella and Somali Regions and 
continues to be reported in other flood prone areas of the country. In Gambella 
Region, the Baro and Gilo Rivers overflowed, flooding eight woredas. The floods 
also destroyed crop land and restricted access. According to a recent OCHA 
mission to the region, in Gambella town alone, an estimated 2,270 people have 
been displaced and are currently residing in five temporary shelters including 
schools and farmers' training centers.

In Somali Region, the Wabishebelle River flooded Mustahil, Kelafo and Ferfer 
woredas, affecting approximately 48,300 people, of whom 8,880 are displaced. 
The floods have also damaged farm lands and grazing areas. A joint government 
and humanitarian partners' mission reported that although the current level of 
the river is below than observed at the same time last year, an unusual change 
in the volume of the flow has been observed this year. The overflow also 
devastated kebeles that were not affected in the worst flooding of 2006. Access 
has also been restricted to some villages and this could be further aggravated 
by the forth coming deyr season (rainy season). Furthermore, WHO reported that 
incidences of water borne diseases particularly Bilharzia has increased. The 
situation could further deteriorate due to the poor health and water and 
sanitation services in the region.

While flood waters are receding in Afar Region, access in the flooded kebeles 
of Gewane and Bure Mudaytu remains challenging. Despite AWD's prevalence in the 
region, to date the disease has not been reported in flood affected woredas. In 
addition, a recent joint Government and humanitarian partners' verification 
assessment in nine woredas of SNNPR confirmed that flooding affected 
approximately 40,500 in five woredas - Humbo, Mirab Abaya, Dasenech, Hamer and 
Loka Abaya. Moreover, there are reports of landslides from Tigray, Amhara, 
Oromiya and SNNP regions. Landslides have caused displacements and damaged 
crops, grazing areas, residential houses and soil conservation structures.

To date, an estimated 239,5862 people have been affected3 by flooding, of whom 
73,746 are displaced in six regions including Amhara, Gambella, Afar, SNNP, 
Tigray and Somali since the rainy season started.

Contacts:

Fidele Sarassoro
Humanitarian Coordinator
fidele.sarassoro@undp.org
Tel.251-11-5444483

Paul Hebert
OCHA's Head of Office and Deputy to the Humanitarian Coordinator
hebert@un.org
Tel.251-911-216233

Gregory Beals
Senior Information Officer
beals@un.org
Tel. 251-911-252344

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=55C30CCFF0DBC0F18525736B007197A8&file=Full_Report.pdf

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